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Bloodstone Ch. 01

By: Daniellekitten



Author's Note:

This is another story that I had returned from the publisher once the contract date was up, so once more I am going to repost it. I hope you enjoy!

*****

The tiny village was wrapped in slumber. Its thick walls were secured to keep out the beasts and those who sought to harm those residing there. Inside the walls, small shacks made of thatch formed a ring around the bigger, nicer houses that held the dignitaries or those who had money and could afford them. In the very center of the village was the mayor's home, a multistory dwelling that held the mayor and his fat wife as well as their beautiful daughter.

The attack came at night while the village slept; the watchers on the wall too much at ease since it had been so quiet of late. One lone scout slunk through the shadows toward the center of the village, finding the home of the mayor of the small village. He came in through an unbarred window, slicing at the mayor's sleeping form. The mayor woke for just an instant, just as the intruder sliced his throat, leaving him gurgling in his own blood.

His wife fared little better, though she slept through the attack, not even flinching when a sword was thrust through her heart. He left them there, blood dripping from their wounds, soaking through the linen bed clothes and puddling on the rushes covered floor of the house.

His eyes wandered through the richly appointed rooms, searching for the most treasured of items in the house. He found her—a young girl of eighteen summers sound asleep in her bed. A smile formed upon his mottled face. 

She was beautiful, golden and pink and cream. Her skin was flawless and slightly rosy with sleep. Her breasts rose and fell with her slumberous breathes under the linen shift that she wore. It clung to her curves as she'd kicked off the blankets, molding to her rounded hips and giving hint to the color of her nipples in the light of the fire that burned brightly in her room.

Clasping a hand over her mouth, the scout lifted her in his arms, binding her in the blankets so that she could not move. He carried the girl quickly and easily through the house and slipped out the front door then kept to the shadows.

He was in and out so quickly that his presence was like a nightmare: a shadowed dream, slipping through the night to haunt minds and terrify children. His burden barely registered upon him, his mind set as it was to do his master's bidding. Even as she kicked and squirmed in his arms, he never lost sight of his duty to bring the marked one to his master . 

The road flew behind him as he ran lightly down the paths outside the gates of the village. The moon touched the night with an aura of silver, creating patterns of evil creatures from the shadows of the bare trees. He passed them by with nary a glance...running...always running.

He had a mighty stitch in his side and his breath whistled from his over-taxed lungs but he dared not stop. Night was quickly coming to an end and he could not be found on these paths with the sun's dawning.

"Quiet." His voice was a harsh hiss.. "Quiet or I shall find a way to make you quiet."

The girl, though slight, was strong. She fought against her captor, kicked and flayed and tossed her head until the blanket loosened around her mouth. Then she screamed, a sound full of rage and terror.

"I killed your parents, girl, not much would stop me from gutting you as well." 

The threat, instead of halting her wriggling, set her determination. She managed to uncover her hands, her breath showing white in the cold night air as she pushed and hit at the ugly man who held her captive.

"You lie," she screamed, unwilling to believe that her beloved parents were gone. "Tell me you lie." She slapped at his head.

A roar split the night and a cold chill swept over the man. "Quiet!" His voice grew louder as he ordered the girl again. He didn't want to draw notice to himself and give the beast a chance to hunt him.

The roar sounded closer and he added speed to his already over-taxed legs, stumbling down the trail as the sound of death's roar grew closer with every moment.

The girl saw the beast first. It was one of the big lions, its head surrounded by a thick ruff of black fur. Its fangs were huge and glittered in the moonlight and the beginning light of dawn. With paws the size of dinner plates, it padded along behind them and grew closer with every step.

Her captor glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide. He had but a bit more to get the girl to the castle and his awaiting master. Keeping one eye on the beast, he tried once more to increase his speed, but it was nigh on impossible. His chest heaved, his legs shook as he forced them to move. A hint of dawn colored the eastern sky, alerting him of more dangers than just the beast behind him.

"Arghhh," he growled loudly, rushing forward even faster. The huge black gate of his master's fortress was ahead and he called out quickly. Fierce and ugly beasts stood upon the wall, bows at the ready even as they notched their arrows. "I bring the girl," he shouted.

The wide black gate moved slowly, opening just enough for him to squeeze through with his prize. As it closed behind him, he could hear the great cat growl, roaring its loss to the world in general. His chest rose and fell as he fought to catch his breath; finally he pushed away from the gate, his prize still slung over his shoulder.

"I must see the master. I bring him a great gift."

"I shall be the judge of that." The master appeared in the doorway of the ancient keep and waved him in even as the first ray of dawn's light touched the ground. The gate shimmered in the light, growing wispy and eerie until the great fortress disappeared from sight, leaving untouched forests and a path to nowhere in its wake. The great lion with its huge ruff of black fur shook then roared its fury, sniffing and pawing at the ground where the gate had been.

Nigel moved forward, his deference in every ounce of his posture as he capered in front of the master who now sat on his huge black throne. "It is the girl, master. I bring you the one you've sought."

"Show me!" The order was barked and harsh. He moved closer and watched as the squat man laid the girl gently upon the ground. He unwrapped her with a toss of his arm.

For an instant, the master was spellbound at the beauty brought before him. Her hair was so light to gleam silver in the dim light of the flaming torches. Her eyes were the blue of the ocean waves that splashed along the shore. Her body was lush, dressed in naught but a thin layer of linen that gave hint to the color of her nipples as well as the bountiful beauty of her legs and that small mound that lay between.

She fought with the long thick tresses of her hair, finally pushing them out of her face so that she could see her captor. She gifted the master with a fierce glance that threatened harm to him if he didn't stay away from her.

"Rise, girl, stand before me as is befitting of the one who shall reign beside me." 

"There is nothing you could say that would make me reign with you." She rose to her feet, not eager to face her captors in a tangled mess of blankets. "I insist you return me to my parents' home."

The master looked over to where Nigel stood. His dark brow was cocked and a question was in his eyes. Nigel took his finger and slashed it through the air by his throat.

"Your parents, my pretty one, are dead. There is no going back for you now."

"What?" Luria Bloodstone felt her heart fall and a sob grew in her chest. "You're lying. I won't believe you unless you show me proof."

"Nigel, show our guest your sword."

Nigel pulled the short sword from a filthy sheath, smiling as he showed the girl the blood that stained the battered blade. "I used this to kill them, child. They are dead."

Luria's stomach turned and she fell to her knees, staring at the bloodstained sword. "No." Her voice was a bare whisper and she shook her pretty head. "No, it is not theirs. It cannot be theirs."

"Rise girl." The master quickly grew tired of her drama. "I must know. Do you bear the mark?" He was eager to know for sure that this was indeed the bride he'd been promised, the one who would bear his child and give him the power he'd been promised so long ago. She was beautiful, this girl, and he couldn't help hoping that this time it would truly be her.

"What mark?" Luria's mind was on her parents and their deaths and she barely paid attention to the man before her.

"Come here, child." He held his hand out. Luria did as he asked, unaware of what he planned for her. "Come and let me see."

She moved closer her tears now falling freely from her eyes. Taking his hand, she stepped up on the dais with him until she was between his knees. He was a handsome man, with sharp emerald green eyes that seemed to see into her soul. His hair was dark, thick and hung to his shoulders in a shaggy display that seemed to suit him well. He wore leather pants that clung to his hips, a heavily decorated codpiece cupping his manhood. On his wide chest he wore a leather hauberk, links of thin golden chain closing the neckline of the thickly padded garment. It made him look immense. 

"Stand still here, girl. I must see for myself if the mark does exist upon your body. You won't be hurt." He hurriedly unlaced the front of the linen that was the only protection she held against being completely nude. Her hands came up, clutching the fabric in her fists until he spoke two soft words. Then it was as if a magical force grabbed her wrists and forced them to her sides to hold them there no matter how hard she struggled. "Be still!" 

Blood filled her cheeks as she realized her breasts were exposed to his sight, the linen shift had been drawn down her arms to catch upon her slender waist.

"I beg of you, please sir, do not dishonor me here where all can see." She nodded her head in the direction of the full court of men that were seated behind her. 

"I look for the mark, 'tis all. No one shall dishonor you here." Even as he spoke, he lifted the heavy mounds of her breasts and his thumb brushed repeatedly across her nipple. He watched as it hardened with eager eyes. As if he couldn't help himself, he sat forward in his chair and brought her nipple to his mouth with a soft moan. He lapped at the tender flesh and bit gently upon the hardened tip to taste her sweetness.

His head moved to the other breast, his fingers playing with the wet tip he'd just left. "So sweet, you taste so sweet, pretty one. I'm sorry but I cannot help myself." He couldn't, as much as he could help the flesh of his cock from growing hard inside his breeches. It pushed at the conical shaped codpiece he wore, raising the hard leather about an inch.

Luria cried out, shame, horror and pleasure mixing inside of her until she didn't know what to feel. A strange urgency filled her, a need to pull his head closer, to straddle his thighs and rub her sex against him until the throbbing between them went away. Her hips twitched and she felt his hands pull her closer, his mouth opening to take as much of her breast as he could into his mouth.

"Please." She moaned and her hands fidgeted before coming to rest against his wide shoulders. "Please, I do not understand these feelings."

He lifted his head and released her soft flesh from the heat of his mouth. The ocean blue of her eyes revealed her upset. He clamped an iron hand down on his lust and forced her back a step. "I am sorry, Luria, your beauty was too much to withstand." He closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths until he could look at her and not shake with lust.

With a clinical eye, he scanned the skin of her chest and stomach but other than the bruises left by his mouth on her breasts there was nothing. "I am sorry, Luria, I must strip you bare." Before she could react to his words, he pulled hard on the shift, hearing it rip and fall to pieces around her. Her hips were full, womanly with a tuft of white blonde curls that hid her sex. He turned her to face the court, hearing the sighs of his men as they gazed upon her virginal beauty. More than one man's hand went to his groin, rubbing furtively at their hardening cocks.

He couldn't blame them. He felt as if he would explode himself. His hands traced down her slender spine and followed the line to where her hips bloomed. Her ass was round, supple and firm, each cheek a perfect handful—perfect for lifting and lowering her down on his cock. He parted the two cheeks carefully and his finger slid down the sleek gash. Her rosebud was tightly furled and she flinched when his fingers roamed over it. He teased her by pushing against her gently, instigating his finger barely inside the heat of her body.

"What is this that you do?" Luria's hands rose to try and hide her body from the avid eyes of the men before her. She tried to jerk away, only to be drawn back and that finger pushed inside even further. She supposed it should hurt, but she felt no pain, only a strange fullness in her bowels and a sleek kind of pleasure that made her thighs feel weak and damp.

"Stand still, Luria. I will be through soon." He put his hand on her upper back, pushing forward until she understood he wanted her to bend at the waist. That position opened her so that he could see her sex from behind. It also left her breasts hanging and her hair falling into her face. She glanced up at the men and watched as some of them pulled aside codpieces and openly stroked their rigid staffs.

She wasn't that much of an innocent that she didn't know what the men were doing. She'd seen men of her village do the same when she went to the river to bathe. But there it never made her feel dirty or as humiliated as this. Perhaps it was his finger, now firmly lodged in her backside, or the other hand that was parting her sex. She moaned as he bumped against that part of her body that always brought her such pleasure at night in her bed when she'd allow her hands to roam over her own flesh. Her hips pushed back, wanting more; wanting him to bring her the kind of pleasure she brought herself.

"You are virgin," he whispered, almost in awe as he brought his face closer to her sex and breathed in the heady aroma of her arousal.

"Yes, I am a maiden, sir. You should not be touching me like this." Her voice rose as she spoke and she squeaked when she felt the touch of something else, something thicker than his finger, wet and wriggling almost like ... a tongue? "What are you doing?"

He ran his tongue over her sopping sex once more, feeling her shiver and her thighs shake. He wanted nothing more than to pull her down on top of him, plunge through that tiny membrane of skin that kept her virgin and pour himself into her. But he dare not, not unless she bore the mark. It was ordained that she who held the mark would be his bride. She would carry his child and would be beside him as he carried out his evil plans. He needed her.

Then he saw it. There on the inside of her left thigh, the sign he was looking for. It was in the shape of an animal paw: four tiny dots of red.

"You bear the mark! You shall be my bride."

"No!" She tried to twist away from his hard hands and the tempting teasing of his mouth. "I won't."

"You will." He reached down and pulled away the hard leather that kept him caged. He pulled her down so she sat just above his hardness and let it rest between her thighs. The heat of her cunt felt incredibly perfect against his cock. "It is prophecy." He filled his hands with her breasts and pulled on the generous fullness of her nipples. "You will be mine and you will give me children. They shall be endowed with your gifts and mine."

She cried out in revulsion even as her body undulated against the hard flesh that rose in front of her sex. A shiver shuddered through her as a small climax took her body, stealing her breath. The things he was doing were more than her poor body could fight even though she loathed him and everything he stood for. He was dark magic, vindictive and vengeful. His aura pulsed with evil, thick black and terrifying.

But his hands sent shudders of longing and need through her as they skillfully caressed her breasts, one sliding down her flat stomach to the "v" of her thighs, pushing between her full lower lips until he found that kernel of flesh that brought her such pleasure.

"Your lips say no, but your body is begging for mine." He whispered into her ear as she leaned back against him, her body moving seductively against his. "I shall take you here, where all may see." His tongue came out to lick at the sensitive whorl of her ear. "Your virgin's blood will be sacrificed upon my cock this dawn and my power shall grow tenfold."

"No! You promised not to dishonor me here. Taking me without the tidings and blessings of a priest would be the ultimate dishonorable act."

"It matters little if before or after the act." His breath came in short, heavy bursts. For even as she argued, her body moved over him, rubbing against the hard flesh of his cock, pushing against him as if she, too, couldn't wait to feel him inside of her. "You shall be mine." He lifted her by the waist, situating her so that she was above his waiting cock. Then with little care, he pushed her down, tearing through her hymen with one thrust.

Luria screamed, the pain overwhelming but over as fast as it had occurred. There was a fullness inside of her she'd never expected, rubbing at her throbbing flesh that moistened to greet his invading cock. She heard his groan, even as she felt his hands lift her once more, before dropping her down further onto his hard staff.

"Move over me," he ordered, placing her hands on his spread knees. He waited until she sat forward, her hips moving, her body starting to rock up and down on him. "That's it," he groaned.

She did as he ordered, unable to help herself. Her body was on fire, need poured through her, making her heart race and her blood rush through her veins. She could feel him inside of her, his cock hard, filling her. She wanted nothing more than to tear herself away and find a knife, to kill this monster who was taking such offensive use of her body against her will. But she did nothing more than what he ordered, rising and falling, impaling herself on his staff and hearing him moan his pleasure.

Her eyes roamed the room, wildly searching for escape. His men were openly pleasuring themselves, one having captured a castle wench who'd brought the master his morning fare. She was bent between two of his men, her skirts thrown up over her back, her mouth being made use of as well, another receptacle for their torrid lusts.

She changed the angle of her thrusts, rubbing her clit against his cock with every stroke until she was crying out, begging for the pleasure that tore into her soul, just beyond her reach.

"Faster," he growled, his nails running over her back, leaving red marks on the pale beauty of her skin. "Fuck me faster, Luria."

Tears of pain, of disgust for herself, spilled down her flushed cheeks, dropping to her bared breasts. One drop clung to her nipple, hanging there even as she moved. She saw Nigel, her captor eyeing that drop, his huge, disgusting phallus dripping in his hands as he pulled upon it.

"Master," he called over the sounds of rutting in the room. "May I taste of her tears?"

"Would you like that?" the dark lord asked of Luria, nodding his head toward Nigel. "Would you enjoy the feel of his lips upon you, drying the path of your tears?"

"No," Luria whimpered, begging. She couldn't stand the thought of him touching her, not like that, not now when the touch of lips might send her over the edge. "Please, not that."

"My bride-to-be doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with you, Nigel. But you do deserve a reward for finding this treasured beauty for me." His hand reached around Luria and she felt him pressing his chest against her back. He cupped her breasts, holding her firmly against him, buried deep inside of her. "Come Nigel, taste the sweetness of her tears but once."


Bloodstone Ch. 01



"No, please," she begged, struggling to get away but unable to move against his hold. She felt Nigel's lips come around her nipple, his mouth pursing as he suckled hard, pulling the tear into his mouth. Another fell from her cheek and he eagerly lapped that one up as well. Luria could feel the pulling of his mouth deep in her womb and felt her sex contracting heavily against the cock buried inside her cunt.

"Oh yes, that's it, Nigel, suckle her well and true."

Her thighs pressed together, trying to garner the friction she needed against her clit to make her come. She felt a spurt of heated wetness against her belly and looked down, seeing around Nigel's head to where he stroked his cock that was spurting its disgusting seed on her skin. She must have made some kind of sound because Nigel looked up at her, his hand moving from his cock to rub his seed into her skin, his fingers playing against her clit for an instant. He smiled around her nipple, his teeth biting gently into her.

"Please, make him stop," Luria begged, staring over her shoulder at the handsome man who held her.

"What will you do for me if I do?" He kissed her shoulder.

"What do you want?" 

"The touch of your lips wrapped around my cock." He barely paused. "I want you to suck on my cock like it's the greatest of treats. Will you do that?"

Nigel bit deeper into Luria's flesh, causing a scream of outrage and pain to come from between her lush lips.

"His mouth on you or yours on me?" The dark master's smile grew as she struggled against his hold. "You decide, Luria, but make it quick. I don't think Nigel wants to stop."

"I'll do it." She shook with revulsion. "Please, make him stop. I'll do it."

Nigel was waved away and Luria pulled herself off of the master to turn and face him. "I've never..." 

"Yes, it is a day of firsts for you, but a wondrous day, Luria. You shall be my bride before this day is out then we shall have a lifetime of perversions to play and practice with. After you give me my child, perhaps I shall let Nigel have you himself, but only I shall fill your cunt for now. The child must be mine. Now kneel." He pushed down upon her shoulder until she was but inches from the blood tinged flesh of his cock.

Luria reached out with a shaking hand to take the massive piece of flesh in her palm only to feel the master slap it away.

"No hands, use your mouth only." 

"B-but..." He grabbed a handful of her hair and pushed her head down. She felt the tip of his cock brush her lips, then the first inch or so sink into her mouth. Her teeth scraped against him and she was tugged up and off.

"Use your teeth again and I'll knock them out." He didn't give her a chance to answer before he once more pushed her down over his cock. Luria could taste herself on his shaft and the blood spilled from her ripped hymen which gave it a slightly metallic taste. She tried to do what he said but he gave her little chance to comply, pushing and pulling with a handful of her hair, shoving her down so far that she choked upon the thickness of him. She closed her lips around him, trying to suck as he ordered and to use her tongue like he wanted. In little time he was holding onto her ears, thrusting himself into her mouth with little thought as to her wishes and desires. She heard his shout, felt his cock grow and then felt the first spurt of his pleasure hit the back of her throat, making her cough.

Her mouth filled with his seed and she tried to swallow as he directed, but the taste was bitter, the texture thick and slightly slimy. She gagged it down, feeling her stomach turn with every swallow. He gave her no rest, filling her mouth again and again until she thought she'd drown in his spendings. Finally, he pulled her free, letting her drop to crawl by his feet, a drooling of white tinted saliva hanging from her lips as she fought to catch her breath.

"Not bad, Luria, but you'll learn to do better in time." He waved to two of his men. "Take her to the women's quarters. Have them bathe and refresh her. We shall have the ceremony tonight. Send out riders to the seven kingdoms. Make sure they know that their presence is required at the wedding. I want my bride to look eager and pleased with her husband."

He reached down, lifting her chin and staring into her blue eyes. "You are to be congratulated, my dear. I have long been sought after as a husband. With you by my side, we shall conquer the seven kingdoms and bring them into one country ruled by me." He smiled, lifting Luria to her feet. Rising, he fixed his attire then dragged off the cape he wore across his shoulders. Wrapping it firmly around her, he sent her off with his men. His last words were a growled warning to them not to touch her. 

She was led from the room and taken down a flight of stairs to an outside courtyard where Luria was startled to see the sun so high in the sky. She was exhausted. Her body hurt, her mouth tasted terribly and she longed for some cool wine to remove the foul taste. She felt violated but at the same time, she felt unfulfilled and had a burning deep in her loins that refused to go away.

The guards knocked upon a wide gate set with red stones. The gates opened slowly and out stepped a small wizened woman who stared at the two guards, unafraid. "What is this that you have brought me?" she said in a high sing/song voice.

"The lord takes a bride, Sabina. He bids you to ready her for the ceremony tonight."

"Magnus takes a bride? He has found his marked lady?" Sabina walked around Luria and reached out to pull back her cloak. 

Luria slapped the old woman's hands away. "Do not touch me!" She pulled away from the guard who held her arm.

"Ah, this beauty will lead Magnus a mighty chase." Sabina took Luria's arm then turned to the guards. "Leave us. We have much to discuss."



Bloodstone Ch. 02



The guards left as Sabina pulled Luria past the red stone gate and into an oasis of trees with a cool water pond that was blue and lovely. 

"Where did he find you?" Sabina asked Luria softly as she pulled her toward the water, urging the cloak away from her body.

"His scummy guard Nigel killed my parents," Luria felt the tears so close to the surface. She pushed them back, unable to give in to them yet. "He took me from my bed and brought me to this place."

"He found the mark on you?" Sabina eyes roamed over Luria's naked curves. "I see no mark.

Shyly Luria turned her leg to the side, showing her the small spot that had excited Magnus so much. She'd had the mark since she was born and had never given it two thoughts. "What is so important about this? It is naught but a birthmark."

"You don't know the prophesy?" Sabina seemed shocked when Luria shook her head.

"You bear the mark of Atana Potnia, the mother goddess of animals and plants, child. She herself has blessed you with powers to control the animals around you. How could you not know of this?"

Luria shrugged, unconsciously setting her breasts to jiggle in a most enticing fashion. "I've always been around animals. They seem to like me. I've never had any special powers over them," she said softly as if trying to convince herself.

"But you do, little one." Sabina whistled holding up her hand. One of the small brightly colored birds that were flitting around the pond came at her invitation, landing upon her finger and looking around excitedly.

"Call her to you," Sabina said. "Just wish her to come to you, think of her coming to your finger."

Luria stared at the sapphire colored bird, holding out her own finger. Before she could think, the bird hopped from Sabina to Luria, setting up a whistle that set the rest of them off. Soon Luria was covered with the tiny birds, their little feet holding on to every part of her that they could. They were tangled in her hair, settled on her shoulders and arms until she looked to almost be dressed in a cloak of multicolored feathers.

With a shrug of her slender shoulders, she sent them flying back to the pond, wincing as one or two pulled out a few strands of hair and took them with them. "I just think about what I want them to do and they do it?" she asked excitedly.

"Yes, little one, but we have no time for you to practice now. You must be bathed and balmed and prepared for the wedding night. Lord Magnus will not be happy if you aren't at your best."

She motioned for Luria to go to the pond and watched as the woman did as she asked, flinching a bit as the cool water lapped at her sore cunt. At its deepest, the pond was almost shoulder deep on her and she rested near the edge, letting the water soothe away her soreness and the blood that coated her. Sabina stepped into the pond also, armed with a sponge and a bottle of fragrant soap. 

"Allow me, Lady Luria?"

Sabina rubbed at her shoulders, softly spreading the fragrant suds down her body. No part of her was left unwashed and Luria blushed as Sabina cupped her rounded breasts, her palms massaging her generous nipples until they hardened, creating a rush of need throughout Luria's body. She'd been left unfulfilled by Magnus and those feelings returned, intense and sending heat pooling in her loins.

"That's it, my lovely," Sabina said in her strange voice. "Lie back and let Sabina see to your needs."

The water lapped at her thighs, teasing her with touches that only sent her need rising higher. She did as Sabina asked, lying against the side of the pond where it was its shallowest, her thighs spread as she keened her need into the air around her. Sabina soaped Luria's stomach, feeling the muscles tense under her old fingers, fingers that had experienced many women's pleasure in her many years behind the red stone gate. She could take care of this pretty one as well.

Pouring another small amount of the fragrant soap from out of the jeweled bottle, she gently massaged the fleshy mound that hid Luria's sex. With the gentlest of touches, knowing her master's habit of roughness, she slipped into the sweet slit, pushing apart engorged lips to find the small bud of Luria's clit that would send her soaring with pleasure. She rubbed gently, hearing the woman's sighs and moans grow as her pleasure did. Bending her fingers, she slipped inside the soft, wet core, feeling the tight flesh stretch at her invasion.

Luria moaned, not in protest but in pleasure, her hips moving gently in the water, causing small waves to lap back at her, the water hitting her clit in just the right way.

"That's it, my pretty, push up against Sabina's clever fingers. Yes, I can feel the source of your pleasure against my fingertips." The old woman kept her fingers curved, finding the slightly rougher flesh in the top of Luria's cunt that would send the small girl over the edge and into pleasure as extreme as she could take.

Luria cried out, her body tightening into an arch, her toes curled under as Sabina's clever fingers brought her to bliss. Her head was thrown back, her hair growing wet in the water as she humped her hips against the older woman's hand, unable to stop.

When Sabina finally pulled her hand away, Luria had grown limp, her body relaxed against the side of the pond, her limbs spread, her eyes closed.

"That's good, Luria. Relax and let Sabina do her work. Sleep if you can for tonight shall be long, Lord Magnus is a determined lover and he will want you breeding as soon as possible. I shall make you beautiful for him," she said in her soft voice, pouring more of the soap into her hands to finish her washing.

The young girl barely moved as Sabina washed her body with gentle touches and then rinsed hert thoroughly, only standing when coaxed to rise. She allowed Sabina to wash and rinse her long hair and then pull her from the water to a soft silk covered backless couch.

"Lie on your stomach, dear girl. Sabina must massage your skin with oil so it will be soft for Lord Magnus's touch."

Luria did, closing her eyes and feeling the length of her hair spread out for the sun to dry. Hands moved over her, more hands than Sabina's two, but Luria couldn't force open her eyes to see who else was touching her. She could only moan her pleasure as they did their magic, rubbing the gardenia scented oil into her flesh. Nowhere was her skin left untouched, even her bottom was rubbed and massaged, more oil poured against the tightly furled rosebud that only Lord Magnus had dared breach.

She was coaxed onto her back and the hands reappeared, touching her everywhere but between her legs where she most wanted them. "Hold her now," she heard Sabina say, and felt her hands and legs grabbed and held down with an unbreakable grip. A warm thick paste was applied to her sex and Luria forced open her eyes, and leaned up as far as she could to stare at Sabina. She held a piece of material of some kind on the paste, rubbing the material with the ball of her hand.

"Hold tight now," she told those holding Luria and with a sudden strong pull, ripped away the material and all the hair under it. Luria's scream of pain was sharp and she struggled fiercely, trying to break free as Sabina picked up a small pot and dipped a wooden spoon in it to begin the application of the paste again. 

"No! No more!" Luria almost begged.

"Be still, pretty, and it will be done quickly. Lord Magnus likes his women to be bare, despite your pretty white curls; we must do what the lord commands." She ripped off the material again, leaving another strip of Luria's pretty pussy bare of hair. It seemed to take forever before Sabina was happy with the smoothness, running her fingers over the bare lips and the smooth mound before reaching for the pot again.

"Now the legs, pretty. This shall be easier on you. Don't struggle."

Tears ran down Luria's cheeks, but she did as she was told, having no choice against the hands that held her still. Two men, one above her head, another at her feet, stared at her nude body with little interest. Luria had heard of these kinds of men before—eunuchs, men who weren't men, castrated and used to guard women in royal courts—she'd just never thought to meet any of them. Luria admired their handsome faces as Sabina started in with her torture, denuding her legs quickly and efficiently of any hair. Her underarms were done next and then oil was once again rubbed into her skin.

"You've done well, pretty," Sabina said, putting away her pot. "Now for pleasure." She snapped her finger at the man at Luria's feet.

He moved between her legs, bending down with a familiarity that sent Luria backing up into the man who held her arms. "What is this?"

"Pleasure. A treat for having behaved so well so far," Sabina said. "I taught them myself, lovely. But Sabina's mouth is too old to have the limberness needed to perform anymore. Relax Lady Luria and let Aelfric show you his talent."

She had no choice for the man moved quickly, his mouth finding her slit easily. The smoothness of her skin let her feel every touch of his tongue and hands as he pleasured her and soon she was moaning, arching her back and crying out in pleasure.

Sabina snapped her fingers again and the man holding her wrists bent, his lips finding her nipples, suckling one into the heat of his mouth. He gave a small groan, as if her pleasure was his own. With her hands freed, her fingers delved deeply into the thickness of his hair, holding his head to her breast. He nursed like a baby almost, suckling as if his world depended upon her pleasure.

Luria cried out, sprinkling her juices on Aelfric's tongue as she came. He continued to pleasure her until it became too much and she pushed him away, curling into a ball on her side and moaning contentedly. The sun beat upon her pale skin, warming her and Sabina's hands touched her back. "Sleep little one. When you wake, we shall finish getting you ready."

She could do nothing more but follow her advice, letting the world grow black around her and settling in to sleep.

* * * *

In the Seventh Kingdom—the kingdom that belonged to the king and queen of Moonstone, their son, Prince Balor, rushed into the throne room, holding the missive sent by Lord Magnus in his hand.

"Magnus marries this night," he called furiously. "He must have found the maiden with the mark. It would be the only reason he would call for all royalty to come to him and his accursed nuptials."

"Do not be so hasty, son," his father, the king spoke up. "Perhaps he has given up this stupid quest, perhaps he knows that none of us will give up the ruling of our kingdoms without a fight and he's decided to be content with his own dark lands."

"Remember of whom we speak, father," Balor growled. "He will never give up wanting what we have, no matter how long of a wait he must have. No, he's found the maiden and now, with her powers added to his, each kingdom will be in danger. We must do something."

"Like what? His beasts are more powerful than our armies, more treacherous and evil. Even if we were to march against him, he would decimate our greatest powers. Our most powerful warriors are no match for him and the evil that he creates in that dark castle of his. What would you suggest the seven kingdoms do?"

"I would suggest that we fight as one kingdom with one central leader until we defeat Magnus. He cannot defeat our combined forces. I would also suggest stealing away his bride before the wedding ceremony can commence. The prophecy says that only if she conceives a child with him as her lord can his powers grow enough to overtake us."

"So you will go and rescue the girl and what? Take her as your own bride?" His father shook his head. "Balor, you are the bravest and truest of any in the seven kingdoms but even your strength and abilities cannot get you and the girl out of the dark kingdom without Magnus knowing what you are about and stopping you. He would kill you, my son, without blinking an eye."

"Then at least I would die fighting for what I know is right," he said softly. "Wish me well, father, for I go to stop Magnus. If he kills me, know that I will take the girl with me into death. Without her, the kingdoms will be safe once more." Balor gave his father a kiss upon his cheek and then his mother, his amber eyes shining with the adventure to come. He had the chestnut hair of his mother with highlights that shone gold in the light of the sun. With his armor, he was almost blinding as he strode to his horse, riding to do what he could to save his people from Lord Magnus.

He rode throughout the day, feeling the pull of the dark kingdom as it called to the wickedness that was inside of him. It was the only way to find the floating castle, to let yourself be pulled to it. He could only enter the main gates as darkness was falling and he had to be out of there before the first light of day, else he would be trapped inside until the next nightfall. It was something he had to keep in mind if his plan was to succeed.

As he waited for the castle to appear, other riders joined him from the other kingdoms. A great unrest was felt among them for this night could only mean one thing to the people of the kingdoms: they would be forced to give in to Magnus's power and grant him their kingdoms by might of leadership. Only Balor felt he had a chance to beat the evil Magnus and thwart his plan. But he dared not dwell on that or on the hope he felt, for the evil lord would feel it and then he would know Balor was up to something. 

The gate shimmered into sight as soon as the last light of the sun faded into night. It opened slowly, the beasts atop it holding their bows at the ready, their arrows notched and pulled. Magnus himself greeted the weary travelers as they entered the courtyard, more of his strange beasts coming to take their horses.

"Welcome my fellow Lords and Ladies," Magnus's voice rang out. "Come, eat and drink, celebrate with me the coming ceremony when I marry with the lovely Lady Luria." He came up to Balor, staring the younger man in the eye. Balor felt the little fingers of that stare trying to sink into his mind and he fought them, forcing his mind to a blankness that couldn't be touched. Magnus stared for a minute more and then passed on to the next, glancing back to give Balor a strange look.

Wine was offered and Balor took a glass, knowing that to refuse would cause Magnus even more suspicion. But he didn't drink the dark brew, letting it dribble slowly to the ground as he walked around the courtyard. He needed to separate himself from the dark lord and search for the girl, but every time he moved, Magnus's green gaze would settle upon him.

"You are restless, Prince Balor," Magnus said, coming to stand next to him. "Is aught wrong?"

"No, Lord Magnus. I guess I am but curious about your bride. Where did you find her?"

"The tiny village of Burney, she's the mayor's only child." Magnus reached out and took the goblet that Balor held, passing it to one of his men and holding out another filled with dark red wine. The top was speckled with herbs and it gave off a strange, potent smell. "You must drink with me, a toast if you will, to my beautiful bride and our first night of marital bliss."

"To your beautiful bride," Balor said, holding up the goblet he was handed and feeling the clink of Magnus's against his. He lifted the goblet to his mouth, letting a tiny sip of the strange brew pass his lips.

It was bitter, the herbs giving it a sour taste that made him grimace. He pulled the cup away from his mouth, forcing himself to swallow the small amount he'd held in his mouth.

"The wine isn't to your liking?" Magnus asked, his hand coming down on Balor's shoulder.

"It is bitter," Balor heard himself say. He felt strange, light headed, his eyelids heavy.

"Come, we shall find something to rinse your mouth out with. That should help rid it of any bitter taste." Balor didn't see Magnus nod his head at one of his beasts. Nor did he feel the dark lord's hand as it came down his back to land on his backside, squeezing one of his ass cheeks encased in leather.

"Would you like a glimpse of my bride, Balor? I know all are curious about her and her beauty." Magnus almost purred the words, his mind on taking the young prince and crushing his will and his power in the most humiliating of ways.

"If it would not interrupt her readying herself for the nuptials," Balor said, feeling a flush of heat coming from somewhere inside of him. He felt his cock growing hard inside the codpiece he wore and couldn't figure out why he was feeling as he was. Then he realized it had to be the wine.

"What was in that brew?" he asked, moaning helplessly.

"Oh only a few herbs and a red wine that I make myself. It's a special drink I only share with a few that I wish to be closer with. Do you wish to be closer to me, Balor?" Magnus asked, a sly smile turning up his handsome lips.

"No," Balor answered in disgust. "I am not the kind of man who wishes another man to touch him. What you wish of me is a sin, Magnus, against the eyes of God and the eyes of my people." He struggled to pull himself away from Magnus's touch and almost fell to the ground, his balance gone.

"Perhaps my Sabina could make use of you, Balor, after she helps me ruin you." He reached down, lifting the struggling prince with an ease that was startling. Tossing the younger man over his shoulder, he made his way to the red gate, knocking upon it and was admitted immediately.

"My lord, what is this you bring me?" Sabina asked, cackling delightedly. "First it was a beautiful girl to remind me of my own youth and now a handsome lad?"

"Where is my bride?" Magnus asked, his eyes scanning the area around the pond.

"She sleeps, resting so that she might be fresh and energetic for you tonight, my Lord Magnus. She is a beauty though she knows not what power lies within her. It is a great power, my lord, perhaps more than you might be able to handle."

Magnus's eyes narrowed as he looked down upon the tiny, fragile woman. "I do not need for you to tell me what I can and cannot handle, Sabina. Do not tread too harshly upon the latitude I allow you due to our past together. You will find that I will only allow so much."

"Of course, Lord Magnus," Sabina said softly, bowing. "I but wish to warn you, only because I care about you."

Magnus dumped the almost unconscious Balor down upon the backless couch. He stood back up, his hand coming up to gently caress Sabina's cheek. "I know this, it is why I allow you what I do." He turned, readying to leave. "Make sure my bride is eager for me, Sabina. Give her the wine and watch her drink it. She must be almost tearing at my clothes to make these people believe she is here because she wants me. I leave the boy to you, but do not harm him. His parents come from the Seventh Kingdom."

Sabina smiled, showing the gapes in her gums from the loss of her teeth. "I shall treat him with kid gloves, my lord. He shall leave here feeling better than he came."

"I had wished to pleasure him myself," Magnus grumbled, but he glanced at the sky, realizing the time. "But my guests require greeting and I must make my presence known. Perhaps tonight, after I make Luria my wife we shall enjoy the prince together." His eyes sparkled as he spoke and he reached out one hand, sliding it under Balor's codpiece to feel the hardness of his cock. With the other hand, he untied the hard leather piece, dropping it to the ground next to them.

"He is a cocksmith, Sabina, do you not agree?" he asked, stroking Balor's erection and hearing the disgusted cry of the prince whose eyes had begun to open.

Sabina nodded, her eyes glued to the handsome cock clutched in her lord's hand. "That he is, my lord. But he does not seem to appreciate your talented hands upon him."




Bloodstone Ch. 02



"He'll learn. I think I shall keep him as a pet. A war with Moonstone might well be worth the cost of having this one to fuck." Magnus released Balor reluctantly, moving toward the red stone gate. "Do not let him leave, Sabina. Have him delivered to my chambers after you bathe him. Give him more of the wine to drink. You know what I want and what I expect." He bent at the waist, dropping an affectionate kiss upon the old woman's mouth. "You always know what I want and what I need." A last stroke of her cheek and he was gone, leaving Sabina staring after him, a strange look upon her face.

* * * *

Luria woke, hearing the sound of the dark master's voice. She scuttled into a corner of the room, her hands coming up to cover her groin and to cross over her breasts, struggling to hide their beauty. "No," she moaned, once more feeling the fear and humiliation he'd bestowed upon her before.

But she was alone, the room empty. The grate over the door showed the darkness that was beginning to settle and she knew she had very little time left. She heard the gate slam again and rose, grabbing the soft silk sheet that had been tossed over her and wrapping it sarong style around herself. Then she went to the door, carefully and almost silently opening it to look out.

He was the first thing she saw, lying upon the backless couch, his codpiece on the floor and his cock standing tall and hard from his groin. With a small sigh, she took a few steps out of the room, not noticing Sabina who had heard her wake and had moved away, curious as to what would happen.

Luria moved closer to the man, kneeling by his side, her hand drawn to the sleeping man's face. He was handsome, a growth of whiskers tickling her palm, the angles of his face softened by sleep. "Who are you?" she whispered softly, her eyes roaming over his prone form, lingering on his erection that seemed massive to her untutored eyes.

He turned his face into her hand, his lashes fluttering, giving her glimpses of amber eyes. "I am Balor, prince of the Seventh Kingdom" he whispered. "You are an angel. No one could be so beautiful and not be heavenly."

"I am no angel, Prince Balor, though I might wish it so that we could fly from this place to somewhere safe." Luria moved closer as she spoke, held in thrall by the emotions she could see in his eyes.

"Somewhere that we might be alone?" he whispered, his hand falling from the couch to touch her waist.

"Oh yes," she whispered.

"What is your name, angel?"

"Luria," she sighed, her lips so close to his he could taste the breath of that sigh.

"Kiss me, Luria," he whispered, lifting his head so that he could find her lips. She was sweet tasting, her lips soft against his own, responsive, eliciting a groan from him. His tongue pushed between her lips and he felt her own come out shyly, touching his. His eyes fluttered shut in pleasure and he couldn't help but take the kiss deeper, twisting his head to one side. His mouth moved over hers hungrily, his hands coming up to cup her bare shoulders and run down her back that was covered by only the thinnest of silk sheets.

He heard her moan, felt her move over him a bit more, lying against his chest. Pulling her up, he draped her over him, feeling her heat and the softness of the silk sheet against his cock. He'd but to pull it off of her and he could be inside of her.

Pulling his lips from hers, he stared up into the sparkling blue of her eyes. "Who are you, Luria?"

"That is not important," she whimpered, wanting more of his mouth, more of his hands upon her body. "Please, my prince, kiss me again."

"She is Magnus's bride-to-be," Sabina said, coming forward with a determined look in her eyes. "I am to prepare you both for Magnus's bed this night."

"Both of us?" Luria asked, shock and disgust replacing the excitement she'd just been feeling.

"Yes, Magnus, well, my lord is a man of many tastes and talents. But I think in this instance, if I do as I am ordered, it would be a mistake I could well regret for the rest of my life, what little is left of it."

"What do you wish to do?" Balor asked softly, feeling a bit of hope that he might have found an ally here with this old woman.

"Luria, do you remember what I said earlier?" Sabina asked. "To use your powers all you have to do is picture the animal doing what you wish. Can you remember that?"

"Yes, Sabina. But..."

"We don't have time for buts, child. You must dress and I must think."

Luria rose, blushing slightly as she realized what position the old woman had found them in. She bent and picked up Balor's codpiece, handing it to him with rosy cheeks before turning and taking the outfit that Sabina held out to her.

"If this doesn't work, you must be dressed as if to go wed with Magnus, Luria. Now, hush, my men have to dress your hair and prepare you." She waved her hand as the two eunuchs descended upon Luria, one holding a glass of wine. Sabina could have cursed herself for forgetting to warn Luria about drinking the wine, but it was too late. She watched as the beautiful girl lifted the glass to her lips, drinking thirstily. "You," she said to Balor, "come with me."

Her hair was brushed until it shone like gleaming pale streaks of moonlight. Woven through the mass of thick locks were glittering sapphires that were almost the same blue as her eyes. The sheet was tugged off of Luria and a fragrant powder was dusted across her perfect skin. The scent rose in the air around her and she felt a strange warmth suffuse her body.

As she was dressed in a thin blue silk shift, she asked for water, for the wine she'd drunk was bitter and left a foul taste upon her tongue. It also made her tongue feel thick and her body feel heavy. The water did nothing to help, it fell from her nerveless fingers, splashing across the front of the silk and wetting it so that it clung to her skin.

When she'd been perfumed and powdered, draped in jewels and silk, she was finally left alone. A mirror was brought out and she stared into it, abashed but strangely aroused by what she saw. The shift cupped her breasts, the wet fabric clinging even as a cool breeze blew over her and made her already hard nipples furl even harder. Just under her breasts, the fabric fell away on both sides, showing the flatness of her stomach. A skirt had been tied around her hips, of the same blue as the gown. It clung tightly to her hips just to her upper thighs. From there, it also fell away, leaving her long legs bare and giving hints of the smooth skin of her pussy as she walked.

Luria could see the wetness between her thighs and felt almost faint with the need that was beginning to drive her mad with its constant throbbing ache. Her thighs felt weak and the insides were wet from the juices of her arousal dripping down them. She was barefoot and even the smooth feel of the stones under her feet seemed sensual and sexual.

She turned, hearing footsteps and seeing Balor as he came toward her. Tears threatened to fall, and her heavily kohl-rimmed eyes were damp. "I-I don't know what's wrong with me," she whispered as he took her hands she held out to him. "I cannot go out dressed like this."

"It was the wine you drank," Balor said though he couldn't stop from staring at her. "It was drugged." He held her at arm's length, his eyes taking in every beautiful inch. "I think you're lovely."

"Come, you two," Sabina called, waving her arms wildly. "We've no time if you wish to be away before the ceremony can commence. I cannot help you afterwards. You must be away now!"

Balor untied his cape, whirling it around her and concealing her beautiful body. He tied it securely under her chin and pulled the deep hood up over her hair. "Keep this up," he whispered softly. "Do not let go of my hand."

She nodded, her hands coming out to tangle in the softness of his tunic. "We will get away, won't we?"

"Yes, my lady. We shall get away."

She nodded and tried to ignore the throbbing of her sex as he took her hand, following Sabina as she led them away from the red gate and toward the courtyard by means of halls little used by the look of the dust that covered them. She stopped at a crossway. "Follow that hall down to the stairs and then out through the door. Your horse has been left there. I will get the gate opened for you." She turned toward Luria, her hand coming out to snag the young girl's chin. "Luria, the lion is still there. It awaits you outside the gate. Do not forget what I said about your powers. You must believe in yourself for it to work. Stay with Balor, do as he says. He will keep you safe."

"Now hurry," she urged, hearing the sounds of the horns that were a call to chapel. They would be coming for Luria soon and she had to be away before Magnus realized what she'd done. "Do not stop for anything until morning. He cannot follow you in the daylight."

Sabina watched for a moment as the two hurried down the hall before turning and heading the other direction toward the kitchen. She had a favor to ask.



Bloodstone Ch. 03



Luria followed Balor though her step began to flag as the drug she consumed poured into her bloodstream.

"Come, Luria, we must hurry," Balor said, turning back to her when she pulled on his hand. "What is it?"

"I want you," she moaned, her hands moving over her body under the cloak. "Please, I need you."

Balor shook his head slowly even as his own blood heated under the look in the beautiful girl's eyes. "We can't do this, not here, Luria. Come on, you know we must be away before they can think to look for us."

He jerked away from her as her small hand pulled at the ties to his codpiece, sneaking beneath to caress his cock. "Oh God," he growled, his heart racing, his breath quickening. "Stop that, Luria." He managed to pull her hand away and grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder so that they could reach his horse.

"You don't want me?" she asked him with a pout he could not see but could hear in her voice.

"I want you," he gritted out between clenched teeth.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Magnus is the problem. Now behave so that we might escape from here."

"Will you fuck me later?" she asked, her voice muffled by the cloak and his back.

He tossed her up onto the front his horse then quickly mounted behind her. "Hang on to me," he ordered, whirling the horse around.

Luria reached back and grabbed a hold of his shirt, gladly pressing her back against his solid chest. "You didn't answer me."

"Ask me later," he hedged.

"I will," she warned him. "Don't doubt that I will."

He kept the horse to the shadows, trying to ignore the little hands that were roaming over him, distracting him. The gate was still closed. "Come on, Sabina," he growled, pulling Luria's hand out of his codpiece again. "Luria, you have to stop that."

"I don't want to," she whispered.

His eyes were on the gate as he argued with her. "Do you know how uncomfortable it is to ride a horse like this?"

"You could ride me instead," she offered. "I know you'd be more comfortable doing that."

His eyes moved from the gate to the big doors that led to the hall. They were still closed and he could only hope that they'd stay that way until he could get Luria and her wandering hands out of here. He'd never had a woman distract him as much as she was. Closing his eyes, he sent up a quick prayer, breathing a sigh of relief when he heard the first creak of the gate.

Just when Balor was about to kick his horse into moving, one of Magnus's beast-guards came from around the corner. "Leaving before the ceremony?" 

"Yep, I have my own ceremony with this little wench to take care of." Balor laughed, his hand slipping inside Luria's cloak to rest between her legs, hoping it would convince the beast.

The beast glared at him once more than nodded and Balor moved on through the gate, barely breathing until it closed behind him and he began to move down the trail at a casual trot. He didn't realize his hand still rested between Luria's thighs until he heard her moan and felt her moving against his fingers. She was hot and wet, squirming until she could turn to face him, her legs spread wide to straddle his. Her fingers went once more to his codpiece and she nimbly pulled it away, moving closer and reaching out to wrap her hands around his erection.

"What are you doing?" Balor asked, shocked. He looked down in time to see her aim his cock and then bury it inside her wetness, grabbing his shoulders to help her keep her balance.

"We're away, now you have to fuck me," she growled wildly in his ear as the horse's gait forced him deeper inside of her. Her hood fell back and she pressed kisses against his jaw, moaning with every rise and fall of the horse. His arms came around her as the horse, scenting the musk of an aroused female grew agitated. The horse kicked up his back legs, showing his displeasure of what was happening upon his back.

"Please, Balor," she begged. "I need it."

Using his wide shoulders for balance, she started to lift and fall back down upon him, crying out as her pleasure grew. Balor stayed still as long as he could, fighting the urges to give in to her. But as the horse picked up his gait and he was rocked in the saddle, she was rocked upon his cock, each tiny movement seeming so much bigger because of the horse's movements.

"Sweet gods," he breathed, one hand held the reins, the other cupped the sweet curve of her bottom, guiding her, lifting her higher until he was barely caressed by the swollen lips of her cunny before letting her drop down. He stood upon his stirrups, letting her lean back on the horse's neck, his hips plowing into her.

"Yes," she cried, her eyes closed and a single tear squeezing out and running into her hair. His cloak had fallen away from her body, exposing the wet blue silk. With one hand on the reins, he let the other slide over that silk, feeling every tiny bump of her aroused breasts. Dropping his head, he found her nipple easily, suckling on it through the silk.

Luria cried out her pleasure, her voice sweet and surprised. She yanked at the silk, ripping it away from her breast, guiding his head back to her naked flesh. Arching her back, she held onto his shoulders, undulating against the horse to rub her clit against his cock.

His tongue rolled across her swollen nipple, flicked at it before drawing it further into his mouth to suckle greedily. Prince Balor was no novice when it came to women. They'd been throwing themselves at him since almost before he'd hit puberty. He'd had maids that bathed him that he'd pulled into the tub with him, letting them wash certain parts of him with intimate strokes. He had dressers, though he'd not made use of their dressing skills in years.

His teachers and the maids in the castle were just a few of the women he'd seduced or been seduced by, but none of them could hold a candle to what Luria was doing to him now. She held him tightly in her silken sheath, as if it had been made for no other cock but his own. She took all of him easily; crying out her pleasure as he quickly brought her from one edgy climax to the next.

Her mouth tasted hot, like sin itself and he found himself lost to her kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck so that when he once more sat up, she did too, still impaled upon his shaft.

"Help me?" she whimpered against his lips.

With a wild cry, he kicked his horse into a gallop, the gait causing him to rock in the saddle, and against her body. She clung to him, her breasts boring into his chest, her arms tight around his neck. Whimpering cries escaped her lips, growling louder until she stiffened against him. He could feel her sweet cunny clamping down on his cock and the spasms of those hidden muscles as they milked him. It signaled his own pleasure and he shouted his joy to the trees above him, his cock spurting rich, potent cum into her willing body.

He shuddered against her, his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. Even as he tried to catch his breath, he felt her moving, struggling against him as if trying to get away. "I-I'm s-sorry," she stammered, refusing to look up into his face. "I-I d-don't know what got into me."

Balor chuckled, helping her to pull herself off of him and to right her clothing though not much could be done for the ripped shift. He held her with one hand and re-affixed his codpiece. "Magnus got into you, or at least his cursed wine. Sabina had no time to warn you of its potency or what it was used for before you began to drink it. I'm just glad to be of service, Lady Luria."

Her face flushed even more as he spoke. "Y-yes," she finally said. "T-thank you for that. I am myself once more."

"For now," he said, seeing her skin pale and blanch. "I'm sorry, but the drug is still in your system. Its effects are long lasting."

"So I will attack you again?" Luria cried, her eyes welling with tears as she felt the first throbbing between her thighs.

"Not necessarily. I can help you, Luria. You must trust me."

"How do I know that you aren't like Magnus, intent upon using me for what I can bring him?"

Balor drew himself up, looking affronted by her words. "I am Prince Balor of the Seventh Kingdom. I have no use for spells or powers. I rule my people fairly and justly."

"I've never heard of the Seventh Kingdom," she admitted. Then she jumped, squeezing her thighs together. "It begins again, Balor!"

He lifted her, setting her astride the horse, her bottom pressed firmly against his groin. Pulling the edges of his cloak apart, he let his hand linger on her breast, pulling and twisting at her nipple that had grown quite hard in the cool of the evening breeze. His other hand stole determinedly between her thighs, his fingers pressing against the hard bud of her clit. "Rub against my hand, Luria," he whispered into her ear. He felt her shiver and heard her breathing grow harsh and panting. She ground down on his hand until he pushed two fingers inside of her, rubbing and thrusting.

Their play was interrupted by the sound of a horn coming from behind them. "Our disappearance has been noted," Balor whispered. "We have to ride to get away from here."

* * * *

In a clearing, not too far away from where Balor and Luria played, a tall, leanly built man sat before a fire. He rested against the trunk of a tree, smoking a long curved pipe made of clay. 

From a distance he would be mistaken for a man, but anyone perusing him from a closer view would note the differences. He had ears that rose to a point and his skin was almost abnormally clear and pale. His hair was fine, woven into intricate braids that were tied together at the back of his head in the way of his people—the elves.

The elf, Graeme, had been on a path now for almost a year, searching for the maiden with the mark. He'd wandered through the walled town of Burney the night before and heard of the murders as well as the kidnapping of the mayor's beautiful daughter. Buying his informant a pint, he'd listened with interest to the rumors that were roaring through the area that had to do with the lovely Luria.

"She be part witch and a foundling to boot," the man said. "Her mum couldn't bear a baby and when they found her, she conned the mayor into keeping the poor wee orphan. See what that good deed cost them?" The man slurped down his pint, looking askance at the elf before ordering another.

"Where did they find her?" Graeme asked.

"Alongside the road where the stream passes by the burned out village," his informant whispered. "She be kin to a witch to be found in such a godforsaken spot such as that. It's cursed," he hissed, spitting just a bit."

"If she be witch, then why did the mayor allow his wife to keep the girl?" Graeme asked, somewhat enthralled by the man's nearsighted logic.

"You have to understand. The mayor and his wife had wanted children for so long and had tried for many years with nothing to show for it but for the mayor's increased waist size and his wife's depression. How could he tell that sweet lady that she had to throw the bairn back? It would have been murder for the child and most likely death as well to the lady, for she fell in love with that little girl from the first."

"She was a sweet child?"

"None sweeter, never did a thing against her parents' wishes. She were well past the age of marrying and having bairns of her own but she knew her mum couldn't have taken her leaving. So she stayed."

Graeme nodded, paying for another pint before grabbing his key and staying the night inside the gates of the city. It made him a bit nervous to be locked in with these people but leaving this late would have seemed strange to them.

So, she was a foundling, an orphan with no parents and no way of knowing who they'd been. She could be the daughter of Atana Potnia herself. What an intriguing clue in his quest.

He'd left first thing in the morning and had done what those who'd given him information had told him to do. He hadn't liked it though. Evil didn't sit well with Graeme the elf, even his own evil.

He'd found the dark castle easily enough but hadn't gone inside. Lord Magnus wouldn't welcome him the way he was welcoming the lords and ladies of the land. He'd watched as Prince Balor had been greeted, seen through the open gate as Magnus had singled the handsome prince out, feeding him drugged wine and then leading him away.

The girl was in the castle. He could tell by Magnus's excitement and his pleasure with the coming night. He could only hope that the dark lord had waited to consummate his nuptials until after the ceremony and hadn't already planted his seed in the girl's fertile womb. The prophecy was well known, the disaster that would happen after the event easily seeable in any seer's eyes.

Magnus would rule, not with compassion and justice, but with a tyrant's fist and little care as to what happened to the people under his rule. He would take the seven kingdoms and then use their power, combined with the might of his own armies to begin to take over other worlds. Magnus would never be happy with just the seven kingdoms, not when with his power, and Luria's, he could reach across the breach and dominate world after world.

He has to be stopped, Graeme thought. But he backed away from the dark gate. There was nothing he could do in person. He had a mind-meld to perform and hopefully his old teacher would listen and not be under the rule of Magnus's charms.

So he started his fire and before cooking his meal, he performed the ceremony, finding Lady Sabina with little trouble. She'd grown old and bent in her service to Magnus, something she should have known would happen. But he praised her beauty, his heart seeing her as she'd once been, vital and beautiful, one with the forces of nature and being.

Speaking to her, he found the evil that now dwelled in her heart and he drew that poison from her, feeling it gather in his own hands, like a black slime. It sat in a small bladder now, moving trying to find a way out to go back to Magnus.

Sabina would help him. She would go to her death before Magnus could take her life or do worse to her. Her sacrifice had earned her a place in the hallowed halls of spirits. She could go with her head held high.

Graeme rose, tapping out his pipe against one of the rocks surrounding his fire pit. Packing up his camp quickly, he laid his pack on the saddle horn of his borrowed horse. It was time to make his presence known.

* * * *

Balor sent his horse galloping along the path, searching for a place to break into the dark forest, to hide them from Magnus's horde of beasts that would be sent after them. He jerked back on the reins when another horse leaped onto the path, a leanly built man with honey colored hair done up in braids upon its back.

"Who are you?" he asked, pulling his sword. He felt Luria burrow against him further, hiding under his cloak.

"I am a friend," Graeme said calmly. "Come with me and let us be away from this place and those that would hunt you."

"How do I know you aren't here to take me back to him?"

Graeme rose upon his stirrups. "Prince Balor, I am no friend to the dark master. He would see you buggered upon his cock and made less the man that you are in the doing. We must be away for his punishment is viler and blacker for what you've just done with the Lady Luria. Please, I beg of you, come with me and let us be away."

"Know you this," Balor said, taking a huge chance in trusting this stranger. "If you lie to me or cause harm to come to this lady, I will split you upon my sword with no second thought."

"It would be what I deserve. Now come!" Graeme said urgently.

He spun his horse, kicking the beast into the woods, hearing Prince Balor following. Giving the horse his head, he guided him with his knees, spinning him around trees and over a stump before stopping and jumping down. "We stay here for the night. Your lady is in no shape to continue and we will be safe in this clearing."

"We are nowhere near far enough away that we might make camp," Balor argued, kicking his horse forward so that he entered the clearing. As soon as he did, he heard a rustle in the bushes behind him and jumped down, his sword at the ready, waiting for whatever creature had followed them.

The lion that burst through the brush roared loudly, barreling toward Balor before stopping suddenly, its nose moving as he sniffed Balor's leather pants. Balor lifted his sword, ready to drive the sharp tip deep into the beast's neck.

"No!" Luria cried, putting out her hand. "Please, don't hurt him." She slid off the horse, holding onto the beast's reins as the animal bucked at being so close to the wild lion. "He is only trying to help me."

Balor felt the animal's huge head butt against his thigh, rubbing against him as a strange sound came from deep in its throat. "The damn thing is purring," he gasped. "He's acting just like a house tabby."

"He scents me on you," Luria said, a blush reddening her pale cheeks.

She moved forward slowly reaching out and tangling her hand in the huge animal's thick mane. "Sabina said I only had to think of what I wanted the animal to do and he would do it." She closed her eyes. The lion grunted under her hand, almost as if agreeing to do her wishes and then pulled away and leapt back into the brush. "I asked him to guard this clearing for the night," she said softly to Balor.

"Good idea," Balor said, feeling a little shaky after his run-in with the beast. "I still don't know how we're going to be safe here. We're so close to the black castle. Shouldn't we continue on?"

"It grows too dark and there are too many pathways that might befoul the trip." Graeme looked up as he spoke, his eyes glowing a golden color that gave light to their dark clearing. He spoke some words in the ancient language of the Elf and then stepped closer to Balor.

"Step outside the clearing and look in," he offered with a sweep of his hand.

Balor felt Luria's small hand catch his. He gave her a gentle squeeze before doing as Graeme did. As soon as he passed the brush surrounding the clearing, he turned and looked back, seeing nothing. No clearing existed there; Luria was gone as was the treacherous elf that had tricked him. He drew his sword, rushing back to where he'd last seen Luria.

He stopped dead when he stepped back into the clearing and she was there, along with Graeme. "You ... you made it disappear," he stuttered. "No one can see us unless they enter the clearing."

"But," Graeme corrected, "there is no clearing to enter. We should be safe here until morning. Tell your beast to watch not only for man but also for other animals for we dare not light a fire to keep us safe."

Graeme wandered away to where he'd left his pack, pulling out something wrapped in green leaves to keep it fresh. He tossed two of the little packages to Balor who caught them agilely, giving one to Luria.

"What is this?" she asked, holding up the bar. It looked like a mixture of meat and grain, pressed together with some fruit to keep its shape.

"The elves make them, they are very nutritional," he said, biting into his own. "They just taste like tree bark," he finished, watching her face as she chewed the dry, nearly tasteless mass.

"I must care for my horse," he told her taking her hand and leading her to the crook of an old tree. "Rest here, I'll be right back."

By the time he'd returned, she was rocking back and forth on the ground, his cloak pushed away from her skin as it just seemed to irritate her skin. The cool wind that blew over her sent shivers of need through her, as if the wind had tiny fingers to stroke and arouse her further.

"Please," she gasped when she saw him. "I cannot stop this on my own."

"'Tis my fault, Lady Luria," Balor said hastily, coming down to sit next to her. She turned toward him, her hands roaming over his body, pulling on his clothes as she tried to get him to move over her, to take her like he had before.




Bloodstone Ch. 03



"We cannot, Lady. The elf watches." But his hand slipped between her thighs, his fingers pushing into her core, stroking furiously as her hips moved under him.

"I don't care if Magnus himself watches," she moaned. "I am on fire, you must help me."

"Raise your leg, Lady," Balor urged, slipping between her thighs. He bent his head, his tongue finding her wet slit, his head spinning from the scent of her. It was like the most potent of aphrodisiacs, reaching deeply into his libido and pulling out the reaction it sought. He wanted her. He wanted to fuck her over and over until he couldn't move. He longed for the privacy to do such, but since it was lacking, he forced himself to be content with this.

He could taste of himself upon her pink flesh, the taste bringing memories of how it felt to be buried between her sleek thighs, of hearing her moans and sighs and even her scream of fulfillment when it came. He wanted that again, desperately. It almost felt as if he was the one that had consumed the drugged wine for the hardness of his cock even after just having fucked Luria was a surprise to him.

He flattened his tongue against her clit, wiggling it in a way that had her moaning under him even as he finger-fucked her furiously. Tears came from under her closed eyelids as the boiling in her sex seemed to draw inward. When his mouth fastened around that tiny pearl, drawing it hungrily into his mouth, she welcomed the explosion of bliss that had her clawing at his shoulders, moaning and almost growling in her lust.

Balor could feel her crisis was over, at least for now and he lifted his head, moving his cloak so it covered her beauty once more. Moving over her, he allowed himself to kiss her lush lips, smiling at how she clung to him. "Better?" he asked softly.

"Yes, thank you," she said, making him smile with her prim little answer.

"Next time, don't wait to tell me, Luria. You needn't go through that kind of pain while I'm here." He lay down behind her, drawing her back and into his arms, letting her head rest against his shoulder. He took off his sword, laying the hilt within easy reach. He glanced over at Graeme, noting that the elf had his back to the couple and lay with his blanket up and over his pointed ears. Considering the noises that Luria had been making, it would take a dead man not to have become aroused by her. Her scent filled the clearing as well so he couldn't figure that Graeme would be getting much rest tonight.

The sound of a night bird startled him and he woke, his eyes staring up at the brilliance of the stars that seemed so close to be almost touchable. Luria lay beside him, little whimpers coming from between her lips. He turned soundlessly, his hand coming out to cover her mouth. Someone was out there. He could feel it.

"Shh," he whispered into her ear as she turned startled eyes to him. "We have company."

Glancing at the elf confirmed his fear for Graeme sat upon his blanket, his eyes cast downward, an elfin spell falling from his lips. He sat up, drawing his sword.

A high pitch squeal sounded, the captain of Magnus's beasts calling to his men. Balor held Luria to his side, waiting to be stumbled upon. If they were, the one who found them would not be telling tales, he would see to that. But then should he be missed...

The beast, when it came was ugly, filthy with matted hair and blood on his clothes; it spotted Luria, its pig-like nose raising in the air as if scenting her. Balor was up in an instant, knocking aside the pike it carried and skewering the beast upon his sword. Grabbing it around the neck, he twisted hard, breaking its neck and keeping the beast from crying out for help. He let it fall to the ground, grabbing it by the heels and dragging it off into the brush.

When he returned, Luria cast a wide-eyed gaze at him, her skin pale in the light of the moon. She held out a hand and he took it, holding on to her. "It's all right, my love," he whispered as she buried her face in his neck. "It'll be just fine."

He turned his head, his eyes seeking Graeme's as if to search out the truth of his words to Luria. The elf was leaning back against the tree he'd chosen. His eyes were closed, his body relaxed. Balor allowed himself to relax just a bit, though he kept his sword close by. He curled up behind Luria once more, his hand sliding across her hip to rest on the ground in front of her.

Luria took his hand and pushed aside his cloak, pressing his palm against her breast. She moaned as he began to play with her nipple, trailing his fingers around the hard bud before twisting and pulling on it. Blood pooled in his loins, rushing with a wild throbbing into his cock.

"Is it bad?" he asked softly, his lips at her ear.

"Oh yes," she moaned, arching into his hand. "I need you."

Balor pulled his codpiece away, exposing his erection. Running his hand down her side, he moved aside the cloak and the back of her skirt. Slowly he slid his hand against the softness of her cheeks, sliding it between her thighs. "Lift your leg, sweet one," he said, moving in closer behind her.

Then he was inside of her, slipping easily through the wetness to find her opening, pushing deep to feel the heat of her core. She sighed, the sound making Balor smile. "Feeling better, my lady?" he asked, his voice deep and tickling in her ear.

The sound she made was part purr, part moan and she pushed her soft little butt against his groin, rubbing demandingly against him.

"I'll take that as a yes," he moaned himself as he sank further into her liquid heat. She was tight around him and he slid his hand between her thighs from the front, finding and playing against her aroused clit.

"Mmm, Balor," she whispered lustily, sending a thrill of pleasure through him.

"I'm right here, my lady," he growled against her ear. Flipping her on her stomach, he lifted her hips, pushing deeper into her. She rose to her hands and knees, laying her face against the back of her hand and arching her back to give him deeper access.

He fucked her hard, knowing that was what she wanted, what she needed. The tenderness would come after when he could hold her and kiss her as he wanted, touch her the way he wanted. But for now, he would drive her over the edge even as she was driving him.

He could feel his orgasm like clawed fingers gnawing at his mind and his loins, but he couldn't leave her unfulfilled. Leaning over her, he slid his fingers in her heat to find her clit again, feeling her clamp down upon his cock, hearing the keening moan of her pleasure as she began to spasm around him.

Balor slammed into her, letting loose his control. He gritted his teeth, holding back his shout of pleasure as he spurted deep inside of her. His head was thrown back and he felt his legs shaking. 

Then the cold steel of a blade pushed against his throat and he opened his eyes.



Bloodstone Ch. 04



Only the hand he instinctively brought up to hold the blade from his throat kept his head upon his shoulders as the beast moved, desperate to pull him off of the mewling girl and take his place. Balor gasped as the blade bit into his palm, the darkness of its evil trying to pollute his soul. With a backwards butt of his head, he slammed into the beast's groin, mashing its balls to its pubic bone.

The beast squealed and Balor rose, his cock spurting the last of its seed onto Luria's lovely backside, his sword coming to hand as the beast fell backwards. One quick thrust and the beast-soldier was dispatched. He turned in time to see Luria held by another, a knife at her throat.

But Graeme was behind them, with his curved knife in hand, he swiftly dispatched the beast as Luria stumbled forward and into Balor's arms.

"They've found us," she moaned.

"Scouts," Graeme said softly. "They are naught but scouts that stumbled upon us."

"They'll be more," Balor said.

As if in answer, the lion set to guard the encampment let loose a roar of its own, overshadowing the scream of another one of Magnus's foul beasts.

Luria jumped before closing her eyes. Her mouth moved but no words came out. "We need to go, these aren't scouts. They are the lead of a large group that is out searching for us."

"How can you know that?" Balor asked.

"The lion, he showed me. I've told him to do what he could but to flee if he was overpowered in any way. He will follow us."

Above them, a night bird flew, swooping close to eat from the insects that were attracted to the scent of their bodies. Luria lifted her hand, whistling softly. The bird settled upon her finger, tipping its head one way and then the next and staring up at Luria with its beady little eyes.

"Go, see what you will see and then come back and tell me," Luria said softly before lifting her finger to the sky.

Balor didn't wait. He retrieved his horse from where he'd tethered him earlier in the evening. Gathering up their possessions, he quickly tied them to the horse before scooping Luria up and putting her in the saddle. "I will not ask you to come with us," he said to Graeme who'd packed up camp as well. "We will be chased the entire way and I cannot ask you to put yourself in danger like that for two humans that you don't even know."

"It is the way of my people to render help when we can. Your quest is a noble one and I would help you achieve your final goal." Graeme put his hand on Balor's shoulder, a gesture of respect among his kind. "You have my bow and my sword until they are no longer of use to you." 

Balor nodded, accepting Graeme's generosity in the manner with which they were offered. "I thank you. Lady Luria is no normal lady and I fear I am falling under her spell the same as the animals who prostrate themselves before her."

Graeme nodded, his eyes staring off into the distance. "Prince Balor, I fear we must hurry. It is not Magnus's beasts alone that walk the forest this night. Magnus himself searches for his bride and for the one who stole her away."

"Then let us be away. I shall not let her fall into his hands, not while there is breath in my body." He hurried to his horse, slinging his leg over its back and settling in behind Luria. Waiting for Graeme, he turned to follow the elf, trusting him with his life and with the life of his lady.

They rode fast at first, fast enough that Luria couldn't really speak. She was holding onto the pommel in front of her, feeling Balor's arms around her. Her legs were spread around the leather saddle and she'd ended up sitting on his cloak, feeling his spunk dripping out of her and onto the fabric, wetting it. As the saddle moved, it rubbed against her, starting that throbbing in her cunny again.

"We must ride fast and hard, Luria," Balor said softly in her ear. "I'll make it as easy as I can on you but it won't be pleasant for any of us."

"I understand, Balor. I'll be fine," she said, raising her chin determinedly.

She wasn't fine by the time they dismounted the horse. Her legs gave out when she slid into Balor's arms from his saddle, her cunny chapped by the movement of the saddle and all the unaccustomed use it had been getting in the past two days. The fire was gone from her belly and she would have felt almost normal if it hadn't been for her sore thighs.

Balor pulled her closer, holding her against him. She was shivering, her beautiful blue eyes were shadowed and shuttered. She needed sleep, food, and to feel safe again. He could feel it. If he had his way, she'd be his bride and Magnus would be dead.

Something big and heavy landed against his foot and he jerked, turning to stare almost eye to eye with the great lion with the black mane.

Luria turned from his arms, smiling at the beast. "You are well?" She smiled wider as the lion answered her through their bond. Pulling from Balor, she hugged the cat, burying her face in his thick fur. When she stood up, she announced: "Magnus has retreated into his cursed castle for today. Rowan here saw him go himself."

"The lion just told you this?" Balor asked.

"Yes, he stayed away from the beasts but circled back around to watch for Magnus. He has left out scouts to try and find us, including Nigel, the one who killed my parents." Her chin went up and Balor could see the anger and the thirst for vengeance in her eyes.

"We shall avenge their death, Lady Luria, if it is at all possible. I shall not let you fall into danger again. We must stay ahead of Magnus's men." He turned, looking at Graeme. "Going to the Seventh Kingdom will be what he will think we are doing. There must be somewhere else we can go that will be safe for us."

"Two days ride from here to the south lays the city of Tindale, one of the cities of my people. They will grant us welcome and give us shelter until we can come upon a better plan." Graeme glanced at the Lady Luria, a gentle smile upon his handsome lips. "Your lady could rest and perhaps a wedding of a kind could be planned."

"Wedding?" Luria asked, glancing askance between the two men. But it was as if she weren't there for all the attention they paid her question.

"Would it be binding?" Balor asked.

"It would suffice," Graeme answered. "Though once you returned to your own home, another ceremony for your people could be planned."

"Who's wedding?" Luria asked again, stomping her foot when they continued to ignore her. 

Balor moved to his horse, pulling off the heavy saddle and settling it on the ground. He dug in his pack, pulling out a fresh tunic and leggings. "My lady, there is a stream just beyond those trees if you'd like to refresh yourself." He offered her the clothes, smiling gently down into her eyes.

"I am not some weak-willed lady to allow myself to be pushed and pulled around and forced to do things for my own good," she growled at him, taking the clothing as well as the cloth and soap he offered. "There will be no wedding for my own good, do you understand?" she growled. The lion, which had lain down around her feet like a well-heeled hound, lifted his mighty head and growled with her.

"My lady, it isn't just for your own good. It's for the good of all the people of the seven kingdoms. Do you not know the prophesy?" 

"Prophesy...bah...that prophesy isn't me," she snapped. "A marked lady who has great powers to wed the evil Magnus so that he might take over the world, it is ridiculous. I have no great powers."

"That lion at your feet says otherwise," Balor said gently. He lifted his cut hand, pulling the binding he'd wrapped around it away from the wound. What he saw worried him. The beast's sword must have been dipped into poison, the kind that begat the beast in the first place. Once they'd been men but the poison mixed the bloods, turning the one infected into one of those horrid beasts. He was infected.

"Let me see that," Graeme said, grabbing Balor's hand before he could pull the binding back over it. "This must be cleansed and then the poison burnt out of it. We can start the cleansing here but you will be very sick by the time we reach Tindale."

"What is it?" Luria cried, coming over to take Balor's big hand in her two small ones. She saw the wound and the poison that polluted it. It was in the way his skin was turning black and mottled around the wound, hair sprouting from the infected places.

"Do what needs done," Balor said. "I must be able to protect Luria, sick or not." He looked up as a bird came and sat upon her shoulder seeming to whisper in her ear.

"You guard our camp," she said quietly, sending the bird up and soaring. "No one will get close enough without us knowing," she said. "I will go to the river and gather water as well as roots of the lily plant. It will numb your hand and make the cleansing less painful."

"Thank you, my lady." He stopped her as she sought to leave, waiting until Graeme excused himself to start a fire to heat his blade. "Would it be so bad to be my bride? You would be queen of the Seventh Kingdom and rule by my side. You'd share my bed and have my children. Is that really all that loathsome to you?"

"No, no not at all," she said quickly. "I but wish to be asked, not told. My opinion matters. Just because I am a woman does not mean I do not know my own mind." She leaned down and gently kissed his lips. "I must go get the water and the plants. I will take Rowan with me. He will protect me, so do not worry."

"And you say you have no powers." Balor grinned. "You just do not wish to see them."

* * * *

Luria hurried through the tall brush, startling a family of partridges who had nested there. They burst out in front of her with a crash and a roar, sending Rowan roaring off after them until she called him back. 

Lifting the skirt that Sabina had dressed her in, she waded to the center of the slow moving stream, bending to feel for the root of the lily plant that bobbed in the center of the water. 

"Come on," she growled, her fingers skittering over wet stones and tangling in the roots. 

She yanked first one and then another out of the stream, tossing them up on the bank while she waded out. When she returned to the bank, she made slices in some of the roots with her knife and added them to a bucket of water that would be used to clean Balor's wound.

When she had completed her work, she untied her cloak and slipped it, and the ripped chemise she had been wearing, off onto the grass. Picking up the soap and cloth Balor had given her, she stepped back into the stream to bathe. She paid special attention to the abraded skin between her legs and thighs, cleansing it thoroughly before using the ripped top to dry herself off with. She felt much better dressed in the too-big leggings and tunic. She tied the cloak over them and picked up the blue outfit.

Returning to camp, she gave the bucket of water and the roots to Graeme before going over to Balor, who was lying against his saddle with his eyes closed. Sinking down next to him, she laid her cool palm against his forehead, gasping as she felt the heat of his skin. 

"The poison moves quickly. This should have been done immediately after you were injured, my prince."

"There was no time," he said, sighing as her hand moved over his face, cooling his skin. "You were in danger, we all were."

His eyes opened, staring up at her. "You were right, Luria. We were being high-handed in deciding your fate for you. I guess I thought that what happened between us meant more than it did." He snagged her hand in his uninjured one, holding it to his lips. "It was mind blowing, my lady, more than this poor man could possibly believe could truly happen."

"Oh don't you go playing those games," Luria smirked. She pulled her hand away and took her skirt over to Graeme, ripping a length from the bottom to use to cool his forehead and dipped it into the bucket before he could heat it. Wringing it out, she saw the juices from the roots in the water and picked up a small cup. "Drinking will make his whole body less likely to feel the pain," she whispered, waiting for Graeme's nod. She filled the cup, holding it in her hand and stirring it with one finger.

"Drink, my prince," she said as she sank back down next to him. "This will help you feel better." She wrapped her slender arm behind his back, helping to lift him for small sips of the water having him finish more than half before she let him lay back. Then she wiped his face with the bit of cloth and water while she waited for Graeme to finish his preparations.

"If I change, Luria..." 

"No, we shan't talk of things like that. You won't change. You won't," she repeated when he looked at her stubbornly.

"If I do," he pulled a short sword from inside his tunic, holding it out to her, hilt first. "Do you know how to use this?"

"I-I w-won't use it against you, Balor. I won't have to. Graeme will make you better. Elves are known for their healing ways and once we get you to Tindale, you'll be hale and hearty again."

"Take the sword, Luria," Balor ordered. "If I hurt you ... well, make sure I don't."

She nodded, sliding the blade through the belt he'd given her with the tunic. "I'll be giving this back to you in two days." 

His eyes closed and he smiled, nodding. He shivered and Luria took the cloak off her shoulders and wrapped it around him. He snuggled into its warmth, sighing heavily.

"Prince Balor has pushed himself to his limit these past days," Graeme said softly, coming up beside her. He'd mashed the roots into paste, smoothing it into the bandages he would be wrapping the hand with. On a flat stone, he carried the white hot blade he would use to burn the poison out after he cleaned it.

"Can you hold him?" he asked.

"Yes, but the water I gave him seems to be working. He's asleep," she said.

"He won't stay that way," Graeme warned.

They got to work, quickly moving to clean the wound. It was jagged, the blade cutting in on an angle. The smell alone was terrifying, a rotten smell that bespoke of the poison used against the handsome prince. Washing it with heated root water seemed to help and the flesh seemed pinker, not as mottled or changed as it had before.

"Hold him," Graeme said, watching as Luria draped her body over the bigger, more muscular prince.

"Do it," she said urgently. "Just do it."

The smell of burning flesh filled her nose and she gagged at the sweet scent. Balor stiffened under her, his eyes fluttering open and his mouth opening to cry out. She held on with everything she had, feeling every bit of pain he felt along with him.

"No, Balor, do not move. It's all right, my prince. It's almost done. Almost done," she repeated soothingly.

He settled beneath her and Graeme gave a snort of laughter. "Perhaps it is not just animals you have control over, Lady Luria." He pulled the blade away, examining the wound closely to be sure he'd not missed any of the infected flesh. Then he began to bandage it, layering the medicated fabric in first before wrapping it securely.

"You've done well, Lady. With any hope, we've stemmed the poison until we can get him to Tindale."

Luria sat up slowly, brushing her long hair out of her face. She'd lost some of her pins in the struggle between her and Balor and she slowly picked them back up, stowing them in Balor's bag. The sapphires might be worth something later on, perhaps a horse of her own so that Balor's fine stallion wouldn't be used up by the time they arrived in the Seventh Kingdom.

"You should rest, Lady. We will ride later this day and through the night so take your rest while you can." Graeme went back to his side of the fire, cleaning up the bloodied rags and throwing them into the fire so that they didn't draw the beasts. He looked up as Luria moved closer to him.

"Do you mind if I sit?" she asked. "Sleep is elusive this morn."

"Not at all, Lady Luria," Graeme said, bowing his head and waving her to where he'd been sitting earlier. "I shall enjoy your company," he said nobly.

"I am not a lady," she said softly, and almost to herself.

"What?" Graeme asked, confused.

"You've all been calling me Lady Luria. I am nothing but the daughter of a mayor, a lofty position in any town, to be sure, but not worthy of the title of 'lady.'"

Graeme nodded. "You may not be a true lady but you show by your actions that you care and that you value others above yourself, Lady Luria. For that alone you should have the title. But then of course, there is the mark, it gives proof of your relationship to Atana Potnia, a great lady herself."

"I keep hearing about her. Who is she? If she is my mother or my grandmother, why didn't she keep me?"

"I don't know, my lady," Graeme said. "Atana Potnia disappeared some years ago, the night a great star fell from the sky. No one has seen her since."

Luria stared at Graeme. He wasn't young by any expression of the word but his face was handsome, his eyes wide set and bright. He had a look about him that spoke of knowledge that he kept to himself, as if he knew much more than he let on. Reaching into his pack, he pulled out one of the strange elfin fruits, this one had the looks of an apple but the sweet tangy flavor of a mango. "Hungry?"

"Yes, thank you." Luria took the fruit, her strong white teeth breaking through the taut skin and into the lush flesh. The juices dripped down her chin and she laughed, delighted at the taste. "This is wonderful," she said, smiling. "Thank you."

She stood, bowing slightly to the genial elf before sitting next to Balor's side. He stirred as she sat and she reached out with her hand to feel his forehead. He felt cooler than he had earlier and he smiled slightly as she scooted even closer.

"Will you try a bite?" she asked, holding the elfin fruit to his lips.

Balor took a small bite, feeling her fingers slipping over his chin to gather the juice that spilled from the side of his mouth. Leaning over, she bent and kissed him softly, her tongue finding the juice of the fruit and licking it off of his lips.

He groaned softly, feeling his cock swell inside the hard leather codpiece.

His heart raced and his hands rose, weakly holding on to her. "You try my strength, Luria," he groaned under her mouth.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," she said with a slight giggle. "I believe I got used to touching and holding you when I wished while I was under the influence of Magnus's drugged wine. If it bothers you..." she let the question draw out her eyes upon his face.

"If you become my lady, then you will be allowed to touch me whenever and however you wish. You have but to consent, Luria. Say the word." He grabbed her hand, holding it to his mouth while his eyes met hers.

"I wished to marry for love," she said softly.

"You don't think that we cannot become fond of each other?" he asked, staring up at her with a strange look upon his eyes.

"I already am fond of you, Balor." She scooted even closer, not wanting Graeme to overhear their conversation. "I've shared my body with you, willingly. I don't wish anything to happen to you. If that is not fondness, I don't know what it could be."

Outside their small encampment, Rowan, the lion, roared and a scream was heard. Luria jumped away from Balor and closed her eyes, trying to see what Rowan was seeing and feel what he was feeling.

"He's under attack," she gasped, reaching out and gathering Balor's bow and arrows. Without waiting for either of the men, she took off running, bounding through the brush to come to Rowan's defense.

"Luria!" Graeme yelled, grabbing his own short swords as well as his bow and quiver of arrows. "You stay there," he shouted at Balor as the prince tried to rise. "You must stay as still as possible so that the poison isn't pushed through your system faster."

"Bring her back, Graeme," Balor shouted. "Don't let her be hurt."




Bloodstone Ch. 04



"You have my word," he said, then he was running after her, notching an arrow into his bow as he ran. He caught up to her on the edge of a large rise. She was staring down into a small valley where Rowan was fighting off some of Magnus's ugly troops. She pulled the bow string back until it touched her pursed lips, and let the arrow fly, letting loose a cry of joy when the creature sneaking up behind the mighty cat fell to his knees.

Quickly notching a second arrow, she aimed and killed another soldier, and then another after that, making sure each shot was worthy. Between her bow and Graeme's, they cleared the area around the cat, giving him a chance to bound off to safety. He made his way up the steep hill, his big paws eating up the area until he stood beside Luria and nuzzled up to her in appreciation. 

"We must be away," Luria said softly. "There is a way up this hill and those beasts will find it. We must gather up our camp and be away from this place before they do."

"I agree, Lady. You are a fearsome adversary with a bow. Where did you learn to use one?"

"From a young man in my youth. He taught me to use a bow and a sword, how to ride like the wind and how to find the right herbs for any illness. He was elf kind, like you, Sir Graeme." As she spoke, she took Graeme's arm and pulled him back toward the camp, hurrying him along as Rowan came behind.

"What was the name of this elf?" Graeme asked. Most of his kind would have little to do with humans, whether man or woman, child or adult. 

"His name was Bowden, Sir Graeme. My father found him along the side of the road one late evening. He'd been beaten and treated ill by the people of the town we were leaving. We took him with us and my mother healed his wounds. He became my constant companion after that." Looking around carefully, she stepped into camp and dropped down by a nervous Balor.

"You're unhurt?" he growled, his eyes roaming over her as he pulled on her tunic, checking for wounds. "That was a foolish thing to do, Lady Luria. You cannot be allowed to perish, not if we are to keep the prophecy from coming true."

"I don't understand," she said softly, as she reached over him and began to pack up what little they'd set out. "Wouldn't my death be the best way to stop the prophesy?"

"No, for it would only end part of the prophesy, Luria. The other speaks of a great prince and how, with your help, he is able to defeat the dark lord and make a new life for all the peoples of the seven kingdoms."

"You are that prince," she said, staring at him.

"It is beginning to look so," he said, trying not to smile at the disgruntled look in her eyes.

"So I help you ... do what?"

"Rid the land of Magnus," he said. "Isn't that a worthy endeavor?"

The memory of what Magnus had forced upon her was still clear in her mind. Stealing the precious gift of her innocence had been the worst, for it wasn't just a thin piece of skin he'd pierced as he'd forced her down upon his cock, but also her ideals, her choices, her dreams. He'd taken her and made her feel filthy, and for that she could not forgive him.

"It is a more than worthy cause and I shall ride with you to his end, Prince Balor. Any power that I may have will be put into your use, you've but to tell me what you wish me to do." She rose, going to the huge stallion that even his grooms were slightly afraid of. He stood like a docile mare under her stroking hand, moaning a bit as Luria scratched under the leather of his bridal, finding his most itchy places and scratching them for him.

"You'll spoil him," Balor warned. "If you aren't careful, he'll decide he doesn't want to work without being scratched every day."

"He doesn't want to be scratched every day, just once a week," Luria said, grinning at him. "But we don't have time now. There is an army of beasts, Magnus's beasts that he has set against us. We must away to Tindale." 

Graeme lifted Balor onto his horse's back, hearing the sick man groan. Then he turned to Luria. "You must ride double. Make sure he doesn't fall off his horse."

Balor shook his head trying to rid it of the double vision the poison seemed to have given him. He sat tall in the saddle, pulling Luria up in front of him when she would have gone behind. 

Luria looked down at Rowan, who was looking up at her. "Go scout ahead. Come back to let us know what you find."

Rowan bounded away and the horses started off. For the first few hours, Balor sat firmly in the saddle, refusing to allow weakness or illness to show. But slowly his demeanor changed and he started snuffling at Luria, his nose buried against her neck, his hands filled with her breasts.

"Balor, no," she begged, pushing his hands away. "You're sick and you need rest."

His hands didn't drop but clutched at her again. "I'm not that sick," he said, laughing uproariously as if he had the most excellent sense of humor. He sobered enough to tweak each hard nipple and then whisper in her ear what he wanted to do to her.

Each word was an erotic torture, each scintillating syllable sent her heart racing into overdrive and had him lusting after her more.

"Get rid of the elf and let's stop somewhere to play," he growled against her lobe.

"NO!" she said emphatically. She dropped to the ground in front of him and then started walking behind his horse. It was the poison, she had no doubt, that was bringing out this baser side of the prince. 

Rowan burst through the brush and startled the horses that were still not used to the wild animal being so close. The men controlled them deftly as the beast padded up next to her, nosing her to get some attention.

She scratched his big head, finding the itchy spots around his ears and down under his chin where the dark mane grew thick. "Rowan, what have you seen?" 

The lion's response caused Luria to cry out and fall to her knees. 

"What is it, Lady?" Graeme asked.

"Up ahead, a small caravan is falling to Magnus's beasts. There are children there and adults, but the beasts want the children to ... to eat. We have to save them!"

"Bah," Balor said, firmly in the grip of the poison despite their earlier treatments.

"I'll go," Graeme said. "But my Lady, you must promise to continue down this road. High yourself to Tindale even if you cannot get him to go with you. You'll find safety there. Promise me this," he said seriously, coming up and grasping her chin lightly as he bent down over his saddle. "Promise me this!" he said again, more insistently.

"I shall go, but I have to help you. I can shoot, you know I can."

"You cannot. Who will watch Balor?"

A smile came to her lips and she closed her eyes, concentrating fiercely. A crashing in the underbrush told her that she was successful and she smiled wider, staring at the beast as it came up to her.



Bloodstone Ch. 05



Author's Note:

There was a bit of a mix-up with the Alpha Bravo Team chapters. I'm working to get it fixed now. Sorry Guys. I hope you enjoy this story while I work to fix things. Take care.

*****

The creature that came through the brush brought a smile to Luria's lips. She stood, tall and strong, as it came toward her, the ground under her feet shook from its massive weight. He stopped just inches from her, his long but supple trunk coming out to caress her face gently.

"You know what I wish," she said softly, her eyes meeting the beady brown ones of the elephant. It squealed in answer, wrapping its trunk around her waist and lifting her easily.

Graeme stepped forward, his blue eyes shining with concern. He held his bow at his side but an arrow was notched and ready in case the beast should try to hurt the lady he'd come to respect as even more than what the prophesy had proclaimed.

It lifted her gently, putting her upon its back and then continuing on to where Balor sat upon his massive stallion. Luria rested her hand against the big elephant's head, bending to whisper in his wide ear.

The elephant lifted Balor quickly before he could think to draw his sword, holding him up and away from his body and turning him to the side. Luria slid off the elephant and down onto the saddle of Balor's horse. 

Balor cursed, his arms flaying as he tried to free himself from the trunk that held him securely. His huge fists lashed out and smashed into the fragile trunk, roaring his anger at the trickery the wench had performed upon him.

"Take him on to Tindale," she ordered the startled elephant. "Do not mind his fits, he has been lost to the madness of the poison."

"How will they know what to do?" she called to Graeme, easily controlling the huge stallion that was startled by the large beast as well as by the lessening of his master's much heavier weight.

"I've thought of that," Graeme said, rolling up a parchment and strapping it to the elephant's foot with a belt. "That will let them know who Prince Balor is and what was done to him. As long as your animal can get him there..."

"He can." Luria turned to the elephant, stroking his thick gray hide. "Run with all swiftness. Get him there as quickly as you can," she ordered. "GO!"

The elephant took off, blaring with a trumpeting noise. Balor still struggled against the massive beast, but even as strong as he was, he was no match to Luria's commands. He cursed her loudly, causing her cheeks to flush as he made crude comments to the things that happened between them.

"Come, Lady. You should go with him."

"No, he'll be fine. We need to do something and we will." She turned the big horse, not even touching his reins and let him have his head. Reaching out with her mind, she had Graeme's horse walking along beside her, keeping pace with her own.

"You are amazing," he said softly, his eyes admiring her.

"How about you be amazing and come up with something that'll keep us alive and them dead?" she said, ignoring his compliment and nodding ahead of them. "I'd like to make it alive to the elf city."

"If we do, I'd love for you and Balor to be the guests of my wife and myself. Our home isn't the biggest in the town but it is very comfortable. My wife, Marka, is the town healer."

Luria nodded, never realizing how regal she looked. Her bright hair had been braided and then wrapped around her head like a crown, giving her a royal look. With her fair features and even fairer skin, she was amazingly beautiful despite the men's clothing she wore. 

"Oh," he said suddenly. "Luria, I have an idea."

He leaned across the distance between them and speaking softly, explained what he wanted to do.

* * * *

Luria crept closer to where the small wagon train had been stopped. The wagons had been cleared out and their owners herded into a small group held off to the side as the beasts went through the wagons, searching for gold and whatever else of use they could find.

As she lay in the grass, she heard a scream and saw one of the beasts pulling a girl, not too much older than herself, from the wagon. The beast's snout was held high in the air, one fist raised in triumph. "The master shall be pleased," he cried, quickly tying the girl's hands behind her back.

Luria felt a tiny twinge deep in her belly as she remembered her time with Magnus and knew what the girl would be up against. She saw two people in that small group try to move forward only to be pushed back at the tip of a pike.

"Lady?" she heard Graeme's harsh urgings and scooted even closer. She didn't know exactly how close she had to be, but she had called the elephant so she knew she didn't have to touch the animal to have control over them.

"I'm going," she hissed back, moving as quietly as she could. Even as she did, she could hear the heavy grass swishing loudly against her cape. If she was noticed, it would be pretty easy to figure out where she was headed. She had to try it now.

Closing her eyes, she reached out to the lead stallion of the first wagon, calming him as he startled just a bit from her sudden presence. She whispered to his mind, showing him pictures of what she wanted him to do, urging him with kind words and sweet compliments. Then she moved to the next horse, and the next until she felt the telltale trickle of blood running from her nose and the dizziness that sometimes came along with the gift. She made it to the last horse, giving him instructions before going to the first horse once more. "Now my princely one," she whispered loudly. "Now!"

The wagons took off with a sudden lurch. The brakes that had been set quickly broke off under the pressure of the horses' movements. The horses circled around, smashing through a small throng of Magnus's evil hordes, crushing them under flailing feet and heavy wheels. Luria knelt up, bringing her bow and arrow with her in order to lend her strong shafts to the carnage in front of her.

Graeme dispatched the guards around the people and the ones holding the girls that had been chosen for Magnus's own personal harem—his arrows struck sure and deep. One girl was grabbed, her body used as a shield until Luria's arrow plowed through the thick skull of the beast, freeing her from its grip.

Between the churning hooves, the heavy wheels and their barrage of arrows, only a few of the beasts were left standing. Most were running, unsure of where the arrows were coming from. As Luria watched, Rowan rose from the heavy weeds next to one of the beasts, quickly killing it with one quick swipe of his four razor sharp claws.

He dug his teeth into the guard's throat and ripped a huge chunk of flesh out, blood spurting into his face and covering his fur, giving him a more terrifying look than before. He dropped the dead guard and sprinted after another, making a strange grunting "huh" sound deep in his throat. 

Luria gasped as she saw a female lion rise from out of the grass also, chasing another of the guards and dragging the body to Rowan. She probed the she-lion's mind, seeing her affection for the big male. She smiled. 

"Did you know he was mated?" Graeme added from next to her as they watched the two lions finish off the rest of the guards. 

"No, but he's a handsome lion. I shouldn't have been surprised." Luria looked up at the sky, noting the position of the sun and the quickly passing clouds. "We need to get these people to safety. Magnus will not take this defeat well."

"You're so right, Lady. And maybe we can catch up with your elephant and Balor as well." He stepped from the high brush and onto the road stopping to reach back for her hand to help her through. 

Luria jumped nimbly to the road, stringing her bow across her chest and throwing her arrow quiver across her back as well. She stopped at the beasts she'd killed and pulled her arrows free, wiping them free of blood upon the tunics of the dead before replacing them in her quiver. Arrows were scarce and these had plenty of destructive use left in them.

One of the men disengaged himself from a pretty brunette and made his way over to them. "We owe you our lives," he said, dropping to his knees in front of Luria.

"Get up," she said softly, feeling the blood rise to her cheeks. "Get up, we were just passing by and thought we could help. You must find shelter before nightfall. Magnus will not take this defeat well and could take it out on you."

"Where were you heading?" Graeme asked, moving up next to me.

The man looked at him, noting the pointed ears and the pale skin. "You're an elf," he said in a voice that was half accusation. His mouth turned down in disgust and he started to turn away.

"That elf just helped to save your life," Luria said, stepping between the man and Graeme. "Change your tone if you want to show your gratitude."

"Gratitude to an elf?" the man asked. "I'm supposed to show gratitude to a member of them that forced us out of our homes?"

"No, you're supposed to show gratitude to the man that saved your weasely neck," Luria growled, her face turning red with anger. A few yards away, Rowan lifted his head from his meal, roaring his displeasure and bounding to his feet.

He padded over to Luria, nudging her hand with his big head until she scratched at his ears. His blood soaked fur rubbed against her leg and he yawned, showing off huge fangs. The man's eyes grew larger as he witnessed this and he hastily turned to Graeme, offering his apologies.

"Who is she?" he whispered in awe.

"Lady Luria. She holds the mark," Graeme whispered, enjoying watching the man almost turn slavish in his desire to appease Luria.

"Then it is true? The prophesy has come to pass? The dark lord has gained his powers?"

"No. But only because Prince Balor rescued Lady Luria at the expense of his own health. Now, you must be off. Gather your things and your families and flee this area. The dark lord will be here come nightfall and he will want answers for what has befallen his troops. You do not want to garner his wrath." Graeme gently pushed the man back toward his people, who were already gathering their things and returning them to the wagons. The horses were calmly standing now, though blood spattered their bodies and the wheels of their wagons.

"There is a stream just over that rise," Graeme said. "You can stop their briefly and wash off your animals and your wagons so that you don't drag the scent of blood to your next camp. But go, and do so quickly, nightfall grows near and we also must be away from here."

He turned to Luria who was now scratching the she-lion's chin. "We should go," he said in an undertone.

Luria nodded, stopping to give Rowan and his mate orders. "Will they be welcomed at the elf city?"

"If they come in with you, the elders will have no problem, as long as they can be controlled." Graeme only hoped he spoke the truth. His people had become more wary as the years passed and more and more humans pushed into their lands. A loud cry from above caught his attention and he smiled as the beautiful golden hawk Luria had called to her before swooped down to land with care upon her shoulder. Its razor sharp talons barely grazed her skin.

"We must go," Luria said suddenly, a tone in her voice showed alarm and he stood straighter, his eyes searching the area behind them where the hawk had come from.

"What is it?" he said.

"Oro has seen another troop of Magnus's soldier-beasts. Graeme, they move to attack Tindale. We must go."

Graeme whistled and his horse burst forth from the small grouping of trees they'd left them in. He was quickly followed by Balor's stallion that raced to Luria's side, his body quivering as he felt her anxiousness. Graeme leapt into the saddle, his hands reaching for the reins as he thought of his wife and his friends, unprepared and unknowing of the danger that raced their way. 

"Will we have time to get there?" he shouted to Luria.

"If we hurry," she said. Her butt had barely touched the saddle before she gathered the reins, spinning the horse on heel and kicking him hard. The stallion, used to such demands, gathered himself beneath her and sprang forth, running fast as Luria bent low over his neck. The lions growled and took off after Luria, following her with Graeme close behind.

They raced through the area, following Oro, the hawk. When the horses tired, they slowed to a walk, letting them breathe before taking off again. Without stopping for rest or food, the highest tower of Tindale could soon be seen upon the horizon. 

Built close to a huge, heavily flowing river, the city was enclosed by a white wall that looked to be made of ivory. The outward facing side of the wall was smooth, but the inward one was etched with beautiful carvings of battle scenes showing great victories and even terrible defeats. Marriages showing beautiful brides and handsome grooms were also carved into the wall, along with flowers, birds, trees and wood sprites. 

Luria wished she had time for a better look but Graeme took her across another bridge and then up a long curved walkway before finally stopping his horse and helping her down.

"Balor?" she asked him, and he nodded, handing their reins to the elf that came up to them. 

"I will ask, Lady, but first we must warn my elders of what forces come forth."

Rowan and his mate butted their heads against Luria's legs, not happy to be enclosed in this city of elves. Luria quickly calmed them, her hand resting on Rowan's mighty head as Graeme led her up a set of stairs and into an antechamber. A huge golden bell sat in an alcove near two wide doors and he took up the tiny clapper, hitting the bell three times.

The sound had a happy ring to it, and Luria couldn't help but smile. Graeme had barely reached her side when the double doors opened slowly, allowing them to enter.

Six elfin men sat at a long table on a dais. Others sat at tables set at angles to this main one. All stared as Luria entered, her hand upon a huge male lion, a female following at her heels, Graeme at her side. Before the doors could close behind her there was the sound of a hawk screeching. Luria half turned, holding up an arm as Oro landed upon it. The bird flapped its huge wings almost angrily and Luria stroked its feathered head, calming it.

"You are the lady with the mark?" one of the elders asked, rising from his seat. He had hair as black as night, braided much more intricately than Graeme's and eyes that were so light blue they seemed unreal.

"My name is Luria and I'm no lady," she answered. "I am a lowly mayor's daughter who was stolen from her home by one of Magnus's evil scouts."

"But you do bear the mark?" the elf demanded.

"Yes, I bear the cursed mark," she said. "You are in danger. Oro," she nodded at the golden hawk that rode upon her arm with a regal air, "has seen a mighty force coming here. They will not stop until they have killed you all."

The room suddenly buzzed as all the elfin males began speaking at once. The older elf who had stood up previously, held up his hand and the sound stopped as suddenly as it started.

"What would Magnus's black armies have to do with us? We are not of your kind. We do not involve ourselves with your wars or your struggles."

"Magnus doesn't care whether you are elf or man," a voice said from the back of the room and Luria's heart seemed to almost turn over in her breast. Balor stood there, his hair loose around his face, his eyes stopping upon her for just an instant before moving to the elfin elder. He strode determinedly forward, brushing by Rowan. "Magnus only cares for victory for himself and the chance to rule all of the seven kingdoms. He will stop at nothing until he reaches the throne at Danforth Glen. We must band together to fight his evil, if not, all will be lost."

He stared down each and every one of them—his amber eyes alight with the fire of the righteous. "What say you?" he asked boldly.

"We need to discuss this amongst ourselves," the elder said, he glanced around the room his eyes finding the elf he wanted. "Pin, take our guests to quarters here in the Elderon and then return."

Graeme started towards Pin only to be stopped by the elder's voice. "Graeme, you stay."

* * * *

"How are you?" Luria asked Balor as they made their way out of the room. 

"I am much better, thanks to you," he added softly, his hand brushing the back of her tunic. "You have fared well? You're not hurt?"

"No, my animals and Graeme guard me well."

"I see that. You have another lion and a hawk as well." His hand slipped up to her waist, his fingers itching to touch her skin.

"Rowan's mate, Shria, and this is Oro, the hawk. Oro spotted Magnus's dark forces and brought them to my notice." 

The door closed behind them and Pin led them to chambers down the hall. "I will have food and drink brought to you shortly," he said as he moved gracefully past them. "Be at ease here." He bowed and then closed the doors behind them.

Luria moved to a small couch with a low wooden back, urging Oro to perch upon it. She sighed as his weight left her arm. She then walked over to the glassless window, staring in awe at the scene before her.

Elves of all ages, shapes and sizes were moving about the town, performing the mundane tasks of everyday life: shopping in stores, heading off to work, taking care of young children. It all seemed so peaceful, so beautiful. They had no idea it was all about to be ruined because of Magnus's evil.

"How can we let him destroy this?" she said softly, almost as if speaking to herself.

"We won't," Balor said, coming to stand behind her.

Luria sighed and leaned back, unconsciously resting her head on his shoulder. She wasn't aware of her actions until his hands came up to wrap around her waist, hugging her to him. "Oh," she said softly. "I'm sorry."

"No," he said quickly, holding on to her as she tried to move away. "Please don't."

"I-I didn't want to hurt you," she said shyly, ducking her head a bit from him.

"The only way you could hurt me is if you move away," he whispered softly in her ear. "Tell me what happened after you had one of your beasts kidnap me?"

"It wasn't exactly kidnapping," she said, feeling the heat moving into her cheeks again. "Besides, you weren't exactly in your right mind at the time."

"No, no I definitely wasn't." He chuckled, the sound soft and seductive next to her ear as he pushed her hair back with his hand. 

It was the same hand that had been sliced into and she took it into her own, unwrapping the elfin bandage. The wound had almost completely closed, the skin a healthy pink, no trace of the tainted poison left to be seen. "It is impossible," she breathed.

"Marka is an amazing healer."

"She is Graeme's wife," Luria said as she studied his wound. "'Tis all but healed. It is a miracle."

He closed his hand, holding it out in front of him and moved his wrist back and forth. "I am all set for battle. We must find a safe haven for you away from Magnus."

Luria turned in his arms, finding herself so close to his lips that she'd but to rise on tiptoe to kiss him. "I will not hide away like some ... thing. I can fight as well. My lions will protect me and so would my hawk." 

"Luria..." he began, only to be interrupted as she lifted her hand, her fingers touching his lips.

"No, Balor. No!" she said shaking her head firmly. "I will not be pushed off to the side this time. I can fight. I am not afraid to fight for what is right and true and saving these people from Magnus's blackness is the truest thing I can think of. Look at them," she said, waving her arm at the window. "They go about their business unaware of the evil that lurks just beyond their doorstep. I will not forsake them."

"And what if we are unsuccessful at keeping this dark wolf from their door? What then? You shall be back in Magnus's hands and who shall save you then?"




Bloodstone Ch. 05



Luria grabbed his tunic, holding onto it firmly. She looked up and into the amber of his eyes, seeing in them the anguish that he was feeling. She was about to add to it.

"Then you shall have to kill me," she said softly. "I do not want to be in his power so your last act upon this world will be to take me beyond it, with you."

"I can't do that," he said, staring down at her in horror. "You're asking me to kill you?"

"No, I'm telling you where your duty lies if Magnus wins and we fail. I must not fall into his hands, I would rather be dead!" She felt Magnus's hands so cruelly upon her hips, his body pressing into hers, stealing from her the gift of her virginity with no care. She shuddered with disgust and wrenched herself free of Balor's arms.

"It would matter naught if you hid me or if I stood beside you, Balor. If you fall, I must die. Do you not see this?"

He turned her gently, pulling her close, holding onto her even as she fought him. "No, shh, Luria, please love, please don't." His soft words penetrated the horror and sadness that was filling her. She lifted her head and his lowered, finding her lips with unerring aim, his hands going to her arms to pull her even tighter against him.

Heat flashed through her, simmering in her belly as his mouth took hers with all the masterfulness and care she craved from him. His tongue dipped between her lips, finding hers and tangling with it, stroking it with care as Luria moaned her need.

His hands moved to her weapons, quickly stripping them off of her, breaking the kiss only long enough for them to come off. Her tunic was next, his hands finding and filling with the soft roundness of her breasts. He growled his pleasure against her lips, backing her up until her knees hit a long, low couch.

He pushed her down, unwrapping the soft ties that held her shoes to her feet and then quickly pulling her borrowed trews off her legs. When she was naked, he stood, staring down at the beauty that lay before him. Thoughts of losing her sent his heart racing and a sick feeling to the pit of his stomach. He fell to his knees at her feet, lifting one long leg and letting it rest against his shoulder.

"You are so beautiful, Luria," he said, his deep voice sending a thrill of need through her. She smiled softly, desperately wanting to reach for him but sensing he wanted something else. His lips against her knee made her shiver and she moaned softly. "Your body is perfect but it's so much more than that. It's your goodness, your spirit, it radiates from you like an aura of pureness."

"I am not pure," Luria said softly. "You know I am not."

He let his hand slide up from her thigh, resting gently upon her bare mound, his thumb slipping into her slit and rubbing at the hard nub of her clit. "It is not the pureness of here that I speak," he said softly, his other hand moving to her breast and laying gently above it. "It is what is in here that makes you beautiful and pure. No other woman could have gone through what Magnus had put you through and still fight to save a group of strangers when she herself is being hunted. I find you admirable, Lady. It has naught to do with sex."

He had buried two of his fingers inside her core as he spoke, thrusting them gently in and out, his thumb still plying circles around her clit, driving her crazy with need. His words sent a warm feeling to her heart and she wanted to feel him against her more than anything in the world. "Come here," she begged, holding out her arms.

He smiled, leaning down to kiss the small mark on the inside of her thigh. Then he was in her arms, her hands roaming over his back and finding the belt that held his sword.

"Don't you know," she said softly as she fumbled it open, "a gentleman never enters a lady's bower wearing his sword?"

"I thought you said you weren't a lady?" he teased, leaning back a bit to give her room and then taking the sword from her and setting it aside.

"Even a lowly mayor's daughter knows some things," she said primly before grabbing his tunic and pulling it over his head, forcing him to move his hand from inside of her.

"What else does a lowly mayor's daughter know?" His eyes were shining as he looked upon her.

She pushed him back, her mind going to all the things that had been done to her. With one hand on his chest, she forced him down on the couch until he sat, his legs spread. She knelt between them, her eyes on the huge proof of his desire for her. Her hand was shaking as she reached out to touch it, wrapping her fist around it with an appreciative sigh. The time with Magnus crossed her mind again and she wondered if every man liked a woman's mouth upon his organ or if it had been something done only by those of evil intent.

Her mouth pursed and she moved closer, stroking his hardness with long slow strokes that made him moan. When her lips touched the soft head of his cock, she felt him jump, but she was set upon her course. Opening her mouth, she covered her teeth with her lips and pushed down over the huge head, filling her mouth with the meaty, musky taste of his cock.

"Mmm," she moaned, taking as much of him as she could, her tongue moving over him in sweeping, teasing strokes.

"Oh God," Balor groaned, his hand in the softness of her almost silver colored tresses. He pushed them away from her face, wanting to watch. "Luria," he moaned and she began to suck upon his flesh, craving the taste of him with a need that was almost painful.

She bobbed her head up and down on him the way Magnus had forced her, never dreaming that she would enjoy this so much. She'd hated it when Magnus had forced it upon her, feeling naked and exposed in front of his men as he'd used his hands upon her. With Balor, it was a pleasure that she thought could become addictive. 

His hips began to move and his breathing grew rough, he shivered under her as she caressed his heavy balls in her palm, squeezing and rolling them gently. She felt his hand on the back of her head, not pushing down, just tangling in her hair as if he had to touch her. Then he grasped her arms, his body tensing, pulling her up and off of him in one quick move.

She straddled him, staring down at the top of his head as his forehead rested between her breasts, his breath hot and quick against her. "Are you all right?" she asked him huskily, feeling somehow cheated because he hadn't come in her mouth.

"Yes, I just hadn't expected that," he said harshly. "You almost made me spill in your mouth, Luria."

"Would that have been wrong?" she asked uncertainly.

"Not wrong," he said quickly. "I'd rather spill inside of your body." His hands went to her hips and he guided her over him, reaching down and pushing her onto his cock. Her body stretched, her wetness coating him and making his way so much easier.

She moaned as she settled on top of him, her hands resting against his shoulders. When she'd taken him all, she sat for one moment more, relishing the feel of him before beginning to move.

"Slowly, Luria," he cautioned. "Go slowly unless you want this to end quickly. I want you too much for much more."

"You want me?" she asked, her pale eyes staring up at him.

"More than I can remember wanting any woman in my life," he growled, wrapping his arms around her and moving her, waiting for each soft moan and shiver. "It feels as if my life began the moment I laid eyes upon you."

She moved faster, feeling cherished and wanted, feeling her own need boiling in her belly, growing taut and more heated with every forceful stroke. She glanced up at him, seeing his amber eyes open and looking back at her. When she would close her eyes, he stopped her. "No, let me watch, let me see you come," he almost begged.

Her face was flushed, perspiration dripping between her breasts as she moved over him. Her body shook with each forceful thrust bringing her closer to the ultimate of pleasure.

There was a knock upon the door which both ignored, too involved with each other to let the outside world intrude. They needed this time together to recharge, to remember why they were doing all of this. The door opened, but neither heard. Pin popped his head inside, seeing the two wrapped in a lover's embrace, their eyes only on the other. He smiled, closing the door softly and taking up the position of guard just outside of it. 

Luria shivered, her body shaking in his arms as she came apart at the pleasure he brought her. She held him tight as she felt him tense and fill her womb with his heated spurts. 

Afterwards, as they both tried to find their breath, they heard a loud and distinctive knock on the door. Balor reached out and snagged Luria's tunic, helping her quickly into it. "Come in," he called when she was covered from her neck to knees. 

"Sir, they are asking for you and Lady Luria back in the elder's chambers. It is almost nightfall."

"Give us a few moments," Balor said. "We'll be right out."

"Yes, sir, but please hurry. There isn't much time."

* * * *

Graeme was still speaking when the Balor and Luria entered the elder's chamber. He spoke eloquently in an elfish language that neither could understand. When he'd finished, he held his hand out for them to come to him while they waited for the elders' decision.

"You have convinced us," the elder said, his dark head nodding seriously. We are calling upon our troops even as we speak." As if he'd conjured it out of thin air, a loud horn sounded, the tone ominous. "Magnus must be dealt with. It seems as if we have no choice but to be the ones who do it."

Luria felt a wave of apprehension flood her. She looked to Balor who held onto her hand tightly. "It will be fine, my love." He looked up at the elder. "Sir, I must ask one last thing. Would you marry Lady Luria and myself before Magnus's troops arrive?"



Bloodstone Ch. 06



Elves lined the walls dressed in hooded cloaks over their silver armor. All were armed to the teeth with bows and arrows, swords concealed in decorated leather sheaths, knives at their waists. Even the women were there, behind their men, preparing their own welcome for Magnus's armies.

The elder stood in the center of the main courtyard, a bower of flowers above his head, trailing over a white archway. He stood proudly, his own armor shining brightly, his sword upon a pillow behind him, ready for its ceremonial use.

Balor came to stand before him, his helm in his arms, his armor gleaming from a fresh polishing. His sword swung at his side. He took a deep breath, nerves that had little to do with the coming battle fluttering in his stomach. Trumpets sounded and he turned, watching as his bride made her way toward him. He could barely believe that this was the same Luria he'd rescued from Magnus's castle just a few days past.

She wore a long dark cape that only slightly covered up the silver breast plate she had borrowed from the elves. Her forearms were covered in silver cuffs and above them were twin bracelets, clasped snugly around her upper arms. She wore tight black leather pants under armor strapped to her thighs and legs. At her side she wore a long sword; on her back a quiver with bow and arrows. 

Her silver hair was up and curled tightly to her head in battle-ready fashion. Upon her brow rested a plain band of silver with an aquamarine, the size of a bird's egg, resting in its center. Under it, her eyes seemed even bluer. What was left of the sun shone down upon her, creating an aura around her that kept Balor spellbound. With her hand resting in Rowan's flowing mane, she made her way toward him, finally coming to stand beside him. 

"You come to our wedding armed, my lady?" he said quietly, bending his head to speak softly to her.

"Ever ready to fight at your side, my prince," she answered, a smile upon her pink lips.

He smiled. "Let us hope that tonight shall be the final time you must do such. Once we rid the land of Magnus's malevolence, let us pray that peace shall ever reign."

Rowan stepped back from Luria's side, rubbing against Shria as she had followed the two of them from the chamber. They lay down next to each other but close enough to Luria to be there if there be need.

"In the ways of my people," the elder began. Balor and Luria turned toward him, joining their hands. "It is accustomed to ask each party if this is truly their heart's wish. Lady Luria, do you wish to take Prince Balor as your husband? To live with him and abide by his rule as wife, lover and friend until death shall take one of you?"

"It is my heart's only wish, Elder," she said with a small bowing curtsey.

Balor's breathe caught in his chest and he stared at her with a question in his eyes. She glanced up at him, seeing his look and smiling as she nodded her head.

"Prince Balor, as a royal yourself, you know the bond of marriage is not something to easily be set aside. Is it truly your heart's wish to take Lady Luria to be your bride? Do you wish to live with her, give her care and succor and raise her children until death shall take one of you?"

Balor reached out and lifted Luria's chin with his fingers, feeling the fluttering of her pulse against his hand. "It is my heart's only wish," he said, staring down into the perfect blue of her eyes.

"Then please, take your lady's left hand in your own and place your palms together." The elder wrapped a small cord around their wrists, binding them together. "A man's right hand must be free to carry his sword, to control his horse, to win a fight, thus a woman is bound to him on his left side, the side closest to his heart is where she must be kept. A woman's right hand is just as important, to sew a wound or tend a child, to feed a baby and continue the growth of a kingdom."

"Thus I have bound the two of you. If it weren't for the upcoming battle, you would stay this way through the night and into the morning. Instead, we shall leave you like this only for as long as it takes for you to take your vows and seal them with a kiss's promise. Lady Luria, if you would?" He glanced up at the sky and took note of how the dusk crept ever closer.

"Balor, I vow to do my best to be your wife, to honor you in all things, to provide you a safe haven from any storm. I will be true to you and to these vows until I breathe my last."

"Prince Balor?" the elder urged, nodding toward the sky.

"Luria, I vow to be your husband in all things, to love you and honor you, to cherish you above all others. I promise to provide for you and our children until I breathe my last."

"The kiss," the elder urged.

Balor's arm was already around her, it was but the matter of twisting a bit to find her lips. He would have kissed her all night, lost in the feeling of having her as his, but for the clearing of the elder's throat. 

The elder held his sword out and quickly cut the bindings, sending the ropes falling to the ground beneath their feet. "It is done." 

"I have an idea," Luria said to Balor, after nodding her thanks to the elder who left quickly, his mind on more important matters. 

"What is it?"

"The elephant, she has a herd not far from here. I've sent her back with orders to bring the rest to the meadow in front of the village after Magnus's forces get here. They will fight for us and be a rear flank," her forehead wrinkled as she said that. "Is that the right word?"

"Right enough. Good idea, Luria." He pulled her tight once more to him, holding on to her as if it was the last time he might be able to—and who but God knew if it was. "I wish I could see into our futures," he said softly above her head, kissing her hair. "If I lose you..." he paused, his arms tightening almost painfully.

She held on as well, drawing strength from him. As the night grew dark around them and the night insects began to buzz, she felt a well of fear, almost like a premonition of danger to come, that set her soul to tremble.

"You stay close," he said. "Stay within sight of Graeme or myself, if we should both fall..."

"No, I shan't think that way, Balor. You won't fall, I won't allow it." She linked her arms around his neck and pulled him down for one last kiss. "You're my husband," she said softly when she raised her head. "You owe me a wedding night."

His grin was wide but serious and he kissed her brow one last time before letting her go, hearing the echoing call of the elves' horn. "You shall have it," he vowed. Then he turned and strode off, leaving her to make her way to where she was to stand. Rowan and Shria were to go with her but she turned to Rowan. "Go with him, keep him safe for me. He is my heart, my kingly beast."

Rowan almost seemed to nod, then he turned and bounded after Balor, only slowing up when he was at his side.

"She sent you to fight with me?" He reached down and felt the thick fur of Rowan's ruff for the first time. "Thank you."

The lion grunted and rubbed his head on Balor's thigh.

A sound like thunder split the night sky, eliciting screams from some of the gathered forces. At the other end of the meadow, the gates of the black castle appeared and then opened. Magnus slowly stepped out. He had an air of invincibility around him as he gathered his cloak about him. Striding to the center of the meadow, he shouted up at the wall, "Give me my bride and I shall let you live."

"She's no longer your bride, Magnus," Balor shouted back. "She's my wife and safe from you now."

"Ahh, the little prince. I shall have you both back in my power by the time the sun rises. When I finish with you, I'll slit your throat and then Luria will be mine. Problem solved." He laughed harshly.

Luria had listened to all of this, feeling her skin grow wet and clammy. Her stomach turned over and she quickly pulled her bow, notching the arrow swiftly. Before she could think, she let it fly, watching as it honed in on Magnus.

He shimmered translucently for a moment and the arrow passed clear through him, slamming hard into the ground of the meadow behind him.

Magnus scanned the elves that stood upon the wall, searching for the one who would dare attack him. His eyes landed on Luria and widen. "Why Lady Luria, you've gotten all grown up," he drawled slowly. "Your parents should have told you, never, ever attack your betters. I shall have to punish you for this later."

"So," he called again, this time speaking to the elfin elders. "You refuse to return my bride and Prince Balor to me. This is your final word?" He watched as the elder nodded. "Then you shall all die." With that, he turned and retreated through the black gate.

Graeme's hand found Luria's shoulder, squeezing gently. "It was a good shot." 

"Not good enough, the bastard still lives," Luria fumed.

Another horn sounded, this one coming from inside the great black gates. They were pushed open again and this time a legion of soldiers spilled out onto the grassy meadow.

"There are so many," Luria breathed.

"Yes, but the gates are shut and bolted and our women are prepared for any who wish to scale our walls." Graeme glanced over to where huge pots of bubbling liquid sat over fires.

"Oil?" Luria guessed.

"Yes. We shall set it to flame and pour it upon our attackers if they get too close to the wall."

Magnus's beasts stood in a long row and began to pound on the ground, using feet or the end of a pike until the vibrations could be felt by all of those that stood upon the wall. Luria took her place, standing next to Graeme, bow at the ready. But her eyes searched for Balor, finding him at another wall, shouting orders and raising spirits.

It was as if he felt her looking for he turned suddenly, catching her gaze and smiling at her. Rowan was at his side, protecting him as Luria had bade him to.

"We shall win the day, Lady," Graeme said. "We must be victorious."

Across the meadow, Luria could see Magnus standing upon his own high walls, walking to the center where he could see everything. She could almost feel his eyes upon her and she shivered, not in fear but in dread.

As soon as his troops were set, row upon row of them, Magnus sent out a signal for the attack. With a roar of rage, the beasts rushed the village wall.

"Archers!" the call was sent and Luria nocked an arrow, holding it against the string as she pulled it back to her nose.

"Fire!"

Arrows flew like raindrops, striking true and deep into the heart of the beasts. Some fell but others stepped over them in an unending flow. Luria kept shooting, picking her targets off one at a time. It seemed for every one she killed; two more took its place.

"There's so many," she called to Graeme as the elf, too, chose his shots well. 

"We must keep them from the wall," he called to Luria. 

Luria heard Rowan's mighty roar and turned to look. One of the beasts had made it to the wall and set up a ladder which they were using to climb over the wall. Balor was there, taking on one after another, his sword dripping blood, the silver now dimmed by the foulness of the beasts. Rowan leapt upon one who'd gotten past Balor's guard, stopping the beast before he could strike. She nocked her bow and killed another as he got to the top of the ladder then watched as they pushed the thing back, letting it fall into those gathered beneath it.

The first of the oil was set on fire and poured into those that had made it to the wall. Shrill screams greeted the fiery gift and a smile touched her lips. Another pot was emptied and then some of the older boys began throwing rocks down upon those who were left.

"The gate," Luria gasped, nudging Graeme. Somehow the beasts had made a battering ram and were using it upon the heavy gates that had been reinforced with metal. The blows made the wall shiver and she took aim carefully, letting her arrow fly to see it slither through the cracks and hear a cry from under the shields they'd used to hide the ram.

Graeme followed her lead as well as did another archer standing near them. The three of them began to deplete the beasts' strengths, and the blows to the door became weaker and weaker. Another ladder was set up near-by and Luria heard a feminine scream followed by Shria's roar and another cry, this one hoarse and terrified. Taking up the sword, Luria turned and rushed at the beast climbing over the edge of the wall. Before he could take one step upon it, she was there, brushing aside his first blow and slicing into him. He screamed as he fell the distance to the ground.

"Help me!" Luria screamed, pushing against the weight of the ladder even as one of the beasts reached for her.

"Lady! No!" Graeme cried, dropping his bow as he turned to rush to her aid. But it was too late. The beast wrapped his hand around Luria's arm and dragged her over the edge. She screamed as she was dropped and the next beast on the ladder reached out, grabbing her to slow her fall before letting her move down to the next and then the next.

"Luria!" Graeme shouted, his sword cleaving the head off the beast that had first grabbed her. "Balor!" he shouted, pointing at where he'd seen her last. "They've got Luria."

Shria growled and grunted, roaring her displeasure at being separated from her mistress. She jumped up, putting her huge front feet on the edge of wall. Her cat eyes found Luria quickly and she roared again. When a beast came to the top of the ladder, she took her fury out on him, ripping into his head and letting him fall. For a second, the top of the ladder was empty and Shria took advantage of it, jumping onto it and letting out a roar that had the beasts on the ladder jumping off.

She jumped down, her feet touching the ground even as she was surrounded by beasts. A sword swung at her and she leapt to the side, pushing through the evil beings, consumed with finding her mistress before harm could come to her.

Rowan roared from the top of the wall and she answered him back, seeing a glint of silver amidst the beastly forms.

* * * *

Balor looked up in time to see Luria's lovely blonde head disappear beneath the rim of the wall. For an instant, he couldn't move. His wife, his love, was being taken from him by these godforsaken creatures. A scream of pure rage passed his lips and he ran toward the ladder. He'd almost reached it when he saw Shria climb down it, leaving it empty.

"No, Balor, you can't think of going down there," Graeme argued. "It would be suicide."

"Let go, Graeme," Balor growled. "I'm going after my wife." He grabbed the top rung of the ladder. Gave the man one last look and was gone.

Rowan followed after sending a roar of rage of his own at the beasts that surrounded his mistress and his mate. He could see her in the midst of them, moving quickly as she tried to make it back to Luria's side. He had to help her.

Balor was surrounded when he reached the ground, his sword moving swiftly as he fought to get away from the ladder and to Luria. She was half way across the meadow now, the beast that held her moving swiftly to get her inside the gate and collect his reward.

Suddenly he felt someone at his back and he spun quickly around. Graeme was just finishing up killing one beast, and looming towards another. "Let's go get her," he shouted. 

Arrows rained down around them as the archers on the wall tried to help. Balor was forced to jump over dead bodies in his rush to get through the throng of beasts that still stood.

"Luria!!"

* * * *

"Let me go!" Luria screamed at the thing that held her arm in a death grip. She'd lost her sword when the first beast had grabbed her and had dropped her bow as well. Grabbing up an arrow, she thrust it into the beast's side with all the strength she could muster.

It grunted and grabbed at its side. Luria took up another arrow, slamming it into the beast again, only this time she was rewarded by feeling its thick three-finger grasp loosen on her arm. With a quick jerk, she yanked back from him and was free. Shria roared from behind her and raced to her side.

Luria glanced down at the horror around her. She quickly found a sword and took it up. It was heavier than the one the elves had given her and a bit more unwieldy, but she used it, fighting and hacking as she fought to make her way back to the village and Balor.

Rowan bounded up to her, an arrow lodged in his mane. He acted like a pet, gamboling around her feet for a moment to show his pleasure in seeing her. Luria quickly removed the arrow, making sure he hadn't been hurt.

"Luria?"

"Balor!" she cried, running to him, a lion on either side of her.

He held her close for less than a second before pushing her back to make sure she was okay. "You are not hurt?" he asked, his eyes scanning her body.

"No, I'm not hurt."

"Balor?" Graeme said from behind him.

They were surrounded. They stood inside a tiny circle in the center of the battle, Magnus's men all around them, their pikes held out and threatening.

Luria looked at the beasts gathered around, her frightened eyes searching out Balor's. "What do we do now?"



Bloodstone Ch. 07



Author's Note

I'm glad you all are enjoying this story. I'm also sorry that I can't post these in larger chunks. I do know what you're talking about. I feel the same way sometimes. I hope you'll keep reading. Thanks for the comments and the votes. Take care!

*****

"Do you surrender?" Magnus's voice could be heard over the sounds of battle.

Balor glanced at Luria and then at Graeme. Both shook their heads no. Graeme passed one of his short swords to Luria who hefted it and gave it an experimental swish through the air.

"I'd rather die than spend one more moment with him," Luria said. "Death holds no fear for me."

"You won't die as long as there is breath in my body," Balor claimed.

A loud trumpeting sound caught Luria's attention and she suddenly smiled. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths. "It is not our day to die, my love," she said when she finally opened her eyes. "Rowan, Shria." The two cats looked at her, Rowan grumbling a little at whatever she was telling him.

When she finished, he roared loudly, sending the beasts closest to him stumbling back a few steps before those behind them pushed them forward again.

Once more the large trumpeting noise sounded. 

Balor glanced toward it, seeing the first gray shape step out of the forest. "The elephants," he whispered. "I forgot about the elephants."

Graeme turned to look, knocking aside a pike that tried to push into him. He smiled, catching the eyes of one of the beasts. He nodded behind the guard, watching as he turned, his eyes growing wide as he saw the animals coming toward them. The ground trembled under the weight of the running elephants and Rowan and Shria leaped into the fray, their claws and fangs cutting a swathe through the guards gathered around them.

Luria followed them, hacking and swinging the sword, killing anything that reached for her. Balor came next, following her and then Graeme. 

They fought their way toward the walled city, stopping only when Graeme hollered.

They followed him around the wall and through a small gully. At the top was a locked door that was quickly unlocked from the inside. Graeme's wife stood there, pulling him into her arms quickly before ushering the others in and locking the door once more. 

Luria stood, leaning against the wall. Her once silver armor was now blood red. Her arm shook from holding the sword and her body seemed to shrink as if she were too weary to hold herself up anymore.

"Are you all right?" Balor asked, rubbing his knuckles gently against her cheek.

She lifted her eyes to him, and nodded grimly, standing up defiantly against the weariness that tried to pull her down. "Yes, I'm fine." She then turned and saw Rowan walking limply towards her. 

"No!" she cried.

She reached him just as he fell. "Rowan?" She buried her hand in his mane and scratched his ears, trying to get some reaction from the big cat. Shria yowled, butting him with her head in an effort to get him up. Then she turned and disappeared, racing away across the courtyard.

Blood ran down his side from a deep wound. Luria looked up at Balor and then at Graeme. "Help him, please." 

Marka hurried to his side, reaching into a pouch she kept at her waist. Pulling out a few leaves, she ground them between her palms, pushing the resulting mash into the wound. Rowan grumbled at the pain that she was causing him but didn't raise his head from the ground. "This will stop the bleeding and close the wound," Marka said softly to Luria. "But he will need to eat to recover his strength. I have no broth or soup that will help a lion heal."

"Thank you," Luria said, tears streaking down her face. She looked up in time to see Shria return with the leg of some animal clutched between her teeth. Setting it down in front of her mate, she yowled again, this time sounding determined. Rowan lifted his head slightly, glancing from Luria to his mate and the meal she'd brought him. He bit into the leg, pulling it closer to him and then laid down again.

"Come, Luria," Balor said, glancing around. They were too close to the gate. If Magnus's forces should break through there, Luria would be the first person that they saw. "Get him up, we have to get away from here.

Between her prodding and Shria's yowling, they got Rowan back on his feet. Marka's poultice began to work, the blood that had been flowing from the wound, slowed and stopped. The four retreated back to the elder's courtyard, Luria glancing over at the small archway that marked the spot of her wedding not so many hours before.

"We must get back," Balor said softly. He bent down and kissed Luria. "Stay with Rowan and Shria. 

Between the elephants and the elves, Magnus's forces should be pretty much defeated. I'll be back for you."

Marka stayed as well, though Luria thought she'd rather go and fight at the side of her husband. 

She began to roll bandages that would be needed for the coming day as those who'd been hurt sought out her skills. Luria reached into the basket Marka had brought to the courtyard, and began rolling as well; after all, it was her fault these events were occurring.

She tried, she really did, to stay with Marka and to do as Balor had asked, but a wildness inside of her grew, and she dropped the last of the bandages that she'd been rolling and stood. "I can't stay here," she said, almost to herself. "I need to know what is going on."

"But Lady Luria," Marka said, "You can't go out there not knowing where Prince Balor or my Graeme is." She reached for Luria's hand to pull her back down, but Luria pulled away.

"I need a sword," she said quickly, glancing about. Graeme's short sword was where she left it, lying next to Rowan. She still had her quiver of arrows but a bow would be handy as well. Grabbing up the sword, she gave Rowan a quick pat and then turned to leave.

She wasn't expecting Graeme's wife to try to stop her but when she turned, Marka was standing between her and the gate.

"Lady Luria, you barely made it back to the castle before. I cannot let you leave this courtyard."

"I have to, Marka. Can you not understand? One woman to another, this fight is over me. If it weren't for me, your husband and mine wouldn't be risking their lives now. I can't stay here and not know that he's okay, or see if he's been hurt or injured. Please, Marka," Luria almost begged the taller, older woman. "Please, don't you want to know?"

"My husband lives," Marka said softly. "I would know if he were to be brought down in battle. I would know here," she said, touching one hand to just above her left breast.

"Then let me go and find out if mine still lives," she begged.

* * * *

Balor swung around, his sword meeting the one of the beast behind him with a clang of steel upon steel. Around him were the bodies of the beasts he had slain but still they kept coming.

Graeme slayed another of the foul guard, glancing up to see the many that had died. Both elf-kind and beast lay scattered upon the field of battle, yet more still fought, standing up to Magnus and the dark magic that he wielded.

The meadow, once a beautiful place, was now forever scarred by the blood and gore of battle. But he had no time to ruminate over its loss now. 

He looked over at the black gates of Magnus's castle. The gates were closed and they began to shimmer as if it were daylight.

"Magnus's leaving!" he shouted to Balor.

Balor pushed the beast on his sword away, and then turned toward the sight as well. "He leaves his guard to die and runs like a hound with his tail between his legs."

"He's giving up too easily," Graeme shouted as he fought another of the guards. He caught the beast's first thrust, turning it away with a quick move of his sword, then he moved under the beast's armor and sliced open its belly. The beast bellowed as it fell, landing on another of the guard.

"Balor!?" Graeme heard her call and turned to look, watching as Luria and Shria moved quickly through the battle grounds, slashing and clawing at beasts as they went. 

"Balor! Your wife is approaching."

"What? Luria?" Balor turned toward her, his eyes darkening as he saw her take on two of the beasts. Shria grabbed one by the throat while Luria ducked under the other's armor and ran him through with her short sword. Then she was at the small rise in the meadow where Balor and Graeme fought.

She stood behind her husband, her back to his back and fought with him.

"When this is over, I'm going to take you across my knee and blister your hide for you," he growled as his sword clanged loudly. 

"You need help, I can help," she said, yanking her sword out of the body of one of the beasts. "Shria and I can help."

"Luria, if anything happens to you," he growled, ducking a blow and then spinning to deliver one of his own.

"It won't," she said firmly. "Why are they still coming when Magnus's castle is gone?"

"They're mindless drones under Magnus's control, who knows why he does the things he does?" He killed another of the guard and blocked the sword of one that would have split him in two. He quickly dispatched that one only to turn to look at Luria. She'd been drawn further from him and was fighting one of them while another was sneaking up behind her with a club in his hands. 

"Luria! Watch out behind you!"

But she didn't hear him in time, looking up just as the beast struck.

"NO!" Balor shouted, racing toward where the beast was going to pick up her limp form. Two arrows flashed by him, killing the beast who was trying to pick Luria up and wounding the other. Balor's sword finished him off quickly.

The beast Graeme had killed lay on top of Luria's body and Balor kicked him off. Then he knelt at her side, his hands unsteady as he reached to find her pulse. "Dammit, girl, you should have stayed in the village." He breathed a sigh of relief when he found her pulse in her throat. It was strong, but there was a huge knot forming on her temple and blood flowed from the wound.

"I have to take her in," he said to Graeme, lifting her limp form in his strong arms.

"Go, we have this," Graeme said, shooting arrows at the remaining beasts. There weren't many left and they all seemed to mill around in confusion unless they came close to one of the warriors, then they would attack.

Balor nodded, turning toward the village gates. 

Shria was at his side, protecting him while he carried her mistress. Wounded elves were already being brought in and a tent had been set up to house them until their relatives could be found to take over care. Balor ducked under the white flap, his eyes searching for Marka.

"I tried to stop her," Marka said, coming up beside Balor. "I told her nothing good would come out of her going out there."

"She'll be all right, won't she?" Balor asked, laying his wife on the cot that Marka directed him to.

"Head wounds are tricky; you never know what will happen with them. She could wake up and be fine or she could slip into a coma. The best I can do is try to stop the swelling and to stop the bleeding. The rest will be up to Luria."

Balor stared down at the small woman he'd married. She looked so tiny on the cot. She also looked younger, with her pale skin and light hair. The blood was a stark reminder of what she'd been through. He looked up at Marka. "When you are finished, I am going to take her to our rooms. If that is acceptable?"

"It is, it will free up a cot for someone else who is injured." She looked away and then back at Balor. "My Graeme, he is all right?"

"He's fine. He is a true warrior and a wonderful friend." He placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "He'll be fine."

There was a commotion by the front flap of the tent and Balor turned his head, his hand going to his sword. He relaxed when he saw the Elder stride in, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Balor. "There you are," he said. "We just heard. Is the Lady Luria...?"

"No," Marka said quickly. "I stopped the bleeding and there is nothing much more I can do." She looked up at Balor. "Keep a cold cloth on the bump and let her rest, when she wakes, call me."

* * * *

Luria felt as if she were swimming through a tide of black goo. She could see a light above her and she fought to reach it. Someone was calling her name, she could hear him. His voice sounded so afraid. She had to get to him.

"Luria, come on, love. You can do it, wake up. Luria, wake up for me."

Her eyelashes fluttered and she moaned as the pain from her head struck her, making her wish to go back down into that blackness. "Where am I?" she rasped, her throat and mouth almost too dry to speak.

"You're in the Elderon, love. You got clubbed in the back of the head before I could reach you."

Her eyes opened and she squinted, seeing Balor's handsome face above her. She started and tried to sit up but Balor pushed her back down. "But the battle, Magnus's troops, are they..."

"Destroyed, we wiped out his army and haven't seen hide nor hair of him since."

"So I'm safe?" 

"For now," Balor answered. "We've still got a ways to go to get back to the Seventh Kingdom."

Luria lifted the cloth off of her head and turned on her side, her back to him. "Can we have our marriage annulled there?"

"Annulled? Why would you want to have it annulled? Luria, look at me," he said forcefully. He waited until she turned then took her jaw into his hands holding it still. "Why would you want to annul this marriage? I thought it was something that we both wanted."

"It hasn't been consummated," she sighed, closing her eyes and trying to drive away the pain in her head and the one in her heart. "You should be free to find someone to love instead of marrying me because of duty to your country."

He grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back on the bed so that he could see her face. "I didn't marry you for duty, Luria. You cannot look at me and seriously believe I did that."

"My head hurts, Balor, could we talk about this later?" she cried.

"No!" Balor anger's seemed to seep from his pores. "No, I don't think so. You and I have to get this decided now." He bent his head and kissed her, putting every ounce of heat he could into the kiss. When he lifted his head, her face was flushed and she was breathing rapidly. "Tell me, Luria, does that feel like duty?"

"Lust." Her mouth felt swollen by his kiss. 

"Attraction. We've been caught up in such madness, is it too hard to think that what we feel is nothing more than that?"

"I know what I feel, Luria. You can't tell me it's anything but what it is. I love you." Balor reached out and pushed her hair away from her face.

"I don't know who I am." She looked up into his eyes. "I've never met my parents or even know who they are. I could be a beggar's daughter or perhaps even the daughter of a murderer. You would put someone like that on the throne at your side?"

"It doesn't matter what you come from, Luria. What does matter is what I find in here." His big hand covered her chest. "You are good, kind and loving. You're brave, fearless to a fault and more than a little disobedient. You'd fight to the end for a cause you believe in. Why won't you fight for us?"

His hand trailed down her side, touching her bare arm. He'd removed her armor before tucking her into bed and now all she wore was the plain sleeveless tunic that she'd had on under her armor. "You're bound to my left hand, to my left side, Luria. If you forego what we have you will take that with you."

"I-I don't know. I can't think now."

"How about just feel?" He bent his head until he was but a mere wisp from her lips. "Feel and know that I love you." His mouth was gentle this time, twisting against hers until she began to kiss him back, clinging to his lips with her own. Her hands came up, twisting in the curls that lay at his nape, bringing him down further so that she could feel him against her.

His chainmail was cold against her skin and she shivered, her fingers went to the buckle on his shoulder and deftly undid it. She helped him get it off, leaving him in only his white tunic and black leather pants. His cod piece was mostly metal, sewn over heavy leather to protect him in battle. It was a pretty piece with engraving on the metal that was swirled and swished in a pleasing manner. Grabbing the hem of his tunic, she lifted it above his head, leaving him naked from the waist up. His wide chest drew her hand and she couldn't stop touching him, stroking over him.

Balor groaned, her little hands felt like fire on his skin. He was ablaze with desire, every touch bringing him closer to losing control. "Should we be doing this?" He moaned. "You're injured."

"I'm fine. But I cannot sit up," Luria said softly. "Come closer so I can taste you."

The thought of those soft lips and what they could do to his body had his cock hard and throbbing inside his codpiece. He moved towards her, cradling her to him so that she might taste his skin. He felt her hands touching the ties that held up his pants and then they were free. He stood, kicking off his boots and taking off his pants. Then he got back into the bed with her, his hands framing her face as he leaned down to kiss her once more.

"Lay still." He whispered against her lips. "I'll take care of you."

That command was a little harder to obey than he'd thought it would be. For even as his hands made quick work of her tunic, leaving her naked to his eyes, she was touching his shoulders, caressing his back and the firm muscles that moved under his tawny skin. When his lips touched her throat, she arched her head back, anxious for more. He gave it, nipping gently at her skin and then sucking upon it, leaving a mark that would soon turn to a bruise. All the while, Luria was whimpering for more.

She was naked against him and he stopped, stunned by her beauty. Her skin was pale, fair with just the hint of a rosy blush rising to her cheeks. Her breasts were perfect, rounded with berry colored nipples. Her waist was slim and then flared out to womanly hips.

"Oh by the gods, Luria, you are so beautiful." He sat up and let one of his hands rest against her sex. Slowly he pushed two of his fingers into the wet slit that welcomed them, thrusting them slowly into her core. He could feel the silky wetness that waited for him, but first he wanted to bring her pleasure.

His thumb found the delicate bud of her clitoris, circling it while he listened to her cries and felt her pushing back against his hand. It took no time at all for her to cry out and a gush of moisture filled Balor's hand. "How was that?" he asked.

Even as he waited for her answer, he climbed back into the bed next to her, slipping between her thighs and thrusting his hard cock into her.

She opened up under the pressure of his cock, her core accepting him with a firm caress of her inner muscles. She gasped her delight in feeling him inside of her and brought up her legs to wrap them around his hips.

He started slowly, not wanting to jar her or cause more pain to her injuries. He wanted this to last, to slowly make love to her, to show her what was in his heart. His hands slid down her arms, drawing them out to her sides where he entwined his fingers with her. Nuzzling the side of her neck with his nose, he whispered of his love for her.

Luria was wrapped around him, her body writhing against his as his words triggered more than just lust inside of her. She wanted to tell him, she ached for him to hear what he wanted to, that she loved him, too. He held her hands down and she struggled to get them free, wanting to touch him, to love him the way he was her.

Every long, deep thrust of his body sent her pulse racing and drew the tension in her belly tighter and then tighter still until she felt as if she'd explode. Her head thrashed on the pillow, her body moved against his, trying to push him even deeper inside of her. She could hear the air rasping in and out of him; feel the trembling in the arms that held her so securely.




Bloodstone Ch. 07



He was holding himself back for her.

"Balor, I need you." She stared up at her husband. His teeth were clenched, his jaw moving as he tried to hold himself back.

"I don't want to hurt you." He growled, barely able to keep the madness away.

"You won't, I'm made of much sturdier stuff that that. Now, fuck me properly." She had to laugh when his eyes opened and he stared down at her in surprise. "Do it right." 

He loosened his grip on her hands letting them free. "Are you sure?" he asked, holding himself 

away from her body.

"Yes." 

His hands went to her shoulders and he began to thrust into her quicker and harder, his body trembling as it lay against hers. Luria felt the tension in her belly spiraling out of control. 

Just as it began to explode, she whispered in his ear. "I love you, too."

Balor turned, surprised and looked into her face. 

A big grin turned the corners of his mouth up. Then he was there as well, spurting his thick seed into her.

When it was done, he rolled to his side and pulled her with him. "No more talk of annulments?"

"No, but I don't know how to be a princess."

"You just have to love me and it will be perfect, all right?"

She nodded, yawning hugely.

"Sleep, baby." He kissed the top of her white blonde head.

He heard her breathing change and knew she was asleep. Slipping as quietly as he could from her side, he dressed once more. The courtyard was still full of elves when he got there. Looking for Graeme, he didn't see him until the elf was right at his elbow.

"Is Lady Luria all right?" 

"She is. She just woke up and I wanted to let your wife know."

"That can wait a minute, can it not? I have news for you." Graeme started walking and Balor followed. He took him to a door that was set in a small building barely large enough for two men. 

When Graeme opened the door, Balor was startled to see stone stairs built into the floor.

"What is this place?" 

"It is where we take our prisoners," Graeme whispered. He descended the stairs, holding up a torch for Balor to see by. It was a dank and dark place. Metal cages lined the walls and torture equipment was strewn about the dirt floor. 

"What in here that you have to show me?" Balor asked, his eyes adjusting to the dark quickly. He could see one of Magnus's beast-guards stretched out upon a table with its ankles and wrists bound in leather straps. 

"Tell him what you told me," he ordered the beast.

It turned its head away from Prince Balor and remained mute.

"Tell him or I'll cut out your tongue and feed it to you," Graeme said, gripping the beast by its thick oily hair. 

It squealed loudly and struggled against the straps that cut cruelly into its ankles and wrists. "He's gone to the Seventh Kingdom," it shouted loudly. "He goes to take the king and queen as prisoners to trade for the white witch, the one with the mark."

Balor was stunned. 

"Do not worry yourself, Balor," Graeme said. "It's almost sunrise. He cannot come out until dark. 

When we heard this news the elders sent out their fastest riders to alert the Seventh Kingdom. There's nothing more that can be done." 

"I can go," Balor said. "My horse is one of the fastest. I can go and lead my father's troops. It is where I should be."

"What of Lady Luria?"

"I shall leave her here if you'll protect her. She won't be pleased with what I have to do." He waited for Graeme's nod and then hurried back up the stairs and through the door, going to the stables to prepare his mount.



Bloodstone Ch. 08



Luria sensed something was wrong the moment she woke. She sat up in the bed, her hand going to her head as her vision blurred then doubled before righting itself. "Balor?" she called, softening the tone of her voice for even that made her head ache.

When no answer was forthcoming, she swung her legs out of bed and sat on the edge. She was naked, her tunic on the floor where Balor had dropped it when he swept it over her head. She couldn't help but smile at the memory. Her husband was a strong man and he loved her.

It almost seemed like a fairytale to her, the handsome prince sweeping her away from the evil sorcerer, and then taking her to his castle to live happily ever after. But the fairytales never spoke of the incredibly erotic sex between the hero and the damsel. 

Taking a deep breath, she reached for her tunic and pulled it on. Her breeches were hung over a chair in the corner and she grimaced, seeing the blood and gore that stained them. But they were all she had so she grabbed an edge of the sheet and wiped as much as she could off before pulling them on. Wrapping her sword belt around her waist and putting Graeme's short sword in its sheath, she finally felt ready to go and find Balor.

As she passed a mirror, she hesitated. Her hair was a mess, pins were coming out which left half of her hair down on her shoulders and the other half up. With a groan she pulled out the rest of the pins before grabbing a nearby brush and straightening out the tangles. Every time she got close to the bump on her head, she'd grimace, but kept at it anyway until her white blond hair shone in the light of the sun that came through the glassless windows.

The sound of a horse took her to the window and she gasped as she recognized the rider. "Balor!" she cried, seeing him hesitate and then turn his face up to hers. "Don't leave me here!" 

"Graeme will explain. I love you, Luria," was all Balor said before turning his horse and riding through the gate. She watched him, tears streaming down her cheeks. He was deserting her. She couldn't believe that he would do it, not to her, not to his wife.

She ran out the door and down the steps into the courtyard. Her hair flew out behind her like a silken cape until she found Graeme. Grabbing his arm, she turned him around, not caring that he spoke to the Elder. 

"Where is he going?" she demanded.

"Lady Luria, calm yourself," Graeme said, holding his hands out to her.

"I am as calm as I will ever get," she growled. "Where is he going?"

"Magnus's armies are going to march on the Seventh Kingdom. Balor's gone to warn his people and to fight at their side."

"So why am I not going with him? Is it not my place to fight at my husband's side?" she asked. "I need a horse and a map to tell me how to get to the Seventh Kingdom."

"Your husband, Prince Balor, wants you to stay here, Princess. We must do as he asks."

"Fine, then I'll find a way on my own," she growled before giving a shrill cry and holding up her arm.

A falcon, sleek and beautiful, landed gently upon her bare arm. She spoke softly to the bird then sent her off with a quick jerk of her arm. "She will be my eyes," Luria said, then smiled as Rowan and Shria came up to nudge at her and offered their ears for scratching. "These two will be my might." With a whistle, the sound of splintering wood and then the pounding of hooves could be heard and a huge black stallion came to her.

"Careful, Princess, that animal is wicked and still wild," Graeme said, trying to pull her back.

"Nonsense." She stroked the animal's nose. He nickered and nudged her hand, wanting more attention. "He just needed someone who understands him."

"That animal has thrown every rider who tried to ride him, he's bitten my stable hands, and now you have him eating out of your hand. You truly are a descendant of the great Atana Potnia."

"And as such, you should know that I will have my way in this if I have to call every elephant and lion I can summon to get me out of here. My place is at my husband's side, whether he wishes it or not." Then with the help of a small tree stump, she mounted the back of the huge stallion. Her hands in his mane were the only way she had of controlling him, but she knew he wouldn't balk. He wanted out of here as much as she did.

"Open the gates," she called as she galloped down from the courtyard with the two lions in chase. 

Behind her, the Elder looked at Graeme. "Go with her, she cannot be captured. You know what to do if Magnus gets too close."

"I know but it doesn't mean I have to like it," Graeme growled. He went to the stables, grabbing his own horse and saddling him.

As he was taking him out of the stables, the Elder appeared with a large bag of supplies. "I will talk to Marka, I will tell her you were called away on duty. Protect the princess. She is so very important to keep life the way we know it now."

Graeme nodded, swinging up into the saddle. "I know my duty." 

"Then may the Elderon give you wings to aid your flight." 

Graeme bowed his head before heading off. 

It took him a few minutes to catch up to Luria. She'd given the stallion his head, letting him race wildly across the meadow strewn with the bodies of the beastly guard. She could hear Graeme calling to her and she slowed her horse with a thought, turning on his wide back to see Graeme, his horse loaded with supplies, struggling to catch up to her.

When he did, she glared at him. "If you've come here to get me to go back, you've got another think coming," she said her hands upon her hips. Rowan moved closer to his mistress, sensing her tension. Shria took up a position of attack if Luria commanded.

"No, Princess, I plan to come with you."

"You want to come with me?" she asked, surprised. "I thought you were set against me going out."

"I was only doing Prince Balor's wishes, Princess. I think he was foolish for not wanting you there, with your strength and your animals, you could be a huge asset in any battle. Now, may I ride with you?" he asked politely.

"Yes, of course. I am a little embarrassed to say that I don't know how to get to the Seventh Kingdom."

"Yes that would have definitely ruined your exit if you'd had to turn around and ask how to get there. Shall we?" he asked, pointing in the direction to go.

* * * *

He missed her already.

Damn, he'd only just left and he wanted to turn around, ignore his duty and spend all day in bed with her. She made him smile, she took a gray day and gave it life and warmth. He wanted to feel that again.

A sigh escaped him. Damn Magnus and his plots and schemes. He had to warn his father of the treachery that was about to unfold. He kicked his horse to a faster pace, knowing that they would run hard and long this day.

He heard the cry of a hawk overhead and stared at it for a moment. How beautiful the bird was. How wonderful it must be to take flight and fly over this land. To be able to go straight over lakes instead of trotting around them would be an asset to any army. He watched the bird another moment and then it turned, circling higher in the air before going back the way it came.

His hands were lax upon the reins as he watched the falcon until it was out of sight. This was soon followed by the faint sound of rustling from the undergrowth from which suddenly sprang forth a large vicious-looking snake. His horse was startled, he bucked and kicked which sent Balor flying to the ground before he could gather his senses. The horse ran off leaving him laid out on the path with the snake curled up and hissing at him. He didn't dare move.

Then for no apparent reason, the snake stopped hissing and uncurled itself to slither its way back into the brush and branches on the other side of the path. Balor soon heard the sound of hoof beats. He looked up. 

"Are you all right?" Luria asked, slipping off the black stallion and dropping to her knees at his side.

"Dammit, Luria, I'm fine. You aren't supposed to be here. I left you safely within the Elderon." He dug his hand into her hair and pulled her down so that their lips met. It was an angry kiss, hard and full of heat.

Luria didn't fight him; she kissed him back with all the fire and love in her heart. She felt his lips soften and knew he was glad to see her even if he wouldn't admit it. A quiet clearing of the throat parted them and they both looked up at Graeme.

"Excuse me, but don't we have a kingdom to save?"

"You're right, and since you've come with Luria, you can take her back to the Elderon where she'll be safe from this coming fight."

"I'm going with you," Luria said defiantly. "I don't need to be spoiled or petted, and I don't run from a fight, if you try to send me back, I'll sneak out and follow you. Besides, you don't have a horse."

"Luria," he began, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "It's too dangerous for you to be there. If Magnus's guard overthrow the Seventh Kingdom and he were to catch you...I could not bear the thought of you caught up in his control again."

"What if this is a ploy? What if he has sent you false information and he plans to attack the Elderon tonight instead of the Seventh Kingdom? Maybe he just needed a way to get you out of the Elderon so that he might attack and take me from you? Aren't I safer being at your side?"

"Fine," he said finally. "But you do everything I say without arguing. If I say stay in a room, you'll stay and not come out on the field to find me. Understand me?"

"Yes," she said. "I shall be the most dutiful wife."

Balor scoffed at that statement, but he rose, helping her up. "No saddle?" he asked, looking at the big stallion that was nibbling clover from Luria's hands.

"No time, I had one chance to leave and I took it." She wiped her hand on her pants and then let Balor help her up on the horse. He jumped up behind her, burying his fingers into the stallion's thick mane. He bucked a bit, protesting the extra weight he had to carry before calming under Luria's soft voice. Then they were off, Shria and Rowan running beside the horses. Above them, the falcon swooped and then let the airflow take her higher.

"He's one of yours as well?" Balor whispered in her ear.

"Yes, that's how we knew we were close." She gasped as his hands let loose of the stallion's mane and instead circled around her. His hand spanned her small waist and then he moved it under her tunic, pulling it loose from her sword belt. "What are you doing?" she almost squeaked as she felt his cold hand on her stomach.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he growled low in her ear, making her shiver again. "I haven't been able to forget what we did on my horse that day." His hands moved up, cupping her bare breasts under her tunic. He captured her nipples, feeling them grow taut under his fingers. She leaned back, unable to do anything else as he nuzzled at her neck

When his hand went to the strings that held up the leather pants, she grabbed it with both of hers. "We can't do this in front of Graeme." She looked at the elf that'd pulled in front of them, leading the way.

"We aren't," Balor whispered in her ear, making goose flesh run across her skin. "We're doing this behind him. Don't worry, wife."

She leaned back against him, her hands going to rest on his thighs as he once more fought with the laces that held her pants together. It finally came untied, the flap opening to show a triangle of soft, creamy flesh. His hand slipped down and inside the leather, parting her soft wet lips carefully.

Luria gasped and then moaned low in her throat. She could do nothing but hold on to his thickly muscled thighs and allow him his way. "Balor," she gasped again as he pushed two of his fingers inside her core, letting the rhythm of the horse's gait move them inside of her.

"Remember when my cock was in you," he whispered against her ear. "Remember what it was like, fucking you that day on the horse. I didn't know it was possible to do that, but you showed me how." He circled his thumb around her clit and felt her tighten around his fingers, a spurt of wetness covering them. "You like this don't you?" he whispered in her ear as she moaned softly. Then he was pushing her down, having her lie against the horse's neck. He yanked her pants down as far as they would go. She was pink and swollen, moisture glistening on her flesh.

Quickly tearing off his cod piece, he rubbed the tip of his cock against her, then pushed slowly inside of her. He pulled her upright. "You ride me; I'll ride the horse," he growled, feeling her pushing down even closer than before.

Luria reached forward, using the horse's neck to keep her balance while she rode him. It wasn't easy, but the pleasure each thrust gave her more than made up for the awkwardness of the position she was in.

She felt Balor's hands on her, caressing her, helping her move over him. The gait of the horse was both a help and a hindrance, keeping her from moving the way she wished. She gasped Balor's name, feeling his fingers caressing her, finding her clit and rubbing against it until she was a squirming, writhing mass of sensation.

His voice was in her ear. "Come for me," he ordered, the sound a rich, throaty purr. Just the sound of his voice had her panting, her body tightening, his cock deep inside her core, stimulating every nerve ending she had.

With just his voice, he sent her over the edge, a mad, crazy dive into the chaotic arms of bliss. She bit her lip to keep from crying out his name. Then he was with her, she could feel his cock swell as the first spurt of his spunk filled her with heat.

He lay against her with his chest on her back for quite awhile until the horse came to an abrupt stop. Balor quickly looked up and then smiled. 

"We're here, love," he said, kissing the nape of her neck. "We're in the Seventh Kingdom and our home is not far beyond that wall."



Bloodstone Ch. 09



The gates to the kingdom opened. People who were on the streets drew back in fright as the huge lions came bounding inside. One guard readied a lance, meaning to kill one of the mighty beasts.

"Halt!" Prince Balor ordered. "They are friends almost as much as this elf is."

"But they are wild animals, your highness," the guard argued.

"They obey the will of my wife," Balor said. He watched as the guard's eyes rested on the beautiful woman who rode in front of him.

Whispers raced through the crowd, mumbles of witchcraft and evilness spread as the townsfolk stared at Luria. One little boy stepped forward and threw a stone at Shria, missing her but by a mere breath. Balor started to get down, but Luria stopped him. She slipped from the back of the black stallion, her knees still a little unsteady from Balor's lovemaking. She knelt in front of the small boy, seeing his mother reach for him before she raised her hand to her. "One moment," she said kindly, smiling up at the frightened woman.

"What's your name?" she asked the young boy.

"Tomaso," he said defiantly. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Good, that's good. You shouldn't be afraid of me, Tomaso. My name is Luria and those lions are my friends. Would you like to touch them?" she offered, smiling up at the small boy's mother. "He will be safe." 

"Y-yes," Tomaso said, feeling the eyes of the crowd upon him. He took the pretty lady's hand, walking with her to where Rowan lay at his ease, his eyes watching as she came forward.

"They are gentle with me and will be with you as well. This is Rowan. Rowan, this is Tomaso, he's a friend," she added, sending the thought along with it. Rowan stood, stretching and yawning, showing off in front of the crowd and letting them see his huge teeth. Then he came forward, sinking down on his haunches and offering the young boy his paw, like the most gentle of mutts.

"He wants you to shake with him," she told Tomaso. He stepped forward, taking a hold of the huge paw with a tentative grip and giving it the slightest of shakes.

"Can I touch his mane?" the boy asked, his eyes huge.

"Ask him," Luria told him.

"Rowan, can I touch your mane?" he asked the massive beast.

The crowd laughed when Rowan, being the ham that he was, nodded his big head and laid down before the small boy, a low rumble coming from his throat like the purr of a housecat as Tomaso scratched at his ears. When Rowan had enough, he rose, stretching once more to turn to where Shria was sitting, staring at him with her inscrutable stare. Tomaso ran off into the crowd, the other children following him. Luria grinned as she heard his excited chatter and the other children's ahs.

Balor walked up to her, pushing a stray strand of silky hair away from her face. "I think you've just won them over, my love," he said, leaning down to kiss her lips to set his mark upon her. "Now they'll know you're mine and I won't be fighting back an army of angry swains who want your hand."

She laughed at him and took his hand, letting him lead her further into the village. Rowan and Shria followed as well as the stallion that Luria had named Tristan. It became like a parade, as others who had already heard the rumors came running to see the huge lions and the new princess. Her name was bandied from lip to lip, some speculating if she were a demon, other's who knew the prophesy praying that she was the one who would save them from Magnus's evil.

It took a while to wind through the streets of what was more a big city then the tiny village that Luria had come from. By the time they reached the palace, news of their arrival had preceded them. The palace doors stood open in invitation and a fanfare could be heard playing at their arrival.

Luria looked around, startled by the noise and by the sudden rush of people that surrounded them. The lions, being sensitive to her feelings, roared loudly, startling the crowd and sending them running for cover. All that is but for the slightly portly man who clasped Balor into his arms.

"Son," he said, slapping the younger man upon his back. "You've brought back the Descendant. I knew you could do it."

"She's not just the Descendant," Balor said, returning the hug. "She's my wife, father, Princess Luria."

"Your wife?" The question came from a tall stately beauty that had eyes as green as emeralds and hair that was as black as night, that was curled into a blatantly attractive style. She was gowned in silk with matching emeralds at her ears and throat. "Prince Balor, you cannot be married."

Balor stared at the beauty, a nagging suspicion in his mind. "Do I know you?" he said slowly. 

Luria's eyes grew wide. She slowly looked over the dark-haired beauty and instantly recognized her as competition.

"It's been quite a few years, Balor," she said softly, moving toward him with the grace of a feline. "The last time we were together, you pushed me into the fountain in the garden at my father's palace."

"Isobel!" Balor stepped forward, giving her a quick hug. "It has been years. What are you doing here now?"

"He doesn't know?" Isobel asked King Martane.

"No, he does not."

"I am to be your wife," she said simply.

Balor stared at the beautiful brunette in consternation. He was brought around by Rowan's mighty roar, his hand reaching out to Luria. "I'm already married, Isobel. I won't put Luria aside, not for any woman. I love her." Luria came to his side, her eyes flashing her anger.

"When were you married?"

"What does that matter?" Luria asked, not bothering to keep her irritation out of her voice.

"Balor and I were married by proxy a year ago," Isobel said. "He is my husband, not yours." She pushed between the two, her hand landing possessively upon Balor's arm.

Shock had Luria moving back and allowing Isobel to take her place. She watched as the woman caressed Balor's arm as if she owned it, her actions stirring every jealous emotion she had.

"Balor?" Luria called uncertainly.

Balor shrugged Isobel's hand off of his arm and went to Luria, taking her in his arms. "You are my wife, the one that I love. I took vows with you. I won't cast you aside." He kissed her tenderly.

"But what of your vows to me?" Isobel asked, not willing to be forgotten so easily.

"I spoke no vows to you," Balor said. "Isobel, I have no wish to hurt you, but vows spoken for me mean little when they were done without my knowledge or permission. I married Luria, I spoke the sacred vows and we have consummated the wedding."

"Endlessly," Graeme said from behind him, making Luria giggle. "Have you given your father the news that we rode so furiously here to impart?"

"No, I've had no chance." Balor looked up, noting that the day was beginning to wane, last light would be within a couple of hours and they had to hurry. "Father, we have information that Magnus is coming here. He plans on attacking the city until we give him Luria back."

"So give her to him," Isobel said, her hands going to her breast, an exclamation of fear upon her lips. "I've heard what his armies do, the raping and the pillaging, plundering and bringing any of royal birth to Magnus for his pleasures. I do not wish the maidenhead that I saved for you to go to him. Return this person and stand by your vows to me, Balor."

"We need to get every man and woman who can fight ready," Luria said, her eyes narrowing angrily at Isobel. She stepped back from Balor's arms, her sword ringing clean of its scabbard. "I've killed my share of the black guard when they attacked the elves. I'll stand at my husband's side tonight and fight there if necessary. My lions are battle ready as is my horse." She lifted her arm not holding the sword and gave a piercing whistle. When the falcon landed upon her bare arm, his talons not leaving a mark on her fragile skin, Isobel took a step back in fear.

"She's a witch," she hissed, making the sign for protection in front of her. "She's unnatural."

"She's the Descendant," Balor growled, "and my wife; watch what you say of her."

Isobel took one last look at him and then shuddered as she turned, racing back to the palace with a sob that could have been heard into the city. She wailed and King Martane shrugged his huge shoulders. "The contract was made when you were a boy, I'd thought her father had forgotten what I thought was foolishness at the time. I didn't recognize her when she came with a royal guard, sent by her father. I don't think he could handle her anymore so he was hoping to foist her off to us."

Balor chuckled. "Father, this is my wife, Luria." He drew her close, helping her rise from the graceful curtsey she performed in front of her father. "Luria, my father, King Martane."

Martane stepped forward and used two fingers to raise her face to his. "I'd met your real mother once, so long ago now. But I'll never forget her beauty or the courage that shone out of her eyes. You have that same look, daughter." He kissed her cheek as he welcomed her to the family, careful of the huge bird that still rested upon her arm.

"Thank you, Sire," Luria said gracefully. She spoke a few words into the feathers that covered the bird's head and then lifted her arm, sending him off. "He will warn us when Magnus's castle becomes visible."

"Is it safe?" a soft feminine voice asked and a woman stepped out onto the steps. Balor took her in his arms, hugging her tightly. "Which were you more fearful of, Mother, the lions or the shrew?"

Queen Nathalie gently smacked her son's arm. "You shouldn't talk such ways, Balor. You'll give Luria the wrong impression of us."

He took his mother's arm and slid her hand onto his, leading her to where Martane and Luria stood in conversation.

"Luria, this is my mother, Queen Nathalie, Mother, my wife, Princess Luria."

Nathalie stepped forward, her eyes meeting and scrutinizing Luria. Then she smiled, as if she liked what she saw. "You'll make a good wife for my son," she said with a nod. "Welcome to the family." 

"Thank you, Majesty," Luria said softly, bending to press her cheek next to Nathalie's.

"Now, none of that Majesty stuff," his mother said. "I'm Nathalie and he's Martane. I hope you'll allow me to call you Luria, it's a beautiful name and it suits you well."

Luria nodded and a tear came to her eye. Meeting Balor's mother made her remember her own, not the real mother that had given her up but the one that had raised her, only to be killed by Magnus's thugs.

"What is it?" Balor asked her quietly, coming up to wrap his arm around her.

"My mother," Luria said, looking up into his gentle eyes. "I wish she could have met you."

He pulled her closer. "I wish the same." He held her for a moment. "I need to speak to my father and the guard. I thought perhaps you could go with my mother and get cleaned up and maybe have something to eat."

"You're not trying to keep me out of this battle, are you?"

"I know better, trust me. Besides, Rowan and Shria will come in handy." He bent his head, finding her lips with his and kissing her. Their lips brushed, clung, parted only to return as if neither could handle ending this one kiss. Finally, Balor turned away, his hand on her cheek as she turned to go with his mother into the castle proper.

* * * *

"She won't get away with this!" Isobel screamed at her maid, the long suffering woman ducking the brush that had been violently thrown her way as well.

"Oh course she won't, Highness. Your father won't let her."

"No, to hell with that. I won't let her. Balor's mine. He's been mine since our fathers signed the contracts all those years ago. I won't let some witch take him away from me." She sank down on the small stool in front of a dressing table, holding her hand out for the brush that her maid now held. Slowly she sank the bristles into the long, thick tresses of her hair, blowing out her anger as she pulled the brush through.

As she brushed, she plotted and planned.

* * * *

Luria stared at the bedchamber that Queen Nathalie had shown her to. It was lovely, and huge, with elegantly painted ceilings and huge, sparkling chandeliers alight with candles. The bed in the middle of the room looked as large as a field, the satin bedding giving it a sheen that had it shimmering under the hundreds of candles.

"This is so beautiful," she said softly.

"Thank you, my dear. It's the chamber I've been saving for my new daughter and I think it suits her admirably." Nathalie gave her hand a small squeeze. "I know you have nothing of your own with you, but I hope you'll allow the palace seamstress to come and measure you. For now, we could take what you're wearing and see about getting out the...stains. I think you'll wish to wear them tonight?"

"Yes. I couldn't fight in a gown." Luria looked up as a knock came upon the door. A man stepped inside holding the door open for the many footmen who came behind him.

A rug was thrown to one side, two small trap doors opened, revealing a large bathing pool. Water was poured into it until it was almost full, steam coming from the top. "Enjoy your bath. I shall send someone to get your clothes and get them cleaned for you right away." Nathalie stopped as she headed toward the door, turning back to look at Luria. "I always wanted a daughter," she said softly, blowing her a kiss before heading out the door and closing them behind the last footman loaded down with buckets.

Left alone at last, Luria glanced around the lovely room, moving to touch the small crystal animals that were upon one of the stands. The room was more than beautiful, but there was a restlessness inside of her that had her wishing she could go and find Balor. She sank down on one of the two small chaises that flanked the pool, then reached up to pull at the fastenings of her shirt.

It didn't take her long to undress, the masculine clothes she'd been wearing were wonderfully easy to take off and put on. When she was naked, she stood, walking slowly toward the stairs that were built into the pool. The warm water caressed her feet, then her legs, then her thighs as she waded down the steps, finally coming up to her waist and wetting the ends of her hair.

Along one side of the tub, under the lip where the doors would rest when it wasn't being used, was a small shelf. It held small bottles of different colors and shapes, tiny corks stoppers covering them. Wading over to it, she lifted one and pulled out the cork, bringing it to her nose. A sniff and she recognized the scent, sandalwood, the scent reminded her of her father, for it had been his favorite.

The next held a scent that reminded her of the nights in the woods where Balor had held her, making love to her over and over until she couldn't remember the way Magnus's touch had felt anymore. He'd made her whole again and saved her sanity. Pouring a bit of the sensually silky fluid into a small cloth she found on the shelf as well, she lathered it up, washing away the filth and the dirt of last evening's battle as well as from the trip here today.

When she was done, she dunked under the water, wetting the long length of her hair.

"May I suggest this one for your hair?" Balor said from behind her, making her shriek and turn around to face him.

"How long have you been there," she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"A while," he admitted with a non-repentant grin. He sat the small glass bottle down on the side of the pool and then sank down on the chaise, pulling off his boots and then tearing the jerkin off and then the shirt he wore under it. His pants came off and he stood before her, naked and aroused.

She smiled, almost like the cat that had eaten the cream, her eyes roaming over his fine form. "Are you joining me?" she purred. 

"Oh yes," he said, chuckling as he stepped down the stairs and made his way over to her, "in more ways than one." Pulling her into his arms, he bent his head, meeting her lips and finding them open and welcoming.

"I'd so hoped you'd say that," she sighed when he lifted his head.

"You did?" he asked, burying his face into her throat, licking at the water that was on her flesh.

When she didn't answer right away, he looked up and into her face once more. "What is this I see? It can't be doubt, can it?" His eyes narrowed and he took her by the hand, pulling her over to the stone stairs. Pushing her gently down on one of the stairs, he knelt in front of her. "You don't doubt my love, do you, Luria?"

She shook her head but wouldn't meet his eyes.

"That's not an answer I can live with, wife. Look at me."

Her eyes shot up to his face, the blue so vivid as to almost look unreal. "Now tell me, what has you doubting us?"

"It's nothing," she started then stopped when he cleared his throat. "All right, so it is something. You have a past with her, you have memories and jokes and ... and stories with her. She's so elegantly beautiful, just right for what a future queen should be. And...and I'm some...some freak that you've brought home."

"Whoa, wait a minute, Luria. I have some absolutely wonderful memories with you, the rest will come. I plan to grow old with you, to have you at my side when I'm stooped and pot-bellied with age. We'll chase our grandchildren together, Luria."

"What of her?" Luria asked, her hands coming up to wipe at her eyes, only to leave them even wetter.

"Of Isobel?" he asked. "She'll go back to her parents and they will find her a new husband. The Third Kingdom has seven sons that all need wives. She can go marry one of them." He reached out, burying his fingers in her hair and pulling her toward him. "I never want to hear you call yourself a freak again," he said, dropping his forehead to hers. "You are no more a freak than I."

"I don't see you talking to animals, do I?" 

"Have you seen some of my father's royal guard?" he shot back, making her laugh.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know, but it did bring a smile to your face." He sobered, his fingers tracing across the soft skin of her cheek to tease at her lips. "It is this face that I love, these eyes that I wish to look into everyday for the rest of my life. These are the lips I wish to kiss until their honeyed taste is forever imprinted in my mind." His hands reached for hers, holding them on top of the water. "These two small hands hold so much. They hold my heart and my future for if it isn't with you, it will be with no woman. They do not exist to me, not here," he said, taking his closed fist and holding it up to his chest, "nor in here," he touched his temple. "You, Luria, you fill my world. You're my light, my happiness, my life. How can you not know these things?"

Tears fell freely now, tears of joy for his words were the sweetest she'd ever heard, showering her with everything she'd always dreamed of. She reached for him, pulling him to her, her mouth finding his with a sob even as she fell back, lying against the stairs, the water to her waist.

A moan escaped him and he took over the kiss, angling his head to bring it deeper. Her knees rose, her feet using the steps for leverage to try to capture him between her thighs. "Make love to me," she begged against his mouth.

"Yes," he groaned, his mouth tearing from hers to ply at her earlobe, his tongue tracing the soft whorl of her ear. "Gods, yes," he whispered, feeling her shiver under him. "I love you, my Luria, my heart."

Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer until she could feel the heat of his erection, hotter than the water around them pressing against her slit. His mouth closed around her nipple and she panted, arching her back, her hands going to his cock and pulling him closer, setting him into the wetness of her opening. He pushed inside with a grunt and a groan, not stopping until he was seated firmly, buried completely inside her core. His tongue lapped at her nipple before he drew it deep into his mouth, biting gently until she moaned at the pleasure/pain he was giving her.




Bloodstone Ch. 09



"Balor!" she cried, her eyes shooting open as he began to move inside of her. The magic of his touch, of his lovemaking took her over and she moved against him, meeting each thrust with one of her own. Her hands were on his back, holding onto him for dear life, especially when he rose, taking her with him and pushing her up against the side of the pool. His hands were on her bottom, cupping, caressing, grinding her against him as he listened to her breathing grow even shallower.

"Come for me," he growled against her throat. His teeth bit at her flesh, leaving tiny marks against her flesh. "Come, Luria," he commanded, his fingers slipping between their bodies to find her clit. Sensations had her shuddering against him, her head thrown back, allowing him free access to her neck.

Whimpering moans echoed throughout their bed chamber, reaching outside the door to the ears that were listening there. There was a scuttle of movement and then the bent and beaten maid hurried back to her mistress to report what she'd heard.

Inside the chamber, the cries grew more frantic, the water splashed as his hips slammed into hers, his hands pulling her down hard on his cock.

"Yes," Luria cried. "Yes, harder."

He was happy to comply, torturing her with quick hard thrusts, his finger circling her clit. He felt her grasping hands turn to claws, relishing the tiny bits of pain she brought him as she began to come on his cock. Her cunny clamped down, the soft muscles feeling like wet hot velvet, milking at him. His mouth found hers and muffled her cry even as she muffled his shout, feeling the heat of his semen as he came inside of her, filling her womb.

Afterwards, he held her against him, going to the stairs and sinking down on them, letting her sit across his lap, straddling his legs. She still held his cock inside of her, a joining he was loath to break. Instead, he laid back, his chest cradling her face above the water. "Anymore doubts?" he asked quietly.

"If I say yes, can we do that again?" she asked, mischief twinkling from her blue eyes.

He chuckled, slapping her lightly on the rump. "Come, woman. We need to get clean so that we might show our enemies the finest of our battle clothes. I've even found some armor for Tristan to wear so that he might look regal carrying the princess of the Seventh Kingdom into battle."

She started to get up only to be stopped by his hand. "I meant what I said, Luria. You are my wife and you'll stay my wife. No one can cast aside our vows but us and I for one am very happy with my choice in mate." He drew her down and kissed her once more, then reached up and took the bottle he'd been playing with while he watched her bathe. He handed it to her, then rose from the tub to go to the closet.

Grabbing one of the towels on his way, he draped it around him, tucking it in at his waist. His thoughts were on the upcoming battle and the strategy that would give them the best options in winning. He and his father had gone over maps and made plans, but he still wasn't completely satisfied. He mulled over the problems in his head as he watched her finish her bath. When she stepped out, he held out the towel for her, wrapping her wet body in his arms as well as the towel.

"I love you," he said softly. "Don't forget that, ever."

"I won't," she said. "I love you."

He kissed her tenderly. "I have to go. Come down as soon as you are dressed."

"I will." Watching him leave, she felt more secure in his love than she'd ever felt before. She went to his closet, eager to see if he had anything she could wear so that she could follow him down. She'd just pulled on one of his shirts, smiling as it fell to mid-thigh on her when the creak of the door told her she was no longer alone.

She turned, her smile of greeting changing to a look of horror. "What are you doing here?"



Bloodstone Ch. 10



"I've come to find you," Nigel said silkily as he stared hungrily at the girl he'd touched so intimately once in the castle of his master. "I've come to bring you back to Magnus and stop this foolishness."

Luria's head was shaking, her wet hair causing the white shirt she'd taken from Balor's wardrobe to turn transparent. She could almost feel his eyes, those beady, nasty eyes, touching on her flesh, admiring her long legs that looked so sensual against the hem of the shirt. "I won't go with you," she said, backing over to where her sword lay upon the chaise where she'd left it.

She lifted it in her hand, her confidence returning once she'd found herself armed. "Leave now and tell your master that the girl he'd once known no longer exists. I am now Princess Luria of the Seventh Kingdom, wife and love of Prince Balor. I will not be party to any of Magnus's ploys or strategies." She swung the sword lightly in front of her, letting Nigel see that she knew how to use it.

"I cannot do that, Luria. You belong to King Magnus. He took the veil of your purity; he's tasted of your blood. You must go to him. It is written in the Book of Honorium, the one true book that shows the fates of all. You must give birth to his heir, conceived of the night of the loss of your innocence." Nigel stepped closer, watching her eyes and the sword that she swung with such skill.

"I-I'm not pregnant," she stuttered, her hand going to her stomach. "I'd know if I were, and if I were, it would be Balor's, not your foul master's. He raped me in front of his men."

Nigel pulled his sword, seeing the only way to get to her would be to best her in battle. "Then prepare yourself, Princess," he said, the sarcasm in his voice making her title sound like a joke. "We shall see by the sword whom you should be with."

* * * *

Balor stared down at the map in front of him, running through deployment and strength issues with his father. He was unprepared for the huge falcon that flew in through the open window, coming straight at him with a shrill cry. The bird landed upon one mailed fist, his talons digging into the gauntlet Balor wore and lifting upward.

"Whoa, Balor, what is this?" Martane asked, stepping back from the huge bird. "Is that not Luria's?"

"She is," Balor said. "Something's wrong," he breathed, lifting his hand and sending the bird back up in the air where she circled once before heading out the window. By that time, Balor was at the door, rushing through and almost falling into Isobel's lovely arms.

"Balor," she exclaimed, doing her best to lift the huge man. "I'd hoped I'd find you alone so that we might talk." She wrapped her hand around his arm and held on.

Balor tried shaking her loose. "Not now, Isobel. I must go, something is wrong with Luria."

"Finally," Isobel said with a small smile. "You see my point. You must put her aside, give her back to Magnus and you and I can continue with our lives together the way it was supposed to be."

Balor stood straight and yanked his arm out of Isobel's grasp. "It will never happen, Isobel. Never. Do you understand?"

"Balor..." she began, her eyes filling up with tears. "What have I done to make you treat me so?"

"You stand between me and my wife, wench!" he almost yelled, before lifting her bodily and putting her out of the way. "Don't try it again."

Then he was gone, running as fast as he could to his rooms.

* * * *

Nigel swung again, only to feel the shudder up his arms as Luria blocked his blow with his own blade. She danced around him with a grace his lame, ugly body could not possess. Blocking his blows, she managed to find space to deliver a few of her own, feeling the cuts oozing his life's blood. "You bitch," he growled as he felt the slice of her blade against his upper arm.

"Thank you," she said, her arms beginning to ache with the strain of holding the heavy sword. "Now, leave and I shan't have to kill you."

"I cannot. I must take you to Magnus. He decrees it." Nigel stepped forward once more, only to find his way blocked by someone else, someone bigger, stronger, than Luria. Looking up, he met the flashing eyes of Prince Balor, his stomach turning in dread.

"You seek to hurt my wife?" Balor growled. Behind him, Rowan and Shria padded into the room, Rowan growling as he saw the little guard he'd chased once before.

"My lion remembers you, Nigel," Luria said. She stood at ease now that Balor had arrived, her sword down at her side. "Perhaps you and he should become better acquainted."

"You don't wish him to have indigestion before the battle, do you, love?" Balor grinned, reaching out with one hand and taking the sword right out of Nigel's hands with a practiced twist of his wrist.

"You don't understand..." Nigel began.

"And I really don't care too," Balor growled. "Luria is my wife, she is the princess of the Seventh Kingdom and I will not give her up to Magnus or to anyone else." He poked his finger into Nigel's chest. "I'm tempted to let you run back to the dark spawn that controls you and have you take him a message."

"W-what m-message?" Nigel stuttered.

"She is mine, and what is mine, I keep." Balor's face was fierce as he bent over the smaller man, his expression avid on letting him know the point. He didn't see the knife that Nigel palmed, nor the expression of triumph that flashed in his eyes a moment before he began to press the poisoned blade home.

But Luria did. With a roar of her own, she pushed Balor away, taking the point of the blade into her own body even as her sword came up, slicing deep into the black guard's chest and stomach and spilling his guts around their feet.

She fell back from the blade, stumbling for a moment before putting her hand against the wound. It came away red with her blood. "Balor..." she gasped.

"No," he whispered. "No, no." He lifted her easily into his arms and took her to the bed. The satin coverlet was thrown aside and he placed her upon the clean sheets, gently lifting her shirt to see the wound. His eyes flashed to hers, seeing the pain and fear upon her face.

"I have to call for the palace healer," he said softly, grabbing part of the sheet and pushing it against the bleeding wound. "Luria, you have to hold this in place." He grabbed her chin when she began to pass out instead of looking at him. "No, Luria, stay with me. You have to hold this tight, keep pressure on it." He rose, watching her hands holding down the sheet and how quickly it turned red. "Don't let go, hang on for me, Luria. Hang on for our love."

Her eyes went to his face, seeming to gain in determination. She nodded. "Hurry," she begged.

"Rowan, Shria, stay with her," he called to the big cats that were nosing the body on the ground. "Do not let anyone close to her." Rowan padded over, sitting on the ground next to the platform while Shria climbed the steps, standing on the other side of the bed. Then Balor ran from the room to get help.

* * * *

Magnus paced in his own dark castle, waiting with a look at the darkening sky for the last ray of the sun to fade away. He was impatient, wanting this done, wanting Luria in his hands. He'd have to punish her for running away and causing him the problems that she had.

"My liege," a soft feminine voice said.

Magnus looked up, his eyes glowing with the animosity that seemed to roil in his belly. Things weren't supposed to be this way. He was supposed to have the Descendant, he was supposed to have married her and put a babe in her belly. That babe would grant him sovereignty over the seven kingdoms. Instead, Luria had run away with Prince Balor and now he was chasing her all over the kingdoms.

"Who are you and what do you want? How did you get here?" he growled, his voice not even softening as he saw the beautiful girl before him.

"My name is Princess Isobel. I'm princess of the Sixth Kingdom and Prince Balor's true wife. He sets me aside for that blonde whore you want. I'm willing to help you retrieve her." Isobel stared at the man who wore all black, severe black with no piping or gems to ease the color. The only color upon his body was the ruby red ring he wore upon his right hand. The gem almost seemed to glow with a life of its own, echoing the evil glint that shone in the green of his eyes. He was a handsome man and she couldn't help but be a bit taken by the emotions she saw in his eyes.

"You are the bride of Prince Balor? But how can that be? I thought he'd taken my intended as his bride," Magnus growled the last, his irritation with what was happening sending lightning bolts to streak out from the castle and loud shouts of thunder to follow.

"She has bewitched him, sire. He doesn't know what he does. If I might be so bold," Isobel reached out to touch Magnus's sleeve, backing away quickly when he turned eyes gone black with malignant evil to her. "Oh!"

"Oh what, Isobel? Am I no longer attractive? Do you find me harsh and cold, evil perhaps?" Magnus grabbed her arm, yanking her to him so that her breasts flattened against the hardness of his chest. "You've come to me wanting me to rid your husband of his encumbering wife. What are you willing to do for me?"

"L-Luria will be yours as you wish, sire. What more do you want?"

Magnus chuckled, the sound so evil it sent shivers of fear up Isobel's spine in a shudder so huge, she couldn't hide it. "What do I want?" He made a motion with his hand that had her moving forward as if being pushed, her feet dragging on the floor. Wrapping his hand in the front of her gown, he yanked hard, hearing her cry of dismay as the bodice tore under his harshness. The thin layer of her chemise was all that hid her beautiful breasts from his eyes. "Pull it down," he ordered, nodding at the thin white fabric. "Show me your breasts, Lady."

"Y-you c-cannot," she stuttered. "I am Balor's."

"I might not, but you certainly can. If you wish my help, Lady Isobel, in retrieving your poor bewitched Balor from the hands of my evil bride-to-be, you must wish to give me something in return."

"A-anything b-but that, please, sire."

Magnus took a step back, his black eyes slowly turning back to green. "Go. You bore me with your theatrics." He looked deep into her eyes seeing the anger that rose to the forefront. "Wait," he said with a smile. "This is good. You lie about your intended. He is not yours but was to be your sister's Zhara's. Oh this is rich, Isobel. You poisoned her food, determined to take what was hers as your own."

"How can you know this?" Isobel cried out, feeling as if her whole world was being stripped bare before his eyes. "Stop, please, I do not wish to hear more. Let me leave this cursed place!"

"I don't think so," Magnus said softly, coming up to grab her arms. "You intrigue me. Your evilness is thicker than mine, it is more devious. I think you should stay, Isobel and we should get to know each other much, much better." Once more the shivering girl was drawn closer in his arms though this time there was no escaping. He dropped his head, finding her lips with his own. He kissed her, long and harshly, tasting her blood in his mouth.

Then with a shout, he drew back, one hand going to his lip where her teeth marks now resided. He glanced down at the blood on his hand and then back into the brilliant green eyes of the wench. "You'll regret that," he told her softly. "You'll cry for every tiny drop of my blood that you spill."

"No," Isobel said, shaking her head, her hair blowing back. "I shall rejoice in every drop and plot on how to make you shed more."

"We shall see. But for now, I have a land to conquer and my own bride to rejoin." He turned toward the door, calling loudly. "Guards!"

"I-I must go back," she cried as two of the black guard came up and took her arms. "I have to return before Balor realizes I'm gone. If he found out I was here..."

"He would know you for what you truly are," Magnus finished. "Do not worry. I have my own plans for the golden boy of the Seventh Kingdom. If you are truly repentant of the wounds you cost me, perhaps I'll let you have Balor when I finish with him. Take her to the dungeons. She is not to be touched," he called after them.

"No!" Isobel screamed, fighting and struggling against the overwhelming strength of the beasts that held her. "No! I have to go back. Magnus, please!"

* * * *

Balor sank down on the side of the bed not occupied by the six healers who'd rushed to his call. The oldest, a bowed and stooped old man with a white beard that almost reached to the floor was delicately prodding the small wound made by the knife. The bleeding had stopped but the flesh around it was turning a decided shade of dark gray going to black.

"It is a killing poison, Highness. It is not like anything I've seen before. We might excise the flesh, but I don't think it would help, the poison is in her system already."

"What are you saying?" Balor cried. He cradled Luria's hand in his own.

"There is nothing we can do, Sire," the old man said softly. "I have a draught that can ease the pain and make her more comfortable to the end..."

"The end?" Balor asked, his voice trembling. "I cannot believe this, I won't. She can't die, not like this, not for me. You keep looking; find something that will make her better because if she dies, you'll be right behind her."

"Easy, my son," King Martane said from behind his distraught son. "Of course they'll keep looking. This is the princess of the Seventh Kingdom. We won't give up on her." He gave the healers a look that had them scurrying for their books of spells and potions. "We could call upon the elves, Balor and if necessary, we shall call upon her mother Atana Potnia. We won't give up. But we need you; we need you to fight for her and for us, now, Balor."

"I know," Balor said but he was loath to release her, frantic that if he didn't keep his finger upon her pulse, it would slow and then stop, taking his one true love away with it.

"B-Balor," Luria whispered weakly, closing her hand around his. "Take Rowan with you. Send Shria back to the elves. Send for Marka."

Rowan heard her voice saying his name and put his huge front feet on the duvet that covered her. He nudged her gently and she managed to lift her hand, rubbing his ears. "Call for the others," she whispered to him, sending the thought of his vast pride that he'd left to be with her. "Call for them to come. Follow Balor, Rowan. Keep him safe."

He roared loudly in reply, then rasped his long tongue against the side of her face. Dropping to all four feet, he went to Balor and grabbed hold of his tunic, yanking gently.

"Rowan, stop," Balor growled. "I can't leave her."

"You have to," Luria said. "Go; make your people safe from Magnus. You can't do anything more for me now."

Balor bent down, his lips finding hers. She felt the touch of his tears upon her lips as he kissed her. A sob welled up inside of her. She'd do it again, throw herself in front of a knife to keep him safe. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you," Balor whispered back. Then he sniffed back his tears, his amber eyes going hard as he sat up. "Let's go, Rowan, Shria. You find a cure or something that will slow the poison until Marka gets here," he ordered the healers. His eyes softened a bit as he stared down at her one last time before turning to leave. 

"Father?" he called. "Are you coming?"

"No," Martane said. "I have to go and call in a favor."

* * * *

Magnus stared over the hundreds of black guards who stood waiting for his command to attack. The doubled gates of the city were closed against him and he knew that inside there would be forces equal to or more than what he had out here. He also knew that his troops had one thing Balor's didn't. They didn't have a conscience. They didn't care who they killed to finish their mission.

"Where's Nigel?" he called to one of his commanders.

"He went into the palace before they closed the gates, Lord Magnus. I don't know what his intentions were."

"Nigel? He had a thought all of his own? I shall have to congratulate him upon that right before I gut him alive."

"What is your command, Lord Magnus?" another of his commanders asked, the huge black beasts they rode moving restlessly under him. "Shall we attack?"

"Yes," Magnus said, his voice sounding a bit bored. "When you capture Prince Balor, I want him and his princess brought to me, unharmed, do you understand?"

The men clasped their swords in their hands, hitting the breast plate of their armor with a closed fist. "Yes, Lord Magnus." Then as one, they nodded to the beasts carrying huge drums, and with the drummers giving the signals, began to head out.

Magnus watched for a while until he grew bored, then he turned, heading toward the stairs that led down to the dungeons.

* * * *

Isobel stood frozen in the center of the small cage they'd put her in. Rats were all around her, feasting on the death and decay of the bodies of those left to die down here. She'd screamed herself hoarse when they'd first left her here, unable to keep her eyes off the moldering bodies that let off the stench of decomposition. Her hands had come up and dug gouges into her cheeks as the horror grew until it left her barely capable of thinking, unable to comprehend what she was seeing any longer.

Magnus stood outside the cage, his bright green eyes upon the horrified girl. "Isobel" he whispered hoarsely. "Come to me, Isobel."

Her face turned, seeing him at the door. She went quickly, a plea forming upon her lips and in her eyes. Standing there, she stared up at Magnus as if he were her savior. "Thank you," she whispered softly, not remembering that he was the one that put her in that horrid place to begin with.

"Are you ready to thank me the proper way?" he asked.

"P-proper way?" she parroted.

"Yes, Isobel. Are you ready to fuck me?"

Tears gathered in her brilliant green eyes, falling softly across her cheeks to drip onto her breasts. "I-If I s-say no?" 

"Then you shall just have to enjoy the company of your fellow dungeon mates," he said with a little laugh.

"No," she cried, reaching out to grab his tunic with her shaking hands. "Please don't make me go back. Please!"

"Oh, you don't have to go back, just pull down that pretty chemise you're wearing and show me your breasts." He nodded when she glanced down and looked back up at him, her hands coming up to pull at the straps to the chemise. "That's it, girl, just like that."

She moved slowly, giving him glimpses of the prettiness of her breasts as she pulled down the chemise. His eyes were fixated until finally she had the chemise tucked underneath the roundness of her breasts, exposing nipples that were a pretty rose color. Her hands then fluttered as if she really wanted to cover her breasts but a quick glance back at the cell he'd just taken her from kept her from doing it.

"Very nice," he said, reaching out to lift one heavy mound and hold it in his hand, almost as if weighing it. His finger and thumb slipped up and over one of the rosy nipples, twisting and tweaking at it until she gasped at the sensations that were causing a pool of lust to form in her belly.

"What are you doing?" she cried, her feet moving in place as if she really wished she could run from him. Instead of answering her, he grasped her nipple forcefully between his fingers, pulling on it to get her to follow him up the steps and out of the dungeons, into the front bailey that led to the castle proper.

"Please, sir," she moaned, seeing the few male servants left in the castle turning and staring lustfully at her breasts that were exposed so blatantly. "Please, don't dishonor me."

"You sound like someone else I once held here," he chuckled, dragging her through the main hall and into his throne room. She stumbled after him almost falling but his arm was there to push her back upward and onto her feet. "Perhaps I should do to you what I did to her."




Bloodstone Ch. 10



"No, please," Isobel cried, her eyes upon the dark lord's sinfully handsome face.

He led her to the throne, turning to seat himself upon it. Then he finally released her nipple, laughing at the way her breast jiggled. "Now, strip Isobel. Take everything off unless you wish to be back amongst your friends down below."

* * * *

"Highness?" the tiny squeak of a voice was almost lost amidst the sound of armor clanging and the sound of sharpening swords. Balor looked down at the tiny, bent form of Isobel's maid.

"Yes, what can I do for you?" he asked her politely, though his mind was more on what was going on with Luria than what could be happening with Isobel.

"My lady, Princess Isobel, has disappeared from the palace. I haven't seen her since before the main gates were closed some hours ago. She was saying something about knowing how she could have you all to herself and then she was gone."

Balor heaved a huge sigh. "She's gone to Magnus, hasn't she?"

"I believe so, Highness. You've got to rescue her. She's been like one of my own since she was placed in my hands the day she was born. Please help her." The stooped old maid held onto his tunic, huge tears coming from her swollen brown eyes.

"I'll do what I can," Balor promised, knowing he'd have to go after Isobel. The little harridan was determined to get into trouble, no matter what he'd say, she would drive him to distraction. He had one of two options; the first brought a small smile to his face. Let Magnus keep her. She'd drive him insane in less time than it would take to get rid of her. The second was to rescue her and send her back to the Sixth Kingdom.

Before he could decide, the sound of a large roar sounded from the gates and he strained his eyes, staring into the dark and out into the hordes of enemy that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Rowan paced behind him, giving off another of his large roars, though this one echoed back. Balor glanced down at the big cat and saw a look of expectancy upon his face, as if he couldn't wait to get his teeth into this battle.

"Shore up the gates," he shouted down at the men below him. "Keep them blocked. We must keep them out of the city."

Turning to Isobel's maid, he shooed her along. "You must go and find a place to hide. I'll do what I can for your mistress."

Then he lifted his sword, seeing the enemy begin to march. "Archers," he shouted. "Arrows away!"



Bloodstone Ch. 11



Luria could feel the poison like an acid in her veins. She shivered; trying to keep from whimpering as her stomach rebelled against the little bit of water she'd managed to drink and started to heave once more. She could hear the battle raging over the sound of her sickness and she cringed at every human scream.

"Any news," she gasped as she lay back against the covers, her hands going to the wound in her stomach.

"None," King Martane said, as he walked away from the window. He laid a cool hand on her forehead and she moaned at the relief she felt. "You shouldn't worry, Luria. I promised him that you would be well and we must expend all our strength at getting you there."

"What are we waiting for?" she whispered, accepting the glass he held and bringing it shakily to her lips. The cool water in the glass was as welcomed as his hand had been, and she held it there, before swallowing. Two sips were all she could handle before pushing it away.

"Nathalie is bringing the candle we need. She should be here soon, daughter, never fear."

Luria lay back against the pillows, smiling even through the pain. "It is so nice to be called daughter again. Thank you for that, Martane."

"I thank you for my son's life." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her burning palm. "I know this is not the first time you have saved him since he got you out of the black castle."

"Graeme seems to be telling tales," Luria gasped, rolling to her side as the pain grew fiercer. She clasped her hands over her stomach, her face turning even whiter as she saw herself in the mirror.

She'd seemed to age, looking older by the minute. Her blue eyes had lost their vibrancy, her hair was limp and dull. Wrinkles of pain and illness lay upon her face like road maps, crinkling skin that had lost its elasticity. She cringed back from the reflection, a single tear coming to her eyes to slide down her skin.

Even her tears had changed, seeming almost gray and drying against her skin to leave a fleck of some kind against her flesh.

She jumped when the door flew open and Nathalie rushed in, holding the necessary candle with both hands. "I found it," she said unnecessarily. "We must hurry; the black guard has broken through the first gate, if they break through the second..."

"We all know what happens then," Martane said.

"What of Balor?"

Nathalie hurried to the side of the bed, smiling down gently at the sick and injured girl. "He rides that great black horse of yours. Tristan's covered in beautiful silver, sparkling in any bit of light he finds. Balor sits upon him directing the men and fighting with them. That lion of yours, he's worth two legions of men. He's saved our men more than once this night. Now we must hurry and then you can go see for yourself."

"You have such faith in my mother that she will come, even when she didn't want me to begin with?" Luria said softly.

"You cannot believe that," Martane said, taking the candle from his wife. "She couldn't keep you. You were part of this land and part of the people. She is a goddess. If she'd tried to keep you, you'd have been killed by the other gods. You know this."

"No," she said softly, "I didn't know that. They'd have killed me because I was part human? What kind of gods are those?"

"Do not blaspheme the gods," Nathalie said in a hurry. "Not now, not when we need them on our side to win this war against Magnus."

"Come, Nathalie, we must make the circle, close it with salt."

"Yes, yes, I know how this is done. I showed you, remember?"

"I know, my love, I know. But it was well worth it for the gift they gave us was a wonderful one." Martane beamed down at his wife then waved her to go ahead of him.

They worked quickly; performing the rituals and adding the prerequisite gifts, closing the circle in salt so that no one but the god they wanted could come and take it. Then Nathalie performed the chant, making her marks in the salt without completely opening the circle. A bright golden light grew from the center and as Martane spoke her name in a reverent voice, Atana Potnia flickered into the circle and took shape.

"What is this?" she asked somewhat angrily, her white blonde hair that was so like her daughter's was curled around her. She held a lamb in her arms, while two others pranced about her feet.

"Who are you and why have you summoned me?"

"Your daughter lies ill, ma'am," Martane said in his deep voice, reaching into the circle to take the lamb from the goddess's arms. "She needs your help." He nodded toward the bed where Luria lay, now still, her eyes closed.

"My daughter?" Atana Potnia asked, her eyes upon the still body. "That is my Luria?"

She stepped through the circle of salt, becoming more real looking with every step. "Yes, ma'am. She's been poisoned by the dagger of a black guardsman."

"Where is the guardsman?" A'Potnia asked, anger thick in her voice.

"He lies there," Nathalie said, waving her arm gracefully to where Nigel still laid, his body puddling the floor with its black blood.

"Who killed him?" A'Potnia asked, stepping eagerly toward the bed.

"Your daughter did, ma'am. She stepped in front of my son when she saw the dagger, saving him and killing the guard with her sword. She's a very brave fighter, fierce at caring about those she loves."

"Where's your son now? He left her, after she was willing to give her life for him?" A'Potnia placed her hand upon her daughter's head, feeling the baking heat coming off of her. "He left her here while he what, went drinking and carousing?"

"No ma'am. My son entrusted us with her care while he went out to save his people and our home from Magnus's black guard."

"Magnus?" She went to the window, glancing out at the darkness, hearing the twang of bowstrings and the sound of metal on metal. "He's a demi-god. He won't be out there fighting with his legions. The way to be rid of Magnus is to face him in his own castle." She waved a hand in front of her face as if waving away the problem and then went back to Luria. "My poor darling," she cooed softly. Her soft fingers stroked over skin that was dry from fever. Luria moaned at the touch, her head turning to follow it.

"You can save her, can't you?" King Martane asked, watching as the beautiful goddess lowered herself to sit on the bed next to her daughter.

"I can, yes. But she must have the will to live. I cannot give her that."

"My son, Balor, he gives her that," Nathalie said, her hands clasped against her breast. "They love each other, you can see it in their eyes."

"But is he good for her?" Atana Potnia said, staring down at the girl that she'd given away as a baby to save her. She'd never had another child, still mourning for this one, the one she'd been forced to abandon. She'd never been able to forget her and had checked in on her from time to time.

"He is, he loves her and my son will do everything for those that he loves," Martane smiled down at the beautiful goddess. "Please, if a sacrifice is needed, one will be made, if it is money and gems that you wish, you shall have that as well. But please, her death will break our son's heart."

* * * *

Balor saw one of the commanders of the three legions that were attacking them. He kicked Tristan, sending the huge horse galloping down a short incline outside the gates. With a roar of rage, he swung his sword and watched as the ugly beast's head fell from his shoulders, bouncing down and into his men. The body fell from the animal it was riding slowly, almost as if in slow motion. Then the animal reared, releasing a cry that almost sounded glad as it raced away from the castle and into the woods close by.

Balor held up his blood covered sword, daring those of the beast's guard to attack. One or two started toward him only to stop and shield their eyes, bowing low to the ground. Balor spun Tristan, wanting to see what was at his back. A golden glow was starting in the east up where the palace was located.

"What the...?" Balor began, shielding his own eyes as the light got ever brighter. It bathed him in heat and a goodness that was surprising, sending the beasts around him skittering for cover. "Luria," he breathed, kicking Tristan into a gallop even as Rowan roared and headed toward the palace as well.

It seemed to take forever before he pulled his horse to a stop in front of the big doorway that was opened from the bailey. The light had faded by this time, but Rowan's angst hadn't. He growled at the closed door, scratching and battering at it with his paws and claws. Balor jumped down, not noticing the man who came forward to take the huge stallion from him. He took the stairs two at a time, pushing Rowan aside so that he could reach the door. Before he could open it, it was opened from the inside and a bit of that golden light seeped out, touching Rowan and making him back away, bowing low.

Balor wasn't sure what he'd expected, but it was certainly not to see Luria step out onto the steps, her hair almost seeming to glow in the moonlight. She was buckling on her sword, arguing with someone behind her. "I'm fine," she said finally, her hands on her hips.

"Are you sure about that?" Balor asked, swooping her up in his arms and spinning her around, his lips anxiously searching for hers, needing to assure himself that it was, indeed, his Luria. He kissed her until the fear that had been his constant companion since he'd had to leave her began to dissipate. "You're really all right?" he breathed against her mouth.

"I'm fine," she giggled. Her arms were around his neck and she was very happy to be in his arms. "You're well?"

"Gods, Luria," he growled. He kissed her again, this time hard. "I can't go through that again."

She laughed as he turned and sank down onto the step with her cradled in his lap. "Yes, I should be more in tune with what you're going through," she said. "Let me up, I have someone I want you to meet."

He stood her up and then got up behind her, stumbling a bit as relief bit at his control. Balor grabbed her hand, unwilling to let go of her, as if afraid she wasn't anything but a dream. His eyes were locked upon her face, searching for even the slightest bit of weakness from the bite of the knife and the poison that had covered it. There was nothing, not even a hint of a shadow under the beautiful blue of her eyes.

Relief rushed over him and he began to shake. Luria turned, feeling his hand tremble in hers. "Balor?"

"I thought I'd lost you," he breathed. His hand reached out, touching the tender skin of her cheek, cupping it in his palm. Luria turned her head, pressing a kiss into his palm.

"You didn't lose me," she whispered, her own hand coming up to wipe away the tear that fell from his amber eye. "I'm right here."

"I know," he whispered, pulling her once more in his arms and just holding her tight, unable to let her go. They were both almost knocked off their feet as Rowan pushed against them, wanting to see his mistress as well.

"You big baby," Luria giggled as Rowan's tongue lashed across her face. "Stop that." She scratched his ears.

"You are, indeed, my daughter." The feminine voice came from above them on the steps and Luria jumped up, going to the woman's side to bring her forward.

"Balor," she said. "This is my mother, Atana Potnia. Mother, my husband, Prince Balor of the Seventh Kingdom."

Balor bowed, taking the goddess's hand in his own and letting his lips brush her knuckle. "It is an honor." 

A'Potnia stared up into his eyes. She said nothing for a moment, just kept staring as if she could see into him. Finally, she smiled. "It is true, what she says, you would lay your life down for her?"

"Yes," Balor said without hesitation. "She is my life."

"Then it is indeed a true match. You have my blessings, both as her mother and as a goddess." A'Potnia reached out, touching his forehead with her fingers. A small golden glow arose from the place she'd touched and she leaned forward, kissing the spot. "A small gift," she said to the startled prince.

A'Potnia pulled her daughter closer, hugging her to her side. "I am glad that I got to see the match you made, my daughter. I hope you'll allow me to see my grandchildren as well."

Luria glanced back at Balor before nodding. "We'd love to have you, Mother," she said almost formally.

"Good, now, I must go and you have a war to win. You need to remember one thing, Luria. Magnus is no more powerful than you. He is a demi-god and a lazy one. He will always want others to fight his battles so that he might keep his hands clean. Go to him, it will be the only way for the two of you to win this war and rid yourself of Magnus once and for all." She kissed Luria on the cheek and then disappeared, almost like a golden bubble popping out of existence.

"Face him in his castle?" Martane asked, coming to stand next to Luria. "That would be madness. He is stronger there. He feeds off the dark energy of those that he has captured."

"So then I guess we need to free them," Luria said as Balor came up to put his arm around her as if unable to stop touching her.

"That would be my thinking as well," Balor said.

Rowan roared and Balor gasped, his hand going to his head.

"What is it son?" Martane yelped reaching for his son's shoulder.

"D-did he just ask what we were waiting for?" Balor asked Luria, a smile beginning on his handsome face.

"Yes," she smiled, laughing when he spun her into his arms.

* * * *

Isobel stared in horror at the dark lord. His eyes were full of malevolence, his face ruddy with excitement and lust. There was no sign of mercy in the man. "Please," she whimpered. "I am a virgin."

Magnus grinned. "I'm so glad you saved that tasty treat for me, Isobel, but the virginal whining is getting on my nerves. If you don't wish to undress for me, I'm sure I could find someone who would be willing to help you." He glanced around the room, spotting two of the younger men who worked in the kitchen. Raising his hand, he motioned them to come to him.

"No, please," she cried, her hands coming up to cover the firm globes, her nipples peaking out between her fingers for her breasts were too large to be hidden in such a manner.

"You're decision, Isobel. You'll strip for me now or these two will strip you and have a taste of you when I am finished. Which is it to be?" When she didn't answer right away, he grew annoyed. "Choose!" he shouted, making her jump.

"I-I'll do it," she whispered.

Magnus waited a moment and when she still hadn't moved, he raised his hand, the two men chortling with glee as they took a step toward Isobel.

"No, no! I'll do it!" she screamed. Shrugging off their hands, she grabbed the ripped shoulders of the satin gown she wore, pulling it free and down so that it hung from her waist. She yanked at the buttons holding it closed and then slipped out of it, left clothed in numerous petticoats as well as a corset and a silken chemise that was also ripped. Stepping out of the puddled dress, she stared up at him with green eyes that glared her hatred. "Balor will find me and when he does, he'll kill you for what you've done to me."

"Your Balor will be too busy sucking my cock to worry about what happens to you," Magnus said crudely. "Finish or I'll let my men have you."

Isobel screeched her anger, stamping her feet which made her breasts jiggle, drawing all male eyes to those formidable mounds. She reached behind her, finding the ties to her corset and struggling with them. Her arms behind her back had her breasts sticking out even further, her rosy nipples hard in the cold air of the place.

The ties seemed determined to undermine her, tangling hopelessly under her shaking hands. Finally, Magnus rose, climbing down from his throne and grabbing the half naked girl. He grabbed a dagger out of the sheath at his waist and quickly split all the ties on the corset, watching as it fell to the ground in front of her. 

"Can you do the rest? Or should I just use this?" He lifted the blade in front of her face, smiling when she stilled, her eyes caught on the way the dagger reflected the light. "Finish undressing, Lady Isobel. I wish to show you the pleasure you've been missing out on all these years waiting for Balor to grow up."

Her eyes grew cold but she did as he ordered, slipping out of the dozen or so petticoats and then pulling off her chemise. When she was dressed in nothing but frilly half-leg pantalets, he called to her to stop.

"Those are charming, Lady Isobel. Who would have thought that a lady such as yourself would deign to wearing something so ... so ... brazen."

Isobel stood still under his gaze, her anger the only thing keeping her on her feet and not curled into a ball sobbing. She glanced down at the pantalets. She'd always enjoyed them much more than the bloomers her mother had always insisted she wear. They were lighter, the fabric almost transparent. Tied at her waist with a piece of pink ribbon, they had matching bows around both of her thighs where the bottoms of the legs ended. They were opened in the gusset area, to make it easier for a female to relieve herself. Hauling around all the skirts was bad enough when you were trying to use a chamber pot. Who could afford to be hobbled by their pantalets?

But now she realized just how skimpy they were and she wished for a pair of her momma's bloomers done in heavy cotton that covered her from waist to ankle. The pantalets hugged her curves, clinging to her thighs and fitting a bit tighter than what was usually fashionable. She looked up, unable to stand seeing the dark shadow of her mound through the tight fabric, and looked right into Magnus's dark gaze.

"Come to me, Isobel. I'll make this first time one that you shan't forget." He held out his hand and she stepped over the pile of petticoats, taking it as he drew her up to his throne. He sank down on the seat, tugging her closer and then put his hands on her hips, twisting her around so that she faced away from him.

"Yes," he growled as he pulled her down upon his lap, rubbing the hardness of his codpiece against the opening of her pantalets. "Those are quite brazen and charming," he moaned, his hands sliding up from her stomach to cover her breasts, kneading the softness of them and feeling the hard point of her nipples against his palms.

Isobel whimpered, her body shivering though she didn't fight him. She closed her eyes, unable to stand knowing that she was half naked amidst a roomful of servants and members of Magnus's court. She hated that her body seemed to enjoy what he was doing, hated that it wasn't Balor's hands that were giving her this pleasure. If it had been Balor, she would have given in, wholeheartedly to what he was doing to her.

Keeping her eyes closed, she leaned her head back against Magnus's shoulder, pretending it was Balor who was holding her, Balor whose hands were caressing her body, slipping between her thighs to tease her to wetness. It was the man she loved who was readying her to be breached.

She felt his hands on the ties of his codpiece and moaned. Her body rubbed against his thigh, eager for more, wanting something to fill her, to ease the torment of the emptiness of her body. She bit back a groan when his cock rose between her thighs, rubbing against her swollen red lips as his hands dragged her hips back and forth.

Isobel reached down, surprising Magnus by holding his cock to her and undulating her hips against and around it. She didn't put it inside of her yet, instead she used it to masturbate herself to climax. Her juices rained down on his cock, the heat almost triggering his own orgasm.

"That's it," he growled in her ear, lifting her as she lay twitching against him, feeling one glorious aftershock after another. "Hold on to me, Isobel," he ordered. Then he thrust up inside of her, breaking through the thin veil of her innocence and causing her to squeak in protest. It was over before she even knew it was happening and now his cock was buried inside of her, giving her the feeling of fullness that she'd so desperately wanted before.




Bloodstone Ch. 11



"How does that feel?" he panted, restraining himself from pummeling her body with his.

"Good," she hissed. "So good."

A slap on her ass had her sitting up, her hands going to his knees, leaning forward so that her toes touched the floor. "Ride me," he ordered. "Fuck yourself on my cock."

Her daydream of Balor gone with his abrupt actions and crude words, Isobel felt her heart thumping in her chest. She still wanted him even if he wasn't her Balor. She'd never felt anything like the sensations that were zipping through her now. Using his legs for balance, she did as he ordered, rising and lowering herself on his cock, shaking when the sensations almost became too much to bear. She opened her eyes, staring around the room at all the people who were watching her, feeling their eyes like the tiniest of caresses on her skin.

Was this who she was? Is this what she'd been born for? Was she destined to become the whore of the most powerful man in the seven kingdoms? A slow smile touched her full lips, echoing in the glint of evil in her green eyes. It wouldn't be so bad, would it?

"Do you like this?" she asked him, cocking her head around so that she could see him. He was slumped down in his chair, his body tense as she fucked him, his hands digging into the flesh of her hips and leaving bruises. "Do you like being fucked like this?"

Magnus opened his eyes, staring up in surprised pleasure at her face. "So the little virgin has decided she wants to be with me now?" 

"Why not?" she groaned. "You'll use me as would have he, but I think I'll enjoy the way you take me more than Balor. He would probably only want me in the bedchamber, in the dark with our clothes still mostly on." Her hands rose to her breasts, playing with her nipples. "I find I like being naked."

"Why not indeed." He moaned as the muscles in her core began to spasm, sending shivers of pleasure into his system as well. His legs tensed and he held her still, ramming himself up into her hard enough to have her screaming in ecstasy for all present to hear. Then he was coming up into her, his spunk splashing inside of her, bathing her with the heat of his potent seed.

"Gods! Magnus!" she screamed as bliss tore through her again and she collapsed back against him, letting him control the weight of her body in his hands. He sat both of them up, reaching over and pulling the hair out of her face.

"Look around you, Isobel. See what you've done to my people."

Heat suffused her face, but not from embarrassment as she stared around the room. Beast like men were fucking the women of court, stuffing them full of some of the largest cocks she'd ever imagined. They were in all positions. One had a tall, busty blonde bent over the table in front of them, his hands full of her naked breasts as he pounded into her from behind. Another had a redhead down on her knees in front of him and was filling her face with his thrusting cock. He held her face, cupping her chin, giving her nowhere to escape his lusty fucking.

Grunts and groans were coming from every side. Even the fat cook had two of his helpers down on their knees paying homage to his sausage-like cock even as he continued to stir his pots and pans. One man was on the ground, a lady spread across his loins, another across his face. Moans came from under the skirt of the one across his face as she rubbed and ground down on him.

"I-I couldn't have done that," she said, shaking her head, her eyes huge as she took in each rutting pair or group. "Could I?" Her eyes zipped back to him and then just as quickly back to where she could watch what was going on around her. One girl caught her attention. She was being held by two men, one flipping her skirts up over her back and exposing her naked bottom. He used his big hand, leaving a reddened palm print on the white flesh of her backside before he spat on his hand and started to explore between her thighs.

She struggled against him but he was too big, his friend yanking down his breeches and exposing a monster of a cock, then plugging the nose of the poor girl. When she opened her mouth to breath, he thrust himself inside, grabbing her about the hair to yank her further on him. Soon his friend had his cock out as well and was searching for the opening to her core, pushing inside of her. His every thrust sent her head further down on his friend's cock until it was all down inside her and down her throat.

Isobel took a deep breath in sympathy for the girl but couldn't keep her eyes off the scene. There was something so base and raw about the way the girl was being used and she gasped aloud as one of the men tore at the bodice of her gown, exposing her soft white breasts to their ravaging hands.

So enthralled was she with what she was seeing, she didn't even realize she was starting to move on Magnus's half deflated cock again until he was fully aroused once more and she was impaled upon him.

"You are a hot little thing, aren't you?" Magnus said, standing up with her still impaled upon him and dragging her over to one of the couches that rested across the wall. He slapped at the man who was already upon it, forcing him as well as the girl he was fucking off. Slamming Isobel down on the rounded side, he began to fuck her in earnest, hearing her squeal with glee as another man came up and began to play with her nipples.

"It's time you learn to suck," Magnus panted, nodding to the beast man sitting in front of her. He yanked free the small flap in the front of his breeches and exposed his cock, one that seemed just as big as the one that was fucking her. "You use your teeth and he will make you pay for it, Isobel." 

Isobel reached out, grabbing the huge cock, feeling the hairy base and the two fur covered orbs that hung below. Tentatively sticking out her tongue, she tasted the tip carefully, not knowing what to expect. The taste was bitter, slightly salty, but she figured she could handle it.

The beast wrapped its hand in her hair, pulling more of the pins out until it came down over her shoulders. Using it to guide her, he pushed her mouth open over the tip of his cock, grunting one word. "Suck."

Isobel did, gagging and choking when the beast pushed her head down too far. It showed her no mercy, fucking up into her mouth and little caring whether she could breathe or if her jaw seemed almost to dislocate around his huge member. It grunted and groaned moving her head faster over him until he held her down. She felt his cock swell and then the first spurt of bitter, thick liquid shoot from the end.

"Swallow!" the beast commanded and she did, barely able to keep up with its rancid spendings. When it was done, it moved out from under her, leaving her choking and gasping, her lungs struggling to regain the air they desperately needed. Tears fell down her cheeks and the taste of his sperm in her mouth made her long for a glass of wine, something, anything to rid her of that foul flavor.

Magnus laughed, his hips slapping into her bottom with a regular and rude pace. "You didn't enjoy that?" he asked sarcastically.

"I hate you," she seethed.

"I know a way to make you forget your anger," he said cockily. His hand slid between her thighs, playing in the warm folds of flesh he found until he found her clit. He strummed it expertly, drawing sensation after sensation from the tiny nodule of nerve endings until she was pushing back against him, begging for him to give her the pleasure he had before.

One last caress had her climaxing hard around him, her moisture drenching his cock, her muscles pulling at him as if to trap him inside of her. He jerked against her, filling her once more, roaring his pleasure so that the castle itself seemed to tremble around them. Then he collapsed on her, his breathing ragged.

One noise had Magnus lifting his head and he glanced up where the huge double doors to his castle were being slowly pushed open.

"What is this?" he growled.



Bloodstone Ch. 12



Isobel stared at the person standing in the shadows of the big doors, her body shaking with what she'd just experienced. She could feel Magnus still standing between her legs, his cock slowly falling out of her, letting loose a rush of fluids to bathe her thighs with the stickiness of their spending.

"Who are you?" Magnus growled again, pushing against Isobel to stand. He quickly replaced his codpiece, covering himself even as he left her lying there, naked and exposed.

"M-My n-name is Mathilde, Lord Magnus. I am Princess Isobel's maid. I come to ask you to spare her life and take mine instead."

Magnus laughed, his hand laying casually upon the princess's back, his fingers tapping out a rhythm of their own making. "I have no wish to take Isobel's life." He laughed again, causing those around him to laugh as well. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"You are Lord Magnus, the dark lord, the one who brings scourge to this land," Mathilde said simply, bowing and scraping as she came forward more. "Highness," she said in shock, finally having recognized the dark haired princess as she lay sprawled where Magnus had left her. "He's raped you."

"No, Mathilde, he's made me a woman," Isobel said. Lifting herself as far as she could before Magnus pushed her back. "I'm his woman."

"But ... but Prince Balor...?"

"He can keep his insipid bride, I no longer care," she said, moaning as Magnus began to play between her thighs, touching her lightly.

"Ah, but there's the rub, lady," Magnus said slowly, withdrawing his fingers and rubbing the wetness onto her naked back, "I do. The Lady Luria was to be my bride and carry my child, conceived upon the night that she gave her virginity up to me. The son she carries now is my heir, mine, not Balor's and I must retrieve her so that she can marry me and stand at my side."

"I'm loathe to be the bearer of bad news, Magnus," Isobel said softly, turning to run her fingers over his cheek. "But when I left, Lady Luria had been struck down by one of your men, knifed, I believe, with a poisoned blade."

Magnus jerked away from Isobel's hands. "You lie," he said softly. "If it were so, you wouldn't have come here offering to help me reclaim her. You'd have stayed with him, wanting to comfort him when Luria died." He stepped further away from her as she held her arms out in supplication.

"No, Magnus, don't walk away. I left because I knew they would invest every effort possible to heal their princess. If the poisoned knife didn't take her from them, I had to have another way. But can't you see it's all so unnecessary now. I was a virgin. I could be carrying your son. Would you throw away that chance?"

Magnus backed away even as she came forward, her naked body lovely as she offered it to him even bruised as it was from his hands. "You don't carry the mark, you're not the Descendant. Only the Descendant bears the mark and has the power. You're nothing but a whore now." His lips curled in cruel derision and he raised one hand, two of his guards coming forward eagerly. "Take her, put her in the west tower along with her maid." 

The guards grabbed her arms, one of them squeezing her breast to the accompaniment of Isobel's harsh screech.

"Don't hurt her, or touch her. She might be more valuable than we think," Magnus called, unmoved by Isobel's tears as she tried to call to him. "Take her out of here." He slumped down into his chair, his expression one of abject boredom. Pursing his lips, he blew out a long breath before looking around the room for another toy to play with.

"You," he called to a small blonde wench. She turned quickly, her eyes growing wide as she saw the dark lord's eyes upon her.

"Yes, sire, what might I do for you?"

"Do you know how to suck a cock?" he asked sighing as she bent between his knees and began to show him that she did.

* * * *

She seemed almost golden on the back of the huge black stallion. Tristan's armor gleamed with silver lights while the gold of her hair seemed like a halo of fire around her head. She wore black, her silver sword belt wrapped around her tiny waist. A dagger, the same that had almost taken her life, lay in a sheath tucked into her sword belt. She had plans for that dagger, big plans.

"Are you sure you feel up to this?" Balor asked for the fourth time since she'd mounted.

"Yes," she said in exasperation. "Will you stop asking? My mother has healed my wounds and I am fit and fine."

"And pregnant," Martane said for the first time, knowing that adding those two words would really start the fight. He wasn't sure that such was the truth, he could only hope that the words spoken to him in confidence by A'Potnia was true.

"What?" Balor shouted. He came to her side, grabbing her about the waist and dragging her down and into his arms. "You carry a child and you still think to ride by my side into battle."

"A child?" she shouted back, looking up into his face. "I carry your child, conceived in love. Can you not believe that?"

"I do, but I know Magnus won't. He'll claim the child is his since he had you first."

"But..." Luria glanced around, seeing all the people who stood and listened to their fight with eager ears. She grabbed Balor's hand and pulled him off to the side. "He never ... inside of me," she whispered.

"He never what ... inside of you?" Balor asked her looking confused.

"Gods!" she exclaimed, exasperated. "Magnus never spent himself inside of me."

"Wait, you're saying that Magnus took your virginity but he never came?"

"No, he came, but he came in my mouth. I might not know a lot about the birthing process but I do know you can't get pregnant that way."

"So this baby," Balor grinned widely, his hand going to her still flat stomach, "this baby is definitely mine?"

"I should be angry with you for even having to ask that question," Luria sighed. "But right now, I just want this whole thing over with. Can we go? There are only a few hours until dawn and I don't wish to have to do this some other night."

"I'm sorry, Luria," Balor said softly, bending his head to kiss her lips. "You carry the heir to the throne of the Seventh Kingdom, I cannot, in good faith, let you put his life in danger."

Luria stomped her foot, making sure her heel ground down upon his toes. He shouted at the pain but held her still in his arms. "This prophesy is about me. I need to be there when Magnus is brought down, if not to do it myself then to see that it is done. I love you, Balor, with all of my heart, but you cannot deny me this. It is my right."

"What about my right to protect my wife and the mother of my child?" Balor stared down at her, ignoring the ache in his toes. "You cannot expect me to be happy that you feel you have to do this?"

"No, happiness is not an emotion that either of us has right now. But when Magnus no longer is a threat, when we can go out into the night and walk the fields without worry, then there will be happiness a plenty. For now, my love, we have a duty and it will take both of us to do it. I do not fear Magnus, for I know you will be at my side protecting me and our child."

"I cannot talk you out of this?" he asked softly.

She raised her hand to his cheek, smiling up into his eyes. "No, you cannot."

He sighed, bending to steal a kiss from her soft pink lips. "You know I love you more than my own life."

"And I you," she said, touching her hand to his chest over his heart. "Every beat of this heart is as precious to me as the one that resides here," she touched her own stomach. "We will win the day because we have no other hope, Balor. You must believe that."

"I believe in you." He lifted her gently and took her back to place her on Tristan's back once more. Calling for his own horse, he heard Graeme come to his side. "My friend, you have stood by my side in battle more than once but I cannot ask you to risk you life now. We will either strike true and win the day or we shall all become martyrs for Magnus's cause. I won't ask you to be part of this."

"I never thought you'd have to ask. My place is next to you and Luria, it has been since the first." He bowed his head, his long hair falling forward. "Just know that I will protect her with my life."

"I owe you a debt I'll never be able to repay," Balor said. Turning his horse in a tight circle, he faced his father. "We are off," he said, his voice loud and carrying. "For the seven kingdoms!"

His horse reared, the front hooves shining in the light of the torches as he fought to control it then they were galloping away.

* * * *

Isobel was furious. She paced the floor of the small room they'd been given. Compared to the dungeons he'd put her in before, they were living in luxury now. A large bed sat in the center of the room, two wardrobes stood open on one wall, a treasure trove of clothing flowing from them. A dressing table and two small chaises stood along the other wall as well as a small writing desk and a gilt edged chair.

"Why did you come here?" she shouted at her maid, slapping the small woman hard along the back of her head. "Why did you have to ruin everything?"

"But, Princess, I came because I thought he would hurt you."

"He did," Isobel sighed, slumping down on one of the chaises. "It was lovely. I've never felt anything like that in all my years."

"Princess, we need to get you dressed. Balor and his armies could be here any moment. You don't want them to find you like that."

"Like what?" Isobel asked, standing and stretching. Her body was covered with bruises, bite marks and red, welted hand prints. She walked to the window, staring outside, sighing when all she could see was the reflection of herself in the glass. Her eyes wandered down her body. She looked...used as if he hadn't been able to stop himself. She liked the look, it made her feel desired, needed, wanted. Balor had never made her feel even a third of the things that Magnus had.

"I look like I've been fucked," she mused out loud, turning slightly so that she could see the handprint on her bottom. Her hands cupped her breasts, squeezing them the same way Magnus had, watching as her nipples grew hard. "Mm," she moaned, "yes, I like how I look."

"Isobel," Mathilde screeched, "You shouldn't talk like that or use those kinds of words. A lady..."

"I am no longer a lady," Isobel sneered, turning to stare at the small woman who'd cared for her most of her life. "I am now Magnus's whore. You heard him." She walked slowly to the bed, laying back on top of the coverlet and spreading her thighs. "He's had me, he's taken my virtue and turned me into this and I like it."

"Nooo," Mathilde shrieked. "You cannot act this way, Princess. What would your father say? Or your dear mother?"

"They don't matter. Magnus will tear through the seven kingdoms and leave only those alive who swear fealty to him. My parents' days are numbered, just as they numbered mine when they couldn't wait for me to leave. I'll stand at Magnus's side if he will let me. I'll bear his heirs. I could be pregnant now." She smiled at the thought, running her hand over her slim belly.

Her fingers tangled in the dark curls that covered her sex, pushing past and sinking into her slit. She rubbed one finger around her clit, gasping as the sensations swarmed over her. Her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth opened upon a moan.

"Princess?" Mathilde gasped, her mouth opening in shock. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, Mathilde, you are so right. I don't need to be doing this when you can do it for me. Come here!" she ordered.

"I cannot touch you like that. It's a sin in the eyes of God."

"Oh God Schmod, come here and give me your hand. Now Mathilde!"

Mathilde moved slowly, obeying was too ingrained into her not to do so. She stood by the side of the bed and didn't fight when Isobel took her hand, pressing it to her crotch.

"Fuck me with your fingers, Mathilde," Isobel ordered, rubbing her sex crudely against her servant's now wet fingers. "Make me come."

"But, Princess..."

"Shut up and do it!" 

Mathilde closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, then she opened them, staring down at where her hand cupped Isobel's wet cunny. Pushing two fingers inside, she could feel the thick spendings of the dark lord that still coated the walls of her core. She began to thrust, feeling Isobel's hips begin to move under her hand.

"Rub my clit," Isobel ordered. "Make me come, Mathilde. Prove to me your worth is something more than just to tell me what I should or shouldn't do."

Mathilde did as she was told, keeping her eyes locked upon the flesh that she was pleasuring. She wanted to detach herself from what she was doing, not be reminded that the woman screaming obscenities at her was the same one that she'd raised from a tiny infant. That thought had her gagging, her eyes clenching shut tightly.

* * * *

The trip to the castle took over an hour, their troops marching smartly behind them. Along the way, they'd run into some black guard that had run away when A'Potnia's golden aura had touched them. Now they were dispatched quickly.

Luria yanked her sword out of the neck of the beast she'd just slain. "How much further to the black castle?" 

"Not much longer," Balor said as he swiftly dispatched the beast that he'd taken on. "Though how we're going to get inside is a good question."

Luria glanced down at the beast she'd just killed. His helmet was on the ground at her feet. She picked it up, tossing it in the air for a moment before lobbing it at Balor. "How's your acting ability?"

Balor stared at the helmet clenched in his mailed fist and then back down at her. "You're crazy, you're absolutely crazy."

"Yes, like a fox. It'll work, Balor," Graeme said, holding up a helmet of his own. "We hold the troops back just far enough that they can't be seen. You and I come in holding onto Luria like we've trapped her. Before Magnus knows what's hit him, we kill him."

"It's too easy, and how do you know that Magnus won't recognize us?"

Graeme just smiled. "I'm an elf. I'll work a bit of elfin magic on you and...bam, beastly boy."

"Magic? I don't think I like the sound of that at all. Why don't we just storm the gates? They can't be more than a foot thick at the most."

"I think he's afraid," Luria said to Graeme.

"Me, too," Graeme said. "He's acting bloody terrified, something I'd never thought to hear out of the prince of the Seventh Kingdom."

"I'm not scared," Balor growled. "I'm wary of using magic."

Graeme laughed. "I've been using magic since I was old enough to speak words, Prince Balor. I won't harm you with it or cause you to retain the form that I will give you. It is an illusion, built for Magnus's sake and the sake of his armies. Once you remove the helmet, you will be back to your handsome self."

Luria, ever conscious of the eyes that seemed fixated upon her, moved toward her husband. "It will work, Balor," she said softly, her hands on his chest over the top of his breast plate. "I wish this done, I wish Magnus gone from this world. If this is the way to do it, with a little bit of white magic, then think of it as a counter to the black kind that Magnus has been wielding for years." She moved a bit closer, feeling his heavily muscled arm come around her and hold her close. "Think of the peace we shall find when this is done and he is no longer of this world."

"I know of all of this, but you can't believe that he will let either Graeme or I close enough to hurt him."

"I know he won't, it is why I brought this," she showed him the sheathed dagger. It was covered with her blood as well as the deadly poison that had nearly taken her life. "My mother is a goddess and this almost killed me. Magnus is a demi-god as well. This poison will take his life and I shall be the one to wield the dagger."

"Luria," Balor began, his voice a low growl. "If he catches you, he'll kill you."

"Then let us pray he does not catch us," she said quickly. Lifting on her toes, she kissed him, her tongue pushing into his mouth, her lips twisting against his. He moaned, returning her kiss with a passion she felt to her toes before pushing her away.

"Do not try to sway this your way," he warned, narrowing his eyes at her. "It will be as you wish but if Magnus kills you..."

"I know," she said with a teasing roll of her eyes, "you'll be very angry with me."

"Don't be ridiculous. I shall follow you down into death and bring you back. Nothing shall stop us from being together, Luria. Not Magnus and not death. I will not lose you again." He smiled, his teeth flashing whitely in the dark.

* * * *

They stopped; the rest of the army but a horn's call away from the black castle. His generals had their orders though they were not happy about it.

Riding over the hill, Luria could see the black castle and felt a shaft of terror lance through her. The last time she'd been behind those gates...

"It will be all right, my love. We'll go and kill this black demon and then we can raise our family and fill the castle with babies." Balor lifted her off her horse. "Send the horses back, Luria. Let us see this done."

As she did as he commanded, Graeme sank down on his haunches reaching into his pack and pulling out a rolled bag. Opening it, he pulled out different pouches and began taking a pinch of this and a leaf of that and putting it into a skin of water. He spoke a few words over the skin and then lifted it, shaking it vigorously.

"We've but to drink of this and it will create the illusion of a beastly form matching the guard of Magnus's." He handed the skin to Balor. "It won't last but moments, the more you drink the longer time we have to get close to Magnus."

Balor looked at Luria, she stood, her hands clasped in front of her, her long white blonde hair shining in the light of the moon like liquid beams. "You're sure of this?" 

"I am," she replied, taking the sheathed dagger and sliding it into the top of her boot. She could retrieve it handily enough even when they bound her hands together in the front.

"You show care with that dagger. I don't wish you to slice a finger and let the poison finish what it began before your mother's arrival."

"Balor," she said softly, coming up to kiss him one last time. "You are stalling. Drink deeply love and let's get this done."

He sighed, eyeing her. "Next time, I'll knife the evil one and you get to turn into a beast."

"Deal," she said with a giggle then she reached out and tipped the skin toward his mouth. "Now drink."

He did, flinching just a bit as the taste of the brew touched his tongue. When he'd drank half the water, he handed the skin to Graeme and waited, watching as the elf finished the drink.

"Now what?" he asked. "I feel no different."

"Tie your lady's wrists, Balor," Graeme said, picking up the two helms he'd scavenged from the beasts of Magnus's guards. As soon as Balor was finished, he handed him one, placing the other on his own head as he felt a shift in his body.

Luria blinked. Where once Graeme and Balor had stood, now two beasts with their boar-like noses and low browed foreheads stood staring at her. "It is amazing," she said, lifting both her hands to touch Balor's hair. It felt coarser, dirty to her touch. "You even feel like a beast."

Skins covered their squat bodies, skin that stank of dirt and bodily odor. She stared at Balor for a moment, then realized what was bothering her. "Your eyes, Balor. They have not changed."

"Come," Graeme said. "We must hurry if we are to get you close to Magnus before we change back. Balor, keep your eyes down, do not stare at anyone." They grabbed Luria's arms and began the trek to the castle gate.

* * * *

Magnus bellowed his release, his hands holding the girl's head to his loins even as he pulsed into her throat. When he was finished, he pushed her away, hearing her cough weakly as she tried to fill her lungs with much needed oxygen.




Bloodstone Ch. 12



"She has pleased me," he told one of his men. "See she is given an extra ration." Then he tied on his codpiece and rose.

The sound of the castle gate opening startled him and he hurried to the doorway. "What is this?" he shouted to the guard at the top of the gate.

"The Lady Luria, sir, she's been captured and two guard are bringing her in."

Magnus felt his heart leap. Luria, the golden Descendant, the one who would bring forth his power. She was once more within his grasp. "Hurry the gate," he shouted, stepping into the courtyard.

She looked so different than she had when he'd first held her. She looked more in control, her steps even, no trembling to her limbs as she walked toward him, her arms firmly held by two of his guard. They stopped a few feet away from him, their heads bowed respectfully.

"My lord, we have found the one you looked for," Graeme said, his usually lyrical voice sounding rough and raspy.

"Bring her inside," Magnus said, backing out of the way and waving them in.

The three moved, Luria dragging her feet, not wanting to appear too overly anxious to be in Magnus's presence. He followed them in, slamming the doors of the castle closed behind them.



Bloodstone Ch. 13



Luria felt her heart leap into her throat in fear as that door clanged shut behind them with a resounding sound. This was it. She would face down Magnus, she would kill him for what he'd done to her, her parents and countless others who were trapped by him.

She took a deep breath as panic closed around her throat. The same panic sank deep into her soul for just being in this throne room where Magnus had taken her virginity so harshly brought back the memories of the event. Her body was shaking and she felt her resolve weakening.

"It's all right, Luria," Balor hissed at her, rubbing his thumb against her arm. "He can't hurt you while I'm here."

Magnus closed the doors to the throne room and turned to his audience, throwing his arms wide. "My bride-to-be has returned!" 

There were cheers throughout the throne room, cheers that stopped just as abruptly as they started when Magnus growled his displeasure. He strode up to his throne, spinning so that his short cape decorated with gems and shot through with silver threads rose up around his shoulders, glinting in the light of the torches and candles.

Luria couldn't help but think it an impressive sight even though she despised Magnus and everything about him. He was a very good looking man, child of a god and a mortal just as she was. 

Would they be evenly matched when it came to the fight?

"I have not returned by choice," she snarled at him. "I have no wish to be your bride or under you thumb anymore. Let me leave here now and I won't be forced to kill you."

Magnus chuckled, enjoying the flush of color that rose from her breasts to turn her cheeks pink. "You aren't giving orders any more, Luria. I know you've had Prince Balor under your spell, you shan't do the same with me."

"I despise you," she snapped, struggling against her captors. They held her back, but just barely.

"That's all right, Luria. I think I like you despising me more than that meek little mouse who fucked me that first night. Are you pregnant, Luria? Are you going to have my son?"

"I'm having Balor's child, not yours Magnus, never yours. If you touch me, if you so much as lay one finger upon me, Balor will kill you if I don't."

"You are so fierce, my dear. The shy little kitten has found her claws. I must admit, this excites me. Shall I prove to you that I can have you here, now, in front of my people?"

He lifted his hand, crooking his finger at her. "Come to me, Luria. Rejoice with me for on the day you birth our son, we shall rule over all of the seven kingdoms."

"NO!" Came a shout from the hallway. 

Suddenly, Isobel bolted into the room with her black hair flying out behind her. "No, she shall not have you! She shall not take you from me, too." She slammed into Luria, knocking her backwards, before hurtling her body at Magnus's, causing him to fall back onto his throne. His head hit the high back and he grunted in pain.

"Bitch!" he shouted, rising and pushing her off of him. "Take her!"

Two of his beastly guard came forward, grasping Isobel's arms and yanking her up. Her green eyes, once so pretty with her dark lashes, seemed wild and half-mad. She stared around the room, her gaze never settling on any one person until she saw Luria. "This is your fault!" she screamed, her hands coming up to tear at her scalp. "This is all your fault. He wanted me. I carry his child now, in my belly. I have his child, not you. Never you!"

"Take her back to the tower and lock her in with her maid. She is not to be let out, no matter what." Magnus stood, pushing his hair out of his face and staring down where Luria sat upon the floor where she'd fallen.

Through the window, the first light of the coming dawn streaked in, touching upon Luria's slender frame and turning her golden. Magnus shielded his eyes from the aura of goodness and purity that came from her, flinching as it touched him.

He couldn't touch her, not while she was bathed in this light. It seemed to be absorbed by her skin, giving her a glow of golden radiance.

"What is this?" he growled. "The castle should be closing itself up, preparing for the dawn, not letting it in." He threw his arm up over his face as her glow grew brighter.

Luria stood, the dagger in her hand, though she kept it hidden by her leg. She moved toward Magnus purposefully, stalking him around the throne room as he tried to hide from her glow.

"Afraid of me now, Magnus? Now that you know that this is the end. Aren't you man enough to face it? Come to me, Magnus. Let me show you exactly how much I love you."

"Stay back," he growled, feeling the glow touching his body like tiny little flames. "You can't do that here, this is my castle! Mine! It follows my rules and orders. You can't be here like that," he repeated, little whines coming from his mouth as the glow burnt through his clothing, leaving spots of reddened and burnt flesh on his skin.

"I am the son of Loki," he screamed. "I am the son of a god, you cannot do this, not to me."

"I can and I will," Luria said, clasping the dagger in both of her hands. She walked around him, getting closer even as he shied away from her. His flesh was beginning to smoke and he curled into a ball, doing his best to get away from her until finally, there was no place to go.

With a little of his old bravado, he looked up at her, his eyes squinting against the glow. "You carry my son."

"I carry Balor's son. You never spent your seed inside of me. You came in my mouth, Magnus, do you not remember?" she asked almost kindly.

He shook his head even as his eyes told her the truth, he did remember now. "Not my son," he repeated.

"No, not your son. But it's nothing for you to fear, Magnus." She reached out, grabbing hold of Magnus's hair and lifting his head. Her dagger went to his throat and she drew it, biting deeply into his flesh. His blood spurted, causing her to release her hold on him and jump back. His blood was thick and black, and seemed to eat at the floor where it touched, causing a hissing noise and furrows to form in the rock.

The entire castle began to shake, the stones breaking and crushing.

"We've got to get out of here!" Balor shouted, grabbing Luria's hand. He was back to himself, the spell having worn off. Throwing off the furs he wore on his shoulders, he started dragging her toward the door.

"What of Isobel?" Luria shouted.

Behind them there was the sound of a roaring, like the deepest belly of hell calling for its meal. Graeme looked back and felt his skin crawl. Magnus's blood had sunk deep into the rocks, finding the ground below. It had created a vortex, a swirling sucking vortex from the depths of hell, dragging in those who didn't get away quickly enough or far enough.

"Balor," Graeme said, tapping the man upon his shoulder. "I think we should get out of here."

Balor glanced back then into Luria's eyes. "I'll go get Isobel, you leave with Graeme, get out as far and as fast as you can and don't look back, got me?" He didn't wait for her answer, dropping his head to kiss her hard and fast and then he was away.

Luria glanced back at the vortex, watching as dark tendrils that looked like smoke seemed to coalesce into something more evil. Tentacles waved from within the vortex, reaching out to grab those who were near, dragging them into the hungry swirling mass.

She screamed when one of them touched her, wrapping around her ankle to drag her toward the hell inside. Graeme grabbed his sword, swinging it through the tentacle which gave off a black ichor. He pulled the thing off of her ankle, staring at the burn marks on the britches she wore. If it hadn't been for them and her boots, she'd have been burned. 

"We need to get out of here, now." He helped her up and then grabbed her by the hand to drag her behind him. They forced their way out of the black castle even as the stones that made up the tall walls rained down around them.

The ground shook causing them to weave and stumble. Luria heard a scream and looked back, seeing the thing in the vortex getting bigger, its tentacles getting longer. It grabbed one of the beastly guard, almost tearing him in two before dragging him back and in.

"Get rid of the skins," she shouted at Graeme, seeing another tentacle coming after them. "Drop them!"

Graeme shrugged off the skins that had made up his shirt, watching as the tentacle seemed to almost sniff around them, then pick them up and shake them, before taking them back into the vortex. He shuddered in disgust before grabbing Luria's hand once more. "Let's get out of here!"

A gargoyle, one that had to come from the top of the castle slammed down on one of the beastly guard, smashing him in the process. It rolled, its ghastly form staring up at Luria. She jumped over it, going to the closed gate and pushing as hard as she could. It didn't budge.

"We've got to get this opened," she shouted over the sound of the vortex and the screams of those who had served Magnus.

Graeme studied the gate a moment then went to the turnstile, grabbing one of the spokes and pushing against it. "Help me!" 

Together they got the gate opened, the sudden roar from outside nearly lost in the deafening noise of the vortex. Rowan bounded in through the opening, Shria right behind him. They dug in their paws to stop when they saw what was going on. Rowan roared and the vortex roared back, challenging the massive lion.

"Rowan!" Luria screamed and the lion turned to her, his love for his mistress greater than his love of battle. "Find Balor, Rowan. Help Balor."

The lion turned and barreled up the stairs outside the castle that led to the ramparts. He bounded over and ducked around the rocks that kept falling. Luria stood and watched him until Graeme grabbed her once more, forcing her outside of the castle and onto stable ground. Shria came with her but kept turning her head to look for her own mate.

From outside, they watched as the castle began to crumple in upon itself. The battlements went with a roar of stone, falling into the castle proper and destroying the bailey with it. When the turrets and towers fell, Luria screamed, her heart breaking. No one could survive that, no one, not even her Balor.

"Gods! No, Graeme, I have to go back," she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "I have to go back and get him."

"You can't," Graeme growled, clasping her struggling body to his. "You can't, there won't be anything to go back for." 

Great, heartrending sobs shook her slender form and she fell to her knees on the ground, unable to watch what was happening anymore. Shria sat by her side, nuzzling her mistress. She grunted a couple of times, almost as if she were trying to tell Luria something, but the girl was too lost in her misery to respond.

When Shria stood and roared, Luria lifted her head seeing shapes taking form in the gray cloud of dust that had plumed up around the castle as it fell. Rowan appeared, a shape upon his back, another holding onto his mane as he led them out of the castle. Shria raced to him, bounding around him before rubbing her cheek over his as a sign of her love for the big cat.

"Balor?" Luria called. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, hope causing her to get up and head toward the cat. "Balor?"

"Here," he said, coughing hard as the dust got into his lungs. "I'm here," he said again as she came to him, grabbing him and helping him away from the dust cloud. They made it a ways further and then she fell on him as he sank down into the grass. He coughed harshly, spitting dust and gravel out of his mouth as he wheezed upon his hands and knees.

"I thought you were dead," Luria said, running her hands over her handsome husband's back. "Don't ever scare me like that again," she said, smacking him on the shoulder. She stood up and paced next to him as he rolled to his back. "I can't believe you did that to me."

"Oh yeah, you were the one who wanted to rescue Isobel," he said, taking in great heaving breaths of fresh air. "I was just doing what you wanted done."

Luria sank down next to him, her hand going to his face. "If I lose you, my world ends, too," she whispered, staring into his eyes.

"I feel the same, my love," he said, taking her hand and using it to pull her over him so that he might find her mouth. He kissed her through the grit that coated them both, flipping over so that she was on her back under him.

The first drops of rain fell, one hitting Luria on the forehead, sliding down into her hair and leaving a trail of clean skin behind. More fell until it was a downpour. Balor pulled Luria up to her feet, standing next to her in the pouring rain as they surveyed what had been done to Magnus's castle.

The black gate stood, hanging askew of its frame, little left to hold it up. The walls surrounding it were gone, turned to rubble in places and gone as if it had never existed in others. In the center, where the castle had stood, a single black tree rose from the ground. It was twisted and barren, no leaves covering its old branches. It sat almost directly in the center of the area where the castle would have been.

"It's all gone," Luria said softly. "Magnus and his castle, his guard, everything, gone as if it had never existed."

"No, we all know he existed," Balor said softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "Every one of us who has been affected by Magnus in some way knows he existed. That black tree is proof and shall stand here until the day it rots as testimony that good can flourish over evil. We shall have a plaque made to tell the tale of the beautiful Princess Luria and her triumph against the black Magnus."

"Oh and shall we also tell of Prince Balor and how he saved the princess and then made her his?" Luria asked, wrapping her arms around his lean waist and pressing close.

"Of course, for there could be no happily ever after if the prince didn't love the princess and she him, am I not right?" Balor teased her lips with a small brush of his, laughing when she pressed against him for more.

"This princess truly loves her prince," she said, smiling up at him.

"Let us go home then so you can prove it," he answered her with a quirk of his dark brow.

Graeme stood behind them, staring at the destruction and what little was left of the castle. There was not even a single blood stain on the ground inside the rubble. It was as if the castle that had been created in black magic had been taken back down and into the hell it had been created from.

"Come, Graeme...there will be feasting and celebration in every kingdom tonight. Your wife will have been retrieved and will be waiting for you. Let us not make her wait long." Balor slapped the elf on his back, smiling.

But Graeme couldn't return the smile. There was something...not right about this whole thing. "It was too easy," he said.

Balor stopped. "What did you just say?"

"It was too easy." Graeme looked up at Balor. "Didn't it feel too easy?"

"Not from where I'm standing," Balor grinned.

"No, Balor," Luria said, "he's right. Magnus wouldn't have let me get that close to him, especially not to sit there and let me slit his throat that way. Something's not right." She looked around the clearing, her eyes locking on the tree. "I don't like that tree." She shuddered in distaste as she stared at it.

"It's just a tree," Balor said, his hand sliding down her back over the golden beauty of her hair. "Trees cannot harm you, Luria."

Luria shook her head, turning to look up at her husband. "Perhaps you're right," she said with a sigh.

"Of course I'm right. We'll get back and get some rest. Things will look better in the morning."

"What about them?" Graeme asked, staring at Isobel and her maid. Isobel was sitting on one of the rubbled piles of rocks, her green eyes looking almost black in the light of the dawn. Her injuries seemed to stand out against the paleness of her skin. She kept the blanket Mathilde had wrapped around her clutched tightly to her breast and her eyes on Balor. Her stare was almost eerie.

"We'll take them back to the palace and let the doctors there take a look at her. Perhaps, with rest, she'll go back to her old self." Balor placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled, Tristan coming to the top of the hill and galloping down toward them, his armies following.

Giving orders to transport Isobel and her maid, he jumped aboard Tristan, instead of his own horse and pulled Luria up in front of him. They galloped ahead of the rest, reaching the palace well before the rest of the troops. His parents met them at the gates. 

"Son! You are safe? And Luria? It is over?" 

"We are both well," Balor said, laughing as he got down from the big black stallion. He held up his hands and Luria slid down into them, staying in his arms even as her feet touched the ground. "Magnus is no more," he announced, the sound of triumph apparent in his voice.

"And Isobel?"

"She's coming with the rest of them, her and her maid. She's been through hell," Balor said softly. "I'd like for our physician to look at her."

"It shall be done, son. We shall have a celebration for today is the day that Magnus's forces hold sway no more. We are free!"

Balor yawned, hugging Luria to him. "That's wonderful, Father, but perhaps we can celebrate after we get some rest?"

King Martane laughed, hugging his own wife. "Yes, rest. You two have more than earned it. We shall wait for you to rise before we begin the celebration." He patted his son on the back and then let the two enter into the palace. "I'll have water brought in so the two of you can bathe," he called after them.

* * * *

The water was warm, steam rising from the surface. Luria lowered herself into it slowly, sinking down until the water waved gently against her chin. She sighed, such a lovely feeling, the heat warming her sore muscles.

A splash had her opening her eyes and wiping drops of water from her face. Her husband rose in front of her, a smile on his handsome face as he shook his head.

"I hope you enjoyed that," she said softly.

"I did," he said with a smile. He reached out, pulling her up and out of the water and into his arms. "I think I'll enjoy this even more." His hand caressed her face, pushing the hair from her cheek. He felt every naked curve of hers against his lean body, her breasts pressing against his chest.

"You still think it's over?" she asked him as his head lowered toward her mouth.

"Yes, my love. I think it's over and you and I have won the day. We should celebrate, as my father suggested." His nose nuzzled against hers and he brushed his lips over hers. She shivered as his whiskery cheek rubbed against hers as he took her lips. Heat slammed into her, pooling low in her belly. Her head swam with the sensations he so easily created inside of her. She moaned as his tongue pushed into her mouth rubbing against her own.

Balor shifted his hands, lifting her bottom and pulling her long legs around his waist. His cock nudged against her sex from below, teasing her just as his fingers teased her body. He moved his lips down to her throat, growling as she lowered herself down on his cock, taking him easily into the wetness of her body.

His head fell back as she began to rise and lower herself, using his shoulders as leverage. Backing up, he found the small staircase that was in the water and sank backwards, letting her ride him as he relaxed against them. His hand slid up her wet body, taking in the full mounds of her breasts and kneading them tenderly in his palms.

Luria's head fell back, the ends of her wet hair floating in the pool behind her. Her knees found purchase upon the steps on either side of his body and she ground against him, filling herself so perfectly with his cock that she couldn't help but gasp at the sensations.

"That's it," Balor growled, his chest heaving as he moved up into her. "Take it deep, love." He brought her down toward him, latching onto her nipple as her breasts hung above him like ripe fruit.




Bloodstone Ch. 13



Luria felt her core spasm as he tortured her nipple, biting upon it gently before suckling it deep into his mouth. His hands rose and his mouth moved to her other nipple, his fingers continuing to play with the one still wet from his mouth. The assault was almost more than she could take, her body tightening as an explosion of pleasure beckoned, just out of reach.

She whimpered, she mewled, she begged until he lifted her up, carrying her still wrapped around him to their bed. 

Letting her drop onto it, he smiled darkly at the picture she made upon the coverlet of furs. Her pale body in its sleek, satiny glory, shone upon the darker furs, her hair, even wet, still shone with moonbeam brightness against the coverlet. She reached for him, her arms out, her legs parted and the soft pinkness of her folds shimmering with her juices.

"Come to me," she begged, her voice rough with her need. That voice shot through him like a heated barb, making him moan with his own need. He climbed upon the bed, feeling her arms wrap around him, pulling him back into paradise.

Holding his weight off of her with his elbows, he slid deep into her waiting sex, groaning at the feeling of her hot, wet walls parted for him. His lips found hers and she opened to him, her tongue waiting to play, her mouth desperate for his taste. She rolled, forcing him to his back, her hands running down his arms, finding his hands and holding them above his head, twining her fingers into his.

"What are you doing?" he panted as she moved over him, gliding and grinding, slipping easily down his cock before rising until just the head remained in her.

"I'm loving you," she breathed against his lips, "my way."

"Your way?" 

"Yes, now be quiet and pay attention," she said, nipping at his nose with her teeth.

He could do little else. She held him captive with every move of her body, every sweet slide of her cunny around his cock. Physically, he could have her under him in an instant, mentally, she was his captor and he would give her everything he had.

"I love you," he groaned as she took him almost to his peak, stopping until he calmed before starting over again. She had him begging and he loved it, teasing him with heart stopping kisses as she let him concentrate everything he had on where they were joined. "You are a witch."

Luria quickened her pace, grinding her body down against his, feeling him tighten his fingers around hers. "Am I?" she panted, throwing her head back to get her hair out of her face.

"Yes, my witch," he groaned. He dug his heels into the bed, his hips moving under hers, slamming into her.

"Gods," she cried, grinding down against him. "Yes." She moved quicker as her orgasm sent her into the chaos of pleasure. She barely heard him cry out, or felt him spurting his seed deep within her trembling walls. When she roused herself enough to open her eyes, he was next to her, his face buried in her neck, his arms around her, holding her tightly.

"I love you," he murmured softly.

She smiled lazily, her hand coming up to stroke his face until he opened his eyes to look at her.

"I want to have another ceremony," he whispered as she pushed his hair back, turning toward him.

"Ceremony?" she questioned, her eyes showing a lazy curiosity.

"Wedding ceremony, Luria. I don't want there to be any doubts as to who you are. I want my people to know that you hold my heart in this tiny hand of yours." He lifted her hand, kissing her palm softly. "Will you?"

"Marry you?" 

"Yes, without the threat of battle or Magnus. Just a woman marrying the man she loves. Just a man marrying the woman that he cannot live without. Marry me, again, Luria?"

She stared up into his eyes, seeing the need and the want, but mostly the love that shone out of them. With a small sigh, she smiled up at him. "Yes, Balor. I'll marry you."

Balor rose from the bed, lifting her in his arms. He twirled around the bedchamber before stepping down into the still steaming water and dropping her into the pool. "We need to get cleaned up and then tell my parents. We have a ceremony to plan."

* * * *

Down the hall from the happy couple, in a chamber not quite half the size of the one they shared, Isobel was roused from a drugged sleep. A smell had her nose crinkling and she raised her head, trying to find out where it came from. It was a charred smell, one of meat left too long to cook.

From the corner of her room, a figure moved. Isobel sat up, clutching the furs to her body as she stared into the corner. "Who are you? What do you want?" she asked, terror in her voice.

"You," came the reply, one that should have sent her screaming from the room. Instead, she smiled, recognizing the voice.

"I am yours, my lord," she said with great pleasure, lying back upon the bed as a great beast rose from the shadows and moved toward her.



Bloodstone Ch. 14



King Martane and Queen Nathalie were indeed very pleased when told of the upcoming wedding. They sent out riders to the rulers of the other kingdoms, opening the gates of the Seventh Kingdom to royalty as well as dignitaries. The day was planned down to the smallest detail, a day that would not only herald the wedding of the prince to his princess but would celebrate Magnus's downfall.

Nathalie had her seamstress and the woman's many assistants rushing about in a tizzy, for not only did they need to make a bridal gown fit for a princess and the Descendant, but they had to make the queen's gown as well. It was second only to Luria's, as it should be on the bride's big day.

Luria sighed. She was tired of being poked and prodded, of watching the seamstress watch her at every meal to see if she would over eat for fear of having to take the gown out. She was sick of this whole thing and wanted only to be able to relax, to live again after being on the run and scared for so very long. She rose from the table, wandering to the fire in the big common room of the palace. Her nose twitched, for a strange smell emanated from this part of the room. Turning, her eyes caught on the green of Isobel's and she started.

There was something in those eyes, something feral and vicious. "Isobel? You are well?" she asked quietly and a little uncertainly.

"What do you care?" the girl snarled, her voice kept purposefully low. "You've usurped my position here but you shan't take him away from me. Not again."

"Who, Isobel?" Luria asked, her hands reaching for the girl's shoulders. "Who shan't I take away again?"

A sly smile covered the pretty face and Isobel turned away, staring blankly into the fire.

"Why must you bother my poor mistress, my lady?" Mathilde asked her. "Hasn't she been through enough?" Mathilde went to Isobel's side and stroked the silent girl's long dark hair. "Now you're having this wedding which is like openly saying that my lady isn't good enough to be Prince Balor's wife and leaving her here to have to face the stares and the comments without protection. My poor little girl, my poor little dove." She continued her stroking.

"None of it was meant..." Luria began, but the older woman turned her back, tuning her out as she hummed to her mistress. Luria lifted her hand then changed her mind, walking away from the fireplace. She headed for the doors, needing to be outside of the palace and away from the strangeness those two had left upon her soul.

The door opened easily under her hand and she stepped out into the bailey, going up the small steps that led off to the left and up into the battlements. She followed the wall down and around, going past the gate to the village and breathing deep of the fresh air. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining gloriously bright and she couldn't help but lift her face into its rays. The heat sank into her skin, burning off the coldness left their by Isobel and her maid.

Rowan's roar caught her ears and she turned, scanning below her until she found him. Her grin turned into a smile and she laughed, watching as the village children took turns scratching his ears and rubbing at the big lion's belly as if he were little more than the newest mutt in town. Rowan grumbled, but then purred, content with his role for now. Even when the littlest of the bunch pulled his mane, he stayed compliant under their fingers.

"He's a big baby," Balor said close to her ear.

Luria shrieked and turned around, almost falling into his arms. "Gods!" she growled when she caught her breath, gazing up into his amused eyes. "Do you find it fun scaring me like that?"

"Fun, no. But I do enjoy this part," he said, pulling her closer into his arms.

"I do, too," she said, snuggling against his chest and breathing in his scent. "You've been fighting." She sniffed at his shirt scenting the sweat of a hard workout upon him.

"Not much use for training now, but I think we should stay ready, nonetheless." He tilted her head back, his eyes picking up on the stress upon her face and the tension that she felt. "Perhaps I shouldn't have suggested the ceremony?" he mused, his fingers tracing the small line between her brows that her angst had brought.

"No," Luria said quickly. "I want to marry you again, in front of our people and your family." She reached up and touched his cheek, brushing at a streak of dirt upon his temple. "I just wish that it was over so that we could begin our sequestering. I cannot wait to have you at my mercy." Luria wiggled her eyebrows at him, making him laugh.

"Perhaps I'm the one who should be worried," he teased, bending his head to find her lips. She tasted sweet, with the hint of the preserves she'd used upon her bread at the breaking of the fast. "Mmm...Yes, I should definitely worry. You and I sequestered at my father's hunting lodge for the banding time. Whatever shall we do to while away the time?"

"Cards?" Luria suggested softly as his hands slid down to her hips and cupped her bottom, pulling her closer to his loins and the bulge that protruded there. "Perhaps, oh," she gasped as his mouth, hot and needy, found her neck, "we can go for walks." Her voice was unsteady, growing more so as he growled against her throat, his tongue lapping at the pulse that beat so hard and fast in her neck.

Turning with her still in his arms, he hurried down the battlements, slipping through the bailey and into the stables. Finding an empty stall filled with sweet smelling hay, he dropped to his knees, pressing her down into the soft pile. A tug on the bodice of her gown had her breasts popping into view, her nipples hardening under the heat of his stare.

"Here?" she mewled when his lips closed over her nipple, suckling the hard treat deeply into the heat of his mouth.

His answer was a growled moan and he began to tug at her skirts, pulling them up her long legs, his hands caressing the silkiness of her flesh as he went.

Luria's fingers were busy, too, tearing at the sash that held his sword and stashing it at his right side, within hand's reach. She struggled with his breeches, tugging the plain white shirt he wore out of the top of them. Her hands grasped at his naked skin even as she arched under the sweet pressure of his mouth.

Sensation coiled into a bubble of almost angry desire, forcing her loins to move against his leg, begging for more. Luria didn't want sweet. She didn't want slow and loving. She wanted flash and fire. She wanted him between her legs, thrusting with almost primal force, filling her, fucking her. She cried out when his lips left her nipple, moving to the other, his hands finding the soft muslin of her pantalets. He grasped them in his fists; ripping the soft fabric easily until only the pretty red ribbons were left, surrounding her thighs and one at her waist.

"Gods!" she cried out, her excitement zinging even higher by his loss of control. "Fuck me," she ordered, her hands in his hair, yanking him away from her breasts.

Balor's eyes were hazy with his need and he stared at her for a moment as if unable to comprehend what she'd said. They grew sharper as lust fueled his desire. "Say it again."

"Fuck me," Luria said, her soft lips forming the crude words.

"You want to be fucked?" Balor asked, slipping out of her embrace to finish undressing. She sat up, helping with the wide lacing of his boots, pulling them off of his feet while he fumbled with the ties to his breeches. She laughed wildly when he took his dagger, cutting through the tangled ties and then pushed down on the breeches, exposing his lean hips and the long length of his cock to her eyes.

There was a grin on her lips, one that shone with wicked intent. Reaching out, she took his cock in her soft hand, hearing him moan at the first touch of her fingers. She stroked it slowly, drawing him closer until that gorgeous erection was close enough to touch and taste with her lips and tongue. Pulling him into her mouth, she rose to her knees, her skirt falling to cover her hips and legs

Balor groaned at that first sweet touch, the sensitive head of his cock coated in the warmth of her mouth. His head fell back and he trembled. She held him in her control, suckling down the length of his shaft, bobbing her head over him, her lips stretched taut around him. His chest heaved and his hands found her hair, tearing the pins from the long tresses of her white blonde curls so that they hung heavily around her shoulders.

She looked up at him, her eyes telling him of the excitement she felt, of the pleasure she got from giving it to him. She watched as his eyes held a wickedness of their own and then she felt the dagger at her back, the sharp blade cutting through the ties that held her gown to her body. The pretty red gown fell to her waist, held up only by the thin sleeves that were caught upon her elbows. Under it, she wore a shift that was tucked below her breasts as well as a corset. Thick white petticoats were trimmed with red ribbons that matched the ones on the pantalets he'd already torn from her.

"You wear too many clothes. I think I liked you best in the gown that Magnus would have married you in." He jumped as he felt the scrape of her teeth against the sensitive head of his cock then heard them click together as if she would have nipped him. 

Dragging her up, he used the dagger on her corset and then on the ties of the petticoats, laying them over the rough hay to cushion her body. "Now vixen," he said as he laid her down on the makeshift bed, "what is it that you had in mind?"

She grabbed at him, yanking at the shirt he still wore and pulling it over his head. Her hands were on his body, roaming over the hard, sweat covered flesh, undulating against him, pulling him down against her. "Fuck me," she whispered in his ear as her hand slid down his stomach, finding the hardness of his cock. "Now!" she demanded, spreading her thighs wide for him.

His hand slid between her thighs, testing her arousal, playing over her clit. She was soaked, ready for him, eager to take him into her body. With a groan, he slid his cock into her, even as her legs came up and around him, welcoming him home.

"Gods," he growled, savoring for just an instant the way she felt. No other had ever held him so, greeted him with so much desire of their own, needed him in such a way. She was his and he would never let her go. He began to move inside, pulling out only to thrust back in with force, driving her down into the softness of the hay.

Her moans and mewling words drove him on, and he lost himself in her, hearing her cry out in climax an instant before his own washed over him and he spent himself in her, pulsing long jets

of his seed into her. Drained, feeling almost turn inside out with the intensity of the pleasure she'd given him, he collapsed over her, holding himself up with his elbows as he tried to catch his breath.

"Was that what my sweet bride wanted?" 

She nodded weakly, opening her eyes to lift her mouth to his and kiss him sweetly. "I love you," she moaned against his lips.

"Good," he stated, smiling as her eyes narrowed at him.

"If I wasn't so satisfied right now..." 

"I know, you'd take me to task for that," he teased. Rolling to his back he held her against him, their sweaty bodies sticking together. He reached out and grabbed her dress, pulling it up and over them both. "I've a mind for a nap," he sighed, closing his eyes. "A morning of jousting, an afternoon of sex with a willing wench, what else could the prince of the Seventh Kingdom ask for?"

He yelped when she bit him, then pulled her closer, laughing with her. "I do love you, my Luria. You know that."

"Yes," she sighed. "But it is nice to hear it now and again."

"I'll have to keep that in mind. Now tell me, what had you so spooked that you came racing up the battlements?"

"Truly?" she asked, waiting for him to nod.

"Truly," he said. "I want to know, my love."

"Isobel."

"Oh and what has she done now? She barely speaks, she keeps to herself besides that strange maid of hers, I cannot see how she could be a problem."

"She is strange. I mean stranger than before. She...smells."

"Smells? Of what?" he asked.

"Charred meat," Luria said. "It's almost like a perfume. There's something in her eyes as well. It's a darkness, like pure evil."

"Luria..." 

She sat up and looked down at him. "I know, Magnus is dead. He won't be back. I'm telling you what I saw, what I feel around her, what I know. She's infused with evil, Balor. There is something there that doesn't want to be seen yet, but I can see it when I look into her eyes. Isobel is dangerous."

"She's a girl who has been through a very bad experience, Luria. Going through that same experience, I suppose I thought you would have more sympathy for her." Balor sat up as well, reaching for his breeches. "Is this jealousy?" he asked, after sliding one leg into the breeches.

"Jealousy? You think I am jealous of Isobel? Why would I be?"

"Because our fathers had made the contract, because she was my intended before you came into my life. I don't know. I just don't understand this...this need of yours to condemn her."

"You wanted to know why I left the palace. You asked. I didn't come to you with this because I knew this would be the way you'd react. You are so determined that it is over, you don't see what Graeme and I have been trying to tell you for a week." She stood, dropping the gown and stamping her bare foot in the straw. "What happened with Magnus was too easy. I think he's using Isobel now as cover until he can make his move. Why can't you see what we see?"

Balor's eyes rose from where they'd been admiring her jiggling breasts to see the fear and concern in her eyes. "I was in that castle as it was coming down," he said softly, his hand reaching out to touch her face. "I know the hell that was in there. No one could have survived that, no one," he repeated slowly.

"Magnus isn't a no one, Balor. He's part god, part human just as I am."

"But..."

"No," Luria said, taking a step closer to him so that he could feel her skin against him. "Just tell me you'll speak to Isobel. Tell me you'll look into her eyes to see the evil I was speaking of. If you do that and you're still not convinced, then I'll never speak of it again."

His hand rose, touching her cheek and pushing her thick hair behind her ear. "If you are that concerned," he said, bending to press a kiss to her lips, "of course I shall do as you wish, my love. Tonight, at the evening meal, I shall talk with her."

"You'll be careful," Luria said, bending quickly and picking up his dagger. "And take this with you. I don't want to be missing my bridegroom when it comes time for me to walk up the aisle once more."

He smiled. "I'll take care, my love. But for now, come, I feel the need for a bath and maybe have you play handmaiden and scrub my back?"

Luria giggled, looking at her clothing as it was scattered over the floor of the stall.

* * * *

"Milord," Isobel hissed as she entered her empty chamber, slamming the door behind her. "She knows."

"She can't know," Magnus said, stepping out of the shadows and gathering Isobel against his body. "She might suspect but as far as Balor knows, I died in that castle. He won't suspect anything else. You have only a few more days to keep up the charade, Isobel. Don't panic now."

Isobel stared up and into his handsome face, a face that slipped for seconds at a time, showing the ugliness that he tried so hard to hide. His powers were weak, the blood that he'd lost, the blood that had summoned the beast from below had yet to be replaced. "I will try," she said softly, kissing his mouth and ignoring the sight of his teeth, sharp and black.

"Did you do as I asked?"

"Yes, my love. He will be coming up here any moment to meet me for our tryst."

Magnus moved away from her, his hunger and need for fresh blood almost too much for him to bear. He'd have drained Isobel already if he hadn't needed her so badly. "Good, good," he repeated, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Get him on you in the bed, let him slide his cock in you, Isobel. It will make him all that much more sweeter."

There was a furtive scratching upon the door. "Isobel?"

"It's him," she said, pushing Magnus into the shadows. "It shall be as you wish, milord."

Magnus sank back, his eyes glowing briefly until he blinked them and then he was invisible to the human eye. He watched as Isobel opened her door to the young man from the stables, the one she'd picked out specially. He was strong, muscles rippling under the shirt he wore. Magnus could smell him from here. His life force was potent and strong. He would go far to helping him recover his powers.

The man lifted Isobel in his strong arms, bearing her to the bed where he pulled her out of her gown, her naked body glowing in the dim light that came from the cracks in the shutters and from under the door. Isobel ran her hands down her body, her fingers trembling as they touched the slit between her thighs.

The man growled out something that Magnus didn't hear, his body was tense, waiting for the exactly right moment when he would step out and drain this manly specimen of his blood. He watched as the man pulled his shirt over his head, letting it fall to the floor. His breeches soon followed, his pale buttocks seeming out of place with the tanned skin of his chest and back. Then he was over Isobel, thrusting between her thighs as they opened wide to welcome him in.

He let the man's pleasure build, knowing that at the moment of climax, he would be at his most potent. The sounds that came to him were obscene, the squishing of his thrusts, the sounds she made as he pleasured her, the noises that came from the man's mouth. His big hands were all over Isobel, squeezing and teasing, causing her to move even harder against him.

"God wench," the man almost screamed. "I'm cumming!"

It was all he'd been waiting for. Before the second pulse of sperm could flood the lovely Isobel's waiting sex, Magnus was upon the man, yanking him back and up, grabbing his chin and burying his fanged mouth into the man's throat even as he screamed his terror. There was a crunching sound and then blood and sperm fell upon Isobel's body even as she backed away, trying to coil into a small ball in the corner of her bed.

Looking up, she could see Magnus's true shape, the spindly arms and legs, the long fingers tipped with lethally sharp claws. His body was bent, a pot belly hanging over his dangling manhood and the immense balls that hung behind it. He had huge leathery wings that spread wide above them.

He smelled of charred and decayed flesh, the scar from the wound that Luria had given him pulsed, running with ichor and pus, a crust of it already dried upon his spidery form. As Isobel watched, the blood he drank gave him strength, changing his form into the one that she knew, the handsome Magnus.

He dropped the drained body on the bed next to her, using his fingers to scoop up any of the blood that dripped down his chin and bring it back to his mouth. "Two or three more like that, my love, and I shall be whole and well once more. Then we shall take our revenge upon those outside and we shall be together forever."

He held his arms out to Isobel, watching as she slowly came forward, allowing him to hold her naked body, even as blood and semen dried upon her skin. There was fear in her eyes, but a determination as well.

Magnus laughed, holding her close. "Yes, we shall make them pay," he said again, his cock growing hard as he thought of Luria's lovely body under his. "Yes, we shall."

*****

Author's Note:

One more chapter and it's done. Just wanted to let you know and tell you how much I appreciate the comments and the votes. I forgot how much I liked this story. I'd even wrote a second in the stone series. I'm searching my computer looking for it. We'll see. Take care all!



Bloodstone Ch. 15



It was the night before the Royal Wedding and Queen Nathalie was working herself into a frenzy, rushing about and making sure that no detail had been forgotten or omitted.

Luria watched her from where she sat upon Balor's lap in one of the padded chairs close to the fireplace. "I feel like I should be doing something," she said to him, feeling his arms tighten around her.

"You are doing something," Balor teased. "You're making me happy."

Luria narrowed her eyes at him. "You know what I mean. Your mother shouldn't have to do all of this work."

She glanced around at the freshly painted walls of the palace, the banners having been taken down and beaten of their dust and grime. The smells of roasting meats and fresh rushes for the floor filled the large room.

They would be married close to the main gate of the palace so that their people could see them. The gates had been hung with streamers and dozens of flowers, all in white. Luria would carry the same kind of flowers in her hair.

"She likes to do this, it's what she lives for, daughter, so don't fear. Nothing makes her happier than overseeing a ball or wedding and letting the people of the other kingdoms see the wealth and prosperity of our kingdom." Martane smiled. "You two just relax. Your duties will be upon you soon enough."

"Duties?" Luria asked. "What kind of duties?"

"Well, making me grandbabies, of course. It's a rough duty but I think you two are up to the match."

"But, Father, we've already started." Balor grinned, his hand resting upon Luria's still flat belly.

"I said babies, Balor, enough to fill this palace with the sounds of children again." Martane dropped his hand gently on Luria's shoulder and squeezed.

"We'll do our best, sir," Luria chuckled. "But I'd rather just concentrate upon this one first."

Martane nodded and then went off to find his wife.

* * * *

There was a feast of sorts the night before the wedding, to greet the Royals who had already shown up. Others would make a day trip to come to the wedding as they lived closer. Isobel's parents, King Alan and Queen Leanore, had arrived earlier in the day and were staying in the castle. The rest of the guests were staying at the three inns in the village.

Leanore had hugged Isobel to her quite impressive bust, stroking her hands over her back as she tried to comfort her. But when they tried to get Isobel to join them in their suite of rooms, she'd balked. When the issue had been pressed, Isobel threw such a massive fit, using words her parents didn't know she knew.

"Something is wrong," Leanore had whispered to Nathalie. "She's not my Isobel. It's like something dark and malignant has settled inside of her."

"She had a hard time of it with Magnus," Nathalie said. "She just needs some time to get over that."

"What did that man do to my baby?" Leanore cried, pulling a handkerchief out of the neckline of her gown. She sobbed into it, Nathalie at her side, rubbing her back and trying to comfort her.

"You really don't want to know those details," Nathalie said softly. "Just let her go through this patch, she will be fine."

"I certainly hope so. Alan has begun talking to King Ramille of the First Kingdom. He has four boys and I thought maybe one of them would make her a good husband."

"They are fine boys," Nathalie said, glad that Alan and Leanore hadn't gone on and on about the breaking of the marriage contract for Balor. They'd barely blinked when told that Balor would not be marrying Isobel as they had planned. That he'd married the Descendant and saved the kingdoms from the worst of fates, Magnus, had kept the arguments to a dull roar.

At the feast that evening, Isobel wouldn't speak to her parents, she wouldn't speak to anyone. She'd dressed in her best finery, wearing an emerald green gown that made the best of her feminine assets. An emerald necklace drew the eyes to her cleavage, barely held in check by the gown. It looked as if she took a deep breath, those assets would burst from their fabric prison.

She sat at her usual place at the long table, at the last seat, turning her back on anyone who would try to draw her into conversation. Her maid, Mathilde, was the only one she would talk to. Mathilde fussed over her mistress, bringing her a platter of the tenderest meats, giving her the tastiest of the cheeses and coaxing her to eat.

Isobel but picked at the platter, her eyes staring off into the distance at some fixed point. She ignored her mother who tried to speak to her, ignored her father who railed at her for her actions as well as for the way she treated her mother. But nothing got through her serene barrier. 

"It's like she isn't there," Queen Leanore cried. "It's like her mind has left her and it is only her body that sits there upon the chair. What are we going to do?" she asked, pulling out her handkerchief again and twisting it in her plump hands.

"Leanore, hysterics aren't going to help," Nathalie began to say only to stop when she heard Isobel shriek. The girl went for her father, her knee going between his legs and slamming into his groin. There was a bright red handprint on Isobel's face, evidence that King Alan wasn't willing to wait for her to come out of whatever demented trance she was in. King Alan went to the floor, his hands clenched between his legs, a strange sound leaking from his lips.

"Oh dear!" Leanore exclaimed. She pushed up from her chair, going to her husband's side. "Alan, are you all right?"

Alan groaned, opening his eyes. "Do I look like I'm all right?" His eyes went to where his daughter was, seated back in her seat, lazily plucking at a bunch of grapes. "She's a witch," he hissed at his wife.

"No, Alan, no, you don't mean that." Leanore cried, making a sign of protection.

"Your daughter is not a witch, King Alan. She's been through a terrible ordeal. We must grant her concessions for now and let her come out of it at her own speed." Nathalie glanced over at Queen Leanore, hoping she'd speak up for her daughter.

"It will be okay, Alan. She'll be ready for the wedding, I promise," Leanore said, trying to placate her husband. "Just leave her in our capable hands, please, Alan."

With a mighty groan, King Alan rose from the floor, yanking down on the hem of his jerkin. He walked sort of bent legged, stooped, giving him the look of more years than was his right to claim. He stopped by his daughter's chair. "I shan't forget this, Isobel. Just remember this day when you lay in your marital bed." He gave her a half hearted smirk and then left the room, heading for their bedchamber.

"Oh dear," Nathalie said, trying to keep from laughing. It was definitely not a laughing matter, but that didn't help her when little titters of giggles escaped her grip. "Oh my!" 

She glanced up at Leanore and they both burst out laughing, leaning against each other as they became a trifle weak with their amusement.

"I've never seen him so red," Leanore giggled.

"You'd be red too if your balls were in your throat," Nathalie said, startling Leanore into another spat of unrestrained laughter.

The two women quit laughing as Isobel rose from her seat and passed them on her way up to her room. "There is definitely something wrong with her," Nathalie said to Leanore. "It's like something on the tip of my tongue, I can almost get it but it's just beyond my grasp."

"I know what you mean. I shall be happy to have her wed off to one of Ramille's brood."

* * * *

Isobel heard what they were saying but she didn't care. She was so detached from the reality of the world, finding herself in a world of dark and horrible creatures that capered and danced around her. She'd been terrified at first, but now she found comfort in this world, for here she was wanted and desired. She wasn't considered chattel, to be bought by whoever would give the best bride's price.

Here Magnus held his court, seating her at his right hand, spending his time with her. She had to pretend when she was in public, but in the privacy of her own room, Magnus could come and go as he pleased.

"My love," she called when she closed the door tightly, bolting it from the inside. "My love, I am alone."

A sound of huge wings could be heard at the open window and then he was climbing in, tall and handsome with his dark green eyes and inky hair. "Isobel," he said softly, holding out his hands so that she might run into them. "I have missed you so."

"I have missed you, my love," she whispered. It was cold in his arms, cold and a bit scary. The blackness began to sweep over her and he leaned down to kiss her lips.

"Have you brought me another, my love?" he asked, the lust for blood raging in his veins. The damage that had been done to him was slowly healing but he needed blood for it to heal completely. Once he had, then he would show Luria and her little prince what he could do.

"No, Magnus. It's become too dangerous. They look at me with suspicion."

"I don't care if they look at you like you're crazed. I need more." He dropped his arms, one hand coming up to grasp the front of her emerald gown in his fist. "You will go out and find me a youth. Young blood is the best. Lure him back here, I care not how and have him ready for me." He shook her once only to emphasize his point. "Go, now. Do not disappoint me!"

Isobel stumbled back, staring at what once had been a man, but was now half man, half demon. His face was twisted with his dementia, his eyes glowing like red fire. He lifted one skeletal hand and pointed toward the door. When he parted his lips to speak, she could see the sharp ridges of his black teeth. "Go! I shall be back in an hour. See that you bring him here and seduce him by that time. Understand?!"

"Yes," she squeaked, her hand was scrabbling for the door handle, when she finally found it she tugged on it until it let go. With a shriek of fear, she left her room, running until she reached the stables. 

There she found exactly what would appease Magnus. Tugging on her gown to straighten it, she managed to lower the neckline until half her nipples could be seen above the tight bodice. Then with her head held high and a sway in her hips she walked in and sought out the stable boy who'd taken her fancy.

Ten minutes later, she was leaving with him in tow. He stumbled and stammered, anxiously staring around. He hurried up the stairs to her room, a silly grin on his face.

The door shut soundly behind him. Another ten minutes passed and the sound of screaming could be heard by anyone who had the misfortune to pass that door.

* * * *

Luria stood in front of her mirror as a maid pinned curls into place in an elaborate hair style. Her wedding gown was pale blue, decorated with white flowers that had tiny gems winking in between.

"You look lovely," Nathalie said from the door. As Luria turned away from the mirror, Nathalie stepped forward and held a box out to her. "I wore this at my wedding to Martane. I always wished for a daughter to wear it at her wedding." She watched as Luria opened the box and took out the delicate looking tiara made of moonstones and gold. 

"Oh, it's beautiful. I can't take this," Luria said holding it out to Nathalie.

"Yes you can. You are the daughter that I always wished for." Nathalie took the tiara and placed it gently upon Luria's hair. "Now you are complete, daughter. Balor won't be able to keep his eyes off of you."

There was a knock upon the door. "It's time. You look simply beautiful," Martane told Luria holding his arm out for her to take. They led the way out of her room and then down the stairs, through the main room that had been transformed for the wedding party afterwards.

A fanfare of trumpets heralded her trip down the aisle causing every dignitary in the seven kingdoms to turn in their seats and stare at her. 

As Luria began to walk forward, a sense of unease shook her. Something was wrong. She knew it as well as she knew her own name. Something was going to happen. She had to get to Balor.

King Martane stared at the shaking girl. "Nerves are normal, Luria. Never fear, you are doing the right thing here."

"It's not that," she said furiously. "Something is going to happen, I can feel it."

"Magnus is dead, Luria. You struck the fatal blow yourself. He was the only threat we ever worried about here. You are just imagining things." They stepped out and into the sunlight. Luria felt blinded for a moment and shaded her eyes with her hand. Then she started down the aisle toward Balor.

"I know what you're saying is true," she whispered to Martane. "But that changes nothing. Something bad is going to happen."

They'd reached Balor, who stood patiently waiting while Martane kissed both of Luria's cheeks. Then he took her hand and Balor's and clasped them together, putting his fatherly stamp of approval on this match. "It will be fine," he said softly to Luria before stepping away. 

Balor led Luria up a small platform covered with red carpet and strewn with white petals. Before them stood the palace priest, an old man with long white hair and a hearing problem he refused to admit to. He was bent and stooped, leaning upon a cane. But his voice was rich and strong, almost melodic.

He began the ceremony, and they knelt before him to accept his blessings.

"Something is wrong," Luria whispered furiously to Balor. "I can feel it, something is about to happen."

"Luria..." Balor began.

"I know, Magnus is dead, but there is something wrong here."

The sun, which had been shining brightly when she'd walked down the aisle suddenly didn't seem so bright. Glancing up, they saw a strange shadow on the sun that slowly began to blot out the rays. There was a sudden rumbling from below them and a woman screamed as the sky took on the appearance of dusk and not the bright light of midday.

The sound of wings had Luria and Balor both standing and scanning the sky. When they saw the strange beast, both gasped. It settled on the ground in front of them, sending everyone else screaming and scattering away. 

"Don't go so quickly," Magnus's voice came from the beast's mouth. "We have a party to attend but instead of a wedding, it'll be a wake."

Luria didn't scream. She could only stare at the strange looking creature that stood before them. He seemed part spider and part sea creature with his spindly legs scuttling on the cobbled ground.

"What are you?" she said, hesitantly.

"I'm your bridegroom, lovely Luria. How could you forget me so soon?"

"Magnus!" Balor spat the name. "What must we do to keep you dead?"

"You can't," the horrid specter that was Magnus said. "You cannot hurt me. I will take the lovely Lady Luria as my bride this day and then she will miscarry the baby that lies in her womb to be replaced by mine."

"No!" The cry was sharp and the owner of it swift as she hurried down the aisle toward the strange monster. "No, you promised to marry me. I've done everything you've asked, Magnus. I've killed for you, brought all those innocent boys to you. I've even fucked them so that you could get what you needed from them. You have to marry me, you owe me." Isobel grabbed one of Magnus's legs, hanging on as he tried to shake her free. Finally, he backhanded the dark-haired beauty, opening up her skin so that she bled upon the ground where she fell.

Balor drew his sword, holding the lethally sharp weapon and stepping between Luria and Magnus. "You will not take her. Not while there is breath in my body."

"We can fix that, Your Highness," Magnus said, bowing in a courtly manner that was creepy to everyone who witnessed it. "Come, let's finish this," Magnus said, sitting back so that Luria could see the strange looking appendage that hung between his legs. "I am anxious to impregnate my lovely bride."

Balor stepped off the dais, keeping the beast in his sights at all times. He motioned Luria to stay back and she moved toward the palace priest, holding on to his arm while she watched the battle begin.

Magnus moved forward, scuttling on four legs. His arms waved wildly in the air around him and he pulled a sword of his own. The clang of metal upon metal soon was the only sound besides the grunts and groans of the two fighting.

Luria's heart was in her throat and she couldn't bear to watch what was happening, but neither could she turn away. So she watched, her hands going to her breast as she prayed for her love to come through this unscathed.

* * * *

Balor slashed and hacked, he growled his triumph when he sliced through one of Magnus's legs, the tip spewing black blood onto the cobble stones. Magnus screamed his pain for all to hear and then redoubled his attack.

But Balor was ready, his sword always there between himself and Magnus's blade. Another leg was sliced through and then another until Magnus was forced to fight from the ground. He attacked once more, furiously.

His ferocity surprised Balor and his sword went flying from his hand to land on the stones. Magnus moved closer to the unarmed man. "I should show mercy, I mean, killing an unarmed man is so not sporting." He used his arms to move him closer to Balor. "But, I don't want there to be any rescue attempt for the Lady Luria so some things must be done that aren't quite the gentlemanly way." He chuckled a bit. "I'll give you the option of where you want to be struck: belly, heart, or..." he flipped the blade in his hand and aimed it at Balor's groin, "your cock. Which is it to be?"

Balor didn't say a word; he just stared at the thing that Magnus had become. "What ever happened to you to make you this way?"

"Happened? Nothing happened to me. I was born this way," he said. "Now choose or I shall choose for you."

"Magnus!" Luria called, trying to rush to her beloved but the priest held her back. "Magnus, leave him alone and I'll come with you."

Magnus tapped the long bony appendage that could have been his chin with one claw-like finger. "Tempting offer, my dove, but if I left him alive, I don't doubt that he would come looking for you again. No, it has to be this way. Now, Balor, be a good boy and choose!"

"No!" Luria cried, finally ripping herself free of the priest's hands. "No, you can't!"

Magnus pulled his sword back, readying to make the killing blow. He never saw the form that threw itself in the way of his sword—that is, until he heard her cry out in pain. 

"Luria?" Magnus asked. 

"No, gods no," Balor cried, feeling her body stiffen in pain as the blade bit deep into her shoulder where his heart would have been if she hadn't stepped in. "No, my love. Why did you do this?" He laid her down while he cast his eyes about, looking for something he could use to staunch the blood that was trickling through his fingers.

"I couldn't let him kill you," she whispered, reaching her hand up to touch his face only to have it fall back at her side.

"Luria!" he cried as she slowly closed her eyes. "No, love, look at me, stay with me, please," he sobbed, leaning down to bury his face in her hair. "Stay with me," he whispered. "I love you."

A shrill cry caught his ear and he looked up. Isobel had awakened and had picked up his sword. Now she ran it through the thing that Magnus had become. He shrieked and stiffened, turning to backhand the person who had caused him this pain.

Isobel hung on to the sword even as she ducked his many arms. She pulled it free and then rammed it home again, this time finding the blackness of his heart. Magnus screamed and Isobel twisted the sword, causing his heart to burst. He fell to the ground, Isobel still holding to the sword.

Magnus's body started to smoke, black clouds of ill-smelling fumes. Then it began to flame, Isobel drew back from the fire with Balor's sword still in her hands. The flames burned until Magnus's carcass was disintegrated. The only evidence of him ever being was a black sooty spot on the ground and Luria's still form lying in a pool of blood. 




Bloodstone Ch. 15



"He promised to marry me, to make me his woman. I carry his child," she said to no one in particular. "He should have wanted me." Isobel looked down at the sword she was carrying. "I have his child inside of me," she said again, but this time there was more fear than happiness. Lifting the sword, she turned it on herself before anyone could stop her and thrust the blade into her womb so hard, it came out her back.

"No more baby," she said in a singsong kind of voice. "No more baby." She slid to the ground then fell backwards on to the cobblestones.

The bailey was filling back up with people now that the threat of Magnus was gone. Balor gathered Luria up in his arms, carrying her away from the gawking stares and ignoring the questions thrown at him. He took her to their chamber, yanking down the coverlet before laying her down on the soft sheets. Rolling her to her stomach, he yanked apart her gown showing the wound. Then he went to the bowl and pitcher on the opposite side of the room and gathered up supplies he needed to clean her wound.

He came back to the bed, and took a wet cloth, slowly cleaning up the wound. His eyes narrowed as he looked at it, for it seemed smaller than when he'd left to get the towel. It was healing, quickly healing right before his eyes. Even as he rinsed that last of the blood from her skin, the wound was now just a three inch long pink scar.

Luria moaned and opened her eyes. She glanced around the room before lifting her head to see Balor. "What are we doing here?" 

"You were hurt. Don't you remember? You threw your body between Magnus's sword and me."

"Oh, yes. You're all right then?" she asked, trying to sit up in the bed. Balor finally relented, letting her lean against the bed frame.

He reached down and took her hand. "Now, I want to know how you healed so fast."

"My mother came to me, like a dream," Luria said, pressing her other hand to her temple. "I think it was she that healed me."

"Then I am in her debt once more," he said, leaning forward to kiss his beautiful bride.

Luria responded to the heat in his kiss, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him down on top of her. Spreading her legs a little let him fit in the cradle of her hips, her body undulating against his. "Is it time to consummate the wedding yet?" she teased him.

"We never got married," he reminded her.

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

* * * *

Luria chose a simple gown of red with a low cut neckline that the boned bodice showed off beautifully. She walked once more down the aisle made by the royals who stared at her in amazement and awe. Most of them had watched as Balor had carted her off bleeding and looking half dead. This miraculous recovery had gone a long way in clearing up any doubts they may have had about her being the one true Descendant. 

Balor walked down the stairs of the dais, coming to meet her. He shook hands with his father before sending a titter of giggles throughout the crowd by hugging him close. Then he took Luria's hand, drawing her up the stairs to stand in front of the priest.

Kneeling for his blessing, Balor held her hand close, needing her touch. They knelt in front of a shaken priest who kept glancing up at the sky while he performed the ceremony. They exchanged rings and then Balor clipped on a pair of arm bracelets that fit snuggly over her upper arms. They were beautiful, moonstones glinting in the light of day. They kissed and then Balor lifted her off her feet and twirled her around while laughing joyously. 

"My wife," he said softly as he placed her back on the ground. 

"I've been your wife for many days now, Balor. What does this ceremony mean that our first didn't?" she laid her hand on his cheek, staring up at him.

"We've got the blessing of my parents and no more Magnus holding threats over our heads. We can be free to love each other now." He kissed her again, unable to stop himself.

"Come on you two, the feast is about to start and you've yet to see to the villagers." Martane handed Balor a heavy bag that clinked.

They moved past the priest to where the villagers gathered outside the gate. Filling their hands with gold coins from the bag, they tossed them into the crowd. Luria felt a tug on her skirt and looked down to find a little girl, she couldn't have been more than eight years old.

"Please," the little girl said, holding up her hand.

She was dirty and too thin, with big blue eyes that just broke Luria's soft heart.

"Where's your mother and father, sweetheart?"

"They're dead, ma'am, killed by those monsters."

"So who looks after you?"

"No one, ma'am."

"Well we can't have that now, can we?" She reached out and lifted the girl in her arms, heedless of the dirt that mussed her gown. "How would you like to come and eat with me at the feast?"

"Really?" the little girl said, her smile lighting up her face and showing the beauty that lay just beneath the surface of the dirt.

"Really," Balor said, putting an arm around his wife's shoulders. "But you've got to promise one thing." The little girl nodded solemnly. "You've got to promise to eat everything on your plate."

They finished throwing out the coins to the people, keeping three of them for the little girl. Her name was Rose and her parents had been outside the village gates one evening, gathering firewood. Both had been killed by Magnus's beastly guard. Since then, Rose had been living in the streets, begging for food.

"We need to get you cleaned up," Luria said, "and find you something else to wear."

Queen Nathalie took one look at the little girl and hustled her from sight to ensure that she would be properly bathed and clothed. 

"So it's not only animals that you pick up but children, too," Balor said softly as they went to the head table.

"You'd have done the same thing," she said. "I saw how you were looking at her, I saw what was in your eyes."

"What was in my eyes?"

"Pity, sorrow, pain that we couldn't have rid the world of Magnus before her parents died. You feel responsible."

Balor ducked his head down. "Yes, maybe I do feel a bit responsible for what happened. But what do you propose we do with little Rose after the feast?"

"This palace is huge, there has to be a stray bed or two that we could tuck her into, don't you think?"

They sat down in their places at the head table. "All right," Balor whispered. "We'll keep her if she wants to be kept. Are you happy now?"

* * * *

It was a very different looking Rose that joined them. She was clean and smelled just like her name foretold. Her hair was almost as white blonde as Luria's and her eyes were the same ocean blue. She was a beauty in a pale blue colored gown that was just a bit too big for her.

"She could be your daughter," Balor said, his eyes flicking from Rose to Luria. "The resemblance is uncanny."

Rose sat in one of the high backed chairs next to Luria and a platter of food was placed before her. She looked at the plate and then at Luria. "I have to eat all of this?"

"You eat what you can, Rose. Balor was just teasing you."

"I don't think I can eat it all, but I'll try if he wants me, too," she said, smiling gamely.

The child picked up a fork and started eating. She had excellent table manners, one more little piece in the puzzle of who she was.

Rowan entered the palace through the open door, Shria following him. They padded over to Luria, rubbing their heads against her in greeting. Then Shria surprised them all, she turned her head and greeted Rose the way she'd done with Luria.

Rose giggled, unafraid of the huge beasts. She turned to scratch Rowan's rough mane, giggling when he licked her with his big tongue.

"You don't think..."

"My mother didn't..."

They both spoke at once, staring at each other and then back to Rose who's attention had returned to her platter of food.

* * * *

After all the ceremony and pomp that came with it, little Rose was falling asleep at her place at the table. Luria reached out, picking her up and cuddling her next to her breast.

"I can stay awake," the little girl protested, sleepily.

"Rose," Balor said, gaining the little girl's attention. "Would you like to live here with us?"

"Can I play with the lions?" she asked.

"If they want you, too." 

"Yes, I'd like to stay."

"First of all, we have to find a place to stash you," Luria said as she stood up, letting the little girl's head rest against her shoulder.

"There is the nursery," Balor said.

"I'm too big to be in a nursery," Rose protested.

"The chamber next to yours is empty," Nathalie chimed in. She'd already fallen in love with the child.

"Shall we go see it?" Luria asked Rose who nodded her head even as her eyes stayed closed.

"Here," Balor said, "let me take her."

He carried her up the long steps and down the hall to the room his mother had mentioned. Stepping inside the room, he saw that the covers had already been turned down and the fire had been lit, leaving the room warm and inviting. Between the two of them, they managed to get the little girl undressed and into a nightgown that was also just a trifle too big on her little body. Then she was in bed, snuggling down into her pillow.

They quietly left the room, turning to their own bedchamber. "Come here wife," Balor growled, drawing her close. "I've been thinking of this all day."

He whirled her into his arms, holding her close. Luria snuggled into his embrace almost like Rose, snuggling into her pillow.

Balor lifted her chin with his fingers, staring down into her lovely face. "I can't believe you're mine and that this whole thing is over. It is over, isn't it?"

Luria lifted her arms so that they were around his neck. "It's over. We've won the day."

He leaned down and kissed her, his lips warm against her own. She parted hers, letting her tongue play across his lips. Balor pulled her closer, one hand sliding down her back to cup her hips, dragging her against him so that she could feel his need.

Luria chuckled as he lifted his lips to look down at her. She moved her hips against his, grinding against him. "I feel your need," she rasped, feeling her own passion rising. It took little when she was with him to feed her passions. Turning in his arms, she gave him her back. "Since you are in such a hurry, husband, you can play lady's maid tonight."

"My pleasure, wife," he said, savoring the taste of that title upon his tongue.

He unlaced her gown letting the boned bodice fall forward as he massaged the red marks on her skin from the boning. "Why do you women put yourself through such torture?" he asked, nuzzling his nose into her neck.

"So you men will find us pleasing to look upon."

"I find you pleasing to look upon no matter what, my love. You don't need to put yourself through all of that for me." He helped her slide the red gown down and off, before his fingers undid the ties at the waist of her underskirts, letting them drop to the ground. She was left in nothing but almost transparent pantalets.

Balor felt all the saliva in his mouth dry up as he stared at her in that wispy material that did more to emphasize her beauty. "Luria," he growled, burying his mouth in her neck. He lifted her in his arms, carrying her over to the bed and laying her down. He followed her, his mouth finding a rosy nipple and suckling it into the warmth of his mouth.

She cried out, her hands going to his hair as he almost obsessively feasted upon her beauty, his mouth moving from one breast to the next, unable to stay still on his quest to create the same need in her as what was coiled inside of him.

His lips slowly traveled down the ladder of her ribs and he gave her navel a leisurely exploration, pulling down the pantalets to get to it. Moving down, he pushed her legs apart, levering himself between them, his chin resting on the rise of her mound.

She was writhing upon the bed and when she felt the first touch of his finger through the soft fabric, she jerked against him, her hips rising.

"Oh, so I'm the one in the hurry, huh?" he laughed, laughing harder when he saw the blush that rose to her cheeks. He teased her, running his finger over her slit, watching as the sheer fabric grew even sheerer as her arousal became more apparent.

He pressed his mouth to that spot, using his tongue to dampen the fabric further. He teased her with the blunt end of his tongue, pressing against her clit with tiny laps. His hands rose, going to her breasts, tugging upon her nipples, twisting them. When he lifted his head, the whole crotch of her pantalets was soaked and she was writhing under his caresses.

"Please," she said, her hands reaching for him.

"You want more?" he asked, reaching for the ribbon that held the pantalets on her body. He tugged them off her shapely hips, his fingers running over the tiny curls that were growing back since Magnus had held her captive. He let his fingers trail over her thighs, creamy and slightly muscled from riding. She lifted up and he pulled them off, leaving her gloriously naked to his eyes.

He stood at the edge of the bed, her pantalets in his hand as he just stared at her, his gaze running from the beauty of her white blonde tresses to the tip of her pink toes. With a low growl, he dropped the material he held, leaning his knee into the space between her thighs and leaning over her. His lips found hers and he kissed her deeply, his tongue playing against hers as they dueled and rubbed. Balor's moan was heartfelt as he ran his hands over her sleek, naked body.

"You're wearing too many clothes," she panted when he let her up for a breath.

"I am," he said in agreement, unfastening the wooden buttons that held his jerkin together and throwing it to the floor. He pulled the shirt out of his breeches, tossing it to the floor as well. When his fingers went to his britches, he heard a strange noise. It sounded like crying and it was coming from the room they'd put Rose in.

"Did you hear that?" he asked Luria.

"Yes," she said, pushing off the bed to grab her robe. Balor grabbed his shirt, tossing it over his head and following her to the room next to theirs. Rose was sitting up in bed, staring around the strange room. She looked up when they came in, wiping tears off her cheeks with the too long sleeves of her nightgown.

"What's wrong?" Balor asked.

"It's dark," Rose cried as Luria sat down on the bed next to her.

"We can leave a candle lit, would that help, sweet one?" Balor asked, coming up and putting his hands on Luria's shoulders.

Rose nodded and yawned, her eyes already drooping as Balor lit a taper and put the candle next to her bed where it would cast the most light.

"Better?" Luria asked.

"Uh huh," Rose nodded, already half asleep. "The dark man won't come if there's light," she mumbled. Luria leaned over her and kissed her cheek barely catching the end of her sentence.

"What dark man, Rose?" Luria's eyes rose, meeting Balor's. "What dark man?"

"He...He comes in my dreams." Rose stared up at Luria. "He has since my parents died." She yawned again, this time rolling to her side away from the two of them.

Luria's hands reached out to Balor. "You don't think..."

"He's dead. His body was consumed by fire, Luria. Even for the gods, dead is dead." He traced the back of his hand over her jaw. "It's just a little girl who's been through too many horrors. Nightmares are just that, love."

Luria glanced down at the sweet little girl who had one tiny hand curved by her cheek, her long curls trailing down the side of the bed. "It's just so hard..."

Balor took her hand and pressed it against the bulge in his leather pants. "Yes, it is." He lifted her hand to his lips. "Magnus is gone. You believe me."

"Yes, but..."

Balor bent and lifted her in his arms, carrying her back to their rooms. "No. He is dead and we are celebrating. I think in the morning you might want to contact your mother though and ask her if you have any other sisters."

He laughed as he saw the look of consternation on her face. He laid her gently in their bed, following her quickly. "Worry about making your husband as happy as he plans on making you tonight, my love. Let's leave all worries of 'dark men' for other days. Yes?"

Luria grinned. She reached down and slid open the tie on her robe. Pulling it off, she tossed it off the bed. "I don't know how you plan on making your wife happy with all of those clothes on, husband."

Balor set her fingers against the ties at his waist. "Then help rid me of them, wife."

She moved over him, coming to straddle his waist as she quickly pulled the ties apart. She pushed them down his thighs, rising to yank them over his feet after yanking off his boots. As she started back toward the side of the bed, Balor lifted enough to jerk his shirt over his head.

Luria stopped as he relaxed back against the sheets, his eyes traveling over her naked form. She reached out and slid her hand over his cock, listening to him moan. "You're killing me wife."

"I think you'll live." She crawled on the bed. "Listening to Nathalie and Leanore has been educational. Do you know, they treat me as if I was just another married noble?"

"And?" he asked, his voice breathless as she turned to moved closer to his waist.

"And I've learned a few things from those wonderful women the past couple days."

"Such as?"

Her hand reached out and lifted his hard cock, stroking her soft palm down it's length. Then she licked her lips and glanced into his face. "This," she said simply before pressing her lips over the head of his cock.

Balor knew that Magnus had abused her, that he had forced her to suck. She'd even sucked on Balor's cock but this time, he thought his eyes were going to cross as she swallowed when he'd reached the back of her throat. His cock seemed to slip then slide deeper than before.

His fist reached out and grabbed her hair, holding her captive against him. "How are you... don't stop..." he groaned. He saw her smile as he lifted the heavy masses of her silvery blonde curls, pulling them away from her face so that she could watch. Seeing how she managed to take so much of him was almost more than he could stand. He growled, stopping her again. "You'll make me spill, Luria."

She moaned and he gasped, his head falling back on the pillow. Her lips were like soft pillows, incredibly hot, soft pillows. His hips bucked up, and he finally pulled her back. When he finally could look down at her, a huge smile had blossomed over her lips. "My mother and Queen Leanore taught you this?"

"Yes, my love. Your mother is a woman of many talents."

"I don't think I want to know," he said softly.

"Would you like to talk to her?" she asked sweetly.

"No!"

Luria tried to keep the grin off her face.

"You..." he reached down and grabbed her, pulling her up and then under him. "Teasing me now?"

"Me? I would never deign to tease his royal highness." She giggled when he stared at her.

"I knew it. Turn a woman into a princess and she learns all manner of foul habits." He shook his head before pushing her soft thighs apart. His fingers slid through her sweet crevice, finding her soaked and more than ready for him. He kissed her next words from her lips, his cock sinking into her tight heat. He sighed with pleasure. "Your mouth is amazing, my love, but nothing makes me feel as good as this does." He began to thrust slowly, listening to the need and pleasure in her voice. Her fingers dug into his back.

His lips dropped, finding the spot that had earlier this day, held a killing blow. "I knew the descendant would be a woman of wondrous vision and gifts, but nothing that she could do would mean a thing to me if that woman weren't you. It was the best decision I ever made, coming to the wedding to steal the bride away."




Bloodstone Ch. 15



Luria moaned and kissed his lips. "I regret none of it, love. Even the things that Magnus forced upon me. I would never have you without his treachery."

"I would have saved you the pain that he caused you, my heart."

She smiled even as her body began to contract around his thrusting cock. Her nails dug into his back and her hips thrust up. "I...I love...you."

"You are my world, Luria." He grunted, his mouth taking hers. He tugged her until she sat atop him, his hands holding her waist as he pulsed into her. Then he tugged her down, his arms wrapping around her waist, refusing to let her move. He held her close until another sweet giggle fell from her lips.

"It is never good to giggle after your husband makes love with you wife."

"I'm sorry, Balor. It was just something that Queen Leanore was saying to Nathalie."

"I have a feeling I'm going to regret asking this, but what was said."

"Leanore was complaining of how King Alan used to be so virile and romantic, and now he," she swallowed to try and control the giggles. "...he passes gas and fall asleep." Her hand rose over her face as she felt a blush heat her cheeks.

"How am I to ever look at either of those two men again?" Balor asked, his laughter loud in their room.

"Well, if he ever upsets you, you could start rumors..." she giggled when he growled.

"Men do not start rumors."

"That's not what your mother thinks," she said.

"She did, did she? What other opinions does my mother have that I should know about?"

Luria shook her head. "Oh no, I refuse to say." She smirked as he laughed at her.

"Afraid I'll start a rumor about you, love?"

"Well, there is that..." She burst into giggles as he began tickling her mercilessly. "You wouldn't, you wouldn't..." she finally managed to squeak.

"I have never thought I could be this happy, Luria. Not even after that first time on the back of my horse..." he grabbed her hand and pulled her over top of him. "I love you, my wife. Now we have to prove one fact that the tale makers all believe is true."

"What fact is that Balor?" 

"That we shall live happily ever after."