Gale Season

Chapter Six

The Aellein court was in session, beauty abundant in the pale-haired, magic-blessed, striking nobles of the shadowed race. Amidst a flowered clearing surrounded by massive green-and blue-leafed trees, whose canopies interlocked to provide shelter from the warm sun, the slender, devious nobles of the Aellei gathered. A horseshoe of rilk-wood tables surrounded a small stage in the middle of the grassy clearing, and all attention was centred there.

Queen Lidra occupied the throne on the large dais, upon which several tomes sat, volumes dedicated to preserving the Aellein way of life with rules, laws, and, being Aellein, the varied loopholes designed to avoid such legalities.

B’alen Van Nostren stood in an obscured section of trees as he watched the treacherous creatures debate with a zeal that made their work appear as play. They cursed one another, danced merrily with words and continued to skirt the one issue he’d been called to witness. Had he not been pressed to resolve the matter, he might have enjoyed their banter instead of viewing it with annoyance.

At least two dozen men and women from the ancient houses of Aelle occupied the court, a dazzling spectacle of blinding white magnificence, outshone only by Queen Lidra, the most glorious Aellei of them all.

He eyed her hungrily, knowing that soon he would have her again. Such a vain creature, like most of her kind, yet she truly deserved the banquets and statues made in her image, or at least the image she preferred to show her subjects, he reminded himself. The Aellei were, as he well knew, master illusionists.

Long, white hair fell to her hips, hips that swayed with a latent sensuality when she moved. Lidra was slimmer than those he normally used, but she was so very talented with those hands, that mouth. Her eyes were glittering blue gems, similar to the blue fire his kind could harness and shape to whatever suited them.

Her magic pulsed like a second skin, drawing him further into her trap the longer he looked at her. Clever girl, he thought, a twisted grin curling his lips when she subtly glanced over her shoulder and winked at him.

He appreciated a mature woman, one who knew her worth and that of those around her. Lidra might appear a young beauty without a care in the world, but B’alen knew better. She was in fact a thousand years old and had plenty of worry at her door. She’d seen her captain, Zartic, before the man had had a chance to drink from the healing well. Though he’d tried to mask his bruises, the Der warrior was in no shape to fool his queen, or her Dark Lord.

Not pleased that his efforts to regain what he needed continued to fail, B’alen sent an internal warning to the queen that had her shifting uneasily in her seat.

“That is enough for today,” she said, holding up one hand. “It is obvious none of you understand the harm her disappearance may cause. Alandra must be handled, and it must be done immediately.” She glanced at Zartic, who stood straight, a shadow of guilt in his gaze.

“We’ll reconvene when the moon rises. If you haven’t collectively decided on a course of action by then, I’ll make the decision for you.”

A tall, older-looking nobleman stood scowling. Surprising for one of his kind, Lord Sava apparently didn’t mind looking his age, and his lined face and thinning hair only added to his air of wisdom and uniqueness among the Aellei.

At a glare from Lidra, Lord Sava shut his mouth and surprised B’alen by glancing knowingly at his hiding place. Then Sava regarded the gathering with a huff of irritation.

“Well, Aellei, let us adjourn to my tower to discuss our best chance of getting Alandra back.” He shot Lidra an angry look. “Shadow knows what will happen to the young ‘criminal’ if we don’t come up with a means to return her home.”

Small popping noises sounded as one by one, the council teleported to Sava’s tower. B’alen, finally seeing the queen alone but for Zartic, exited his hiding place.

“I must say, I don’t think Sava likes you, sweet.”

She tossed her head, her hair waving behind her in a stream of white gold. “Sava’s a thorn in my side, has been for centuries. For some reason he’s taken a liking to Alandra, refusing to believe she’s turned traitor to Aelle.”

“Then perhaps Zartic could show him the harm she can cause.” He waved his hand, and Zartic’s healed face reverted to the bruised flesh from before.

The Der warrior winced, his throbbing cheeks and split lip bleeding as if he’d just encountered Arim. “Your Majesty,” he said in a cold voice. “Though I agree Alandra’s place is here, I cannot see how she could be at fault for what the Light Bringer did.”

“B’alen?” Lidra murmured, stroking her lip idly.

“She is in league with them, you fool,” B’alen snarled, aggravated the queen would have him explain himself to a mere soldier. “Why do you think she left Aelle? Because she attempts to rally your kind to aid the Light. The Light, captain,” he said with disdain.

Zartic frowned, staring from B’alen to his queen. “If that is so, why was the sorcerer not tainted with her energy?” His eyes narrowed. “And why does my queen appear so Dark of late?”

B’alen thrust his will through Lidra’s mind and took control, infuriated she’d let the upstart warrior speak to him thus.

“Zartic,” she said sharply. “Watch your tongue. Because of you we have lost another opportunity to return Alandra to her rightful place. What she has done could cause harm to all our people. Trust me, her punishment at my hands will be a kindness.”

“Is not living in that hideous world torture enough?” Zartic murmured.

“Zartic!” She stood, glaring down at him with fiery blue eyes that took on the brilliance of Netharat flame. “Show Lord Sava what our Light Bringer empathiser has done to you.” She glanced at B’alen, as if waiting for his help. He was happy to oblige. Crushing his fist, he mentally increased pressure on Zartic’s face, breaking his nose and cracking his left cheekbone.

The warrior cried out and staggered, unable to brace himself from the overload of pain B’alen poured over him.

“Failure is not to be tolerated,” B’alen said in a low voice, pleased when the warrior finally showed a lick of sense by kneeling in deference.

“Once Sava and the others take note, hie yourself and two dozen of our men back to the xiantope plane,” Lidra ordered. “Do not return until you find her. If you step one foot on my soil again without her, I’ll give you to the Dark Lord to do as he pleases.”

Zartic, wisely, said nothing. He slowly rose but kept his head bowed.

“And Zartic,” she added with a cruel twist to her mouth. “B’alen doesn’t like you. So pray you return with the girl quickly.”

Zartic paused, then reached for the Mir charm at his throat and vanished.

Alone with the queen at last, B’alen sealed the small clearing with a privacy spell and waited for her to come to him.

He saw the resistance she tried to hide behind a wide, sensual smile and laughed low in his throat. He did so love the games the Aellei played, and none were as skilled as their queen.

Each time he took hold of her mind, he enabled her to see what he did, showing her his immense power while she struggled to be free. Obviously she was no match for his sorcery, but unlike his brother, B’alen would not underestimate his allies.

Aellein magic, he knew, ran deep. And though Lidra gave him plenty of energy to further his plot against the Storm Lords, he knew only with Alandra, the only living Aellei with ties to the Storm Lords, would he have a real chance at ending this farcical battle for Tanselm.

His brother had started too early. ‘Sin Garu hadn’t listened as he should have, convinced of his right to rule, and that he could overtake both B’alen and the Storm Lords at the same time. Unfortunately for him, their sister had decided to share his intentions.

Lidra moved, and he watched, his desire growing, as she played with her gown, toying with the fastenings holding her dress closed. As the silken fabric slithered to the ground at her feet, shadows played over her skin, like dark hands inviting B’alen to join them.

Instead of going to the queen, however, he sat down in her throne and watched her touch herself as she encouraged him to participate without actually approaching him. Ah, brother, he sent the mental taunt to ‘Sin Garu, who according to B’alen’s last report, lay near the Aellein healing pool, trying desperately to steal some of its healing properties. You could have been with me, brother, experiencing this lusty queen side by side. But greed made you clumsy.

Lidra’s hands cupped her breasts before sliding down her stomach and between her legs, her breath catching as her fingers delved into her slick, hot folds.

B’alen shed his clothes with a thought, his needs growing as the shadowy royal lit his desire like flame.

“Come, sweet,” he murmured and began stroking his cock. “Come sit here.”

She grinned, no doubt thinking she’d won their little game because he asked for her first. As if she could hold sway over a Dark Lord as powerful as he. B’alen smiled, his lids heavy as his hunger increased. Blessed Dark, she was lovely. The pulse in her neck beckoned, and he licked his lips, aware she desired him as well, though she didn’t want to.

Sauntering to her throne, she allowed a flash of glittering annoyance to show at his indolent slouch. “This is my land, B’alen, though I have given you leave to play here.” She glanced meaningfully at her throne. “Kindly remember who I am.”

Straddling his lap, she sank over him with ease, engulfing him in her magic and desire. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped and merged his will with hers.

He gripped her hips and began controlling her movements, plunging her up and down over his weeping cock. Her eyes locked on his as he fucked her, the pleasure of their game making her skin flush, her nipples hard and throbbing. He could feel her heat, her need to dominate and to win.

“Oh, Lidra, I know who you are.” He roughly yanked her down and shuddered when her walls closed around him. She came hard, squeezing him into a powerful orgasm that drenched her womb with sorcerer’s flame. As she gasped her pleasure, he twisted his hand in her hair and yanked her head to the side. Exposing her smooth, white virgin neck, he prepared to feed.

Baring his teeth that had lengthened with each pleasurable cock-stroke, he grinned. “But do you know who I am?”

Sinking his teeth in her neck, he stifled her thrashing, his cock twitching and hardening as one hunger fed another. And as he drank liquid life from her veins, he thought her aged magic as fine as any Aellein wine.

Moments ran together as he feasted, awash in her sensuality and submission. Swallowing her cries and terror, he swelled and came again, drenching Lidra with the Dark. She shivered in his embrace as he withdrew his teeth, the taste of her tender flesh making him wonder what other delights he might partake of the exotic queen.

She lifted her head, her eyes wounded as she stared fearfully at him for the first time. “Why, what—you took my blood.”

“I did.” He smiled, knowing he looked like the monster she thought him to be. Dark red blood stained his teeth and ran down his chin to his chest. He was still firmly embedded within her, his cock not realising it should have been flaccid by now.

Pleased at the discovery, he decided to share with the queen his plans for her young niece. Having correctly gauged her selfish tendencies, he murmured encouragement when she let go of her fear and began riding him again, stirring his lusts anew.

Lidra wanted Alandra dead, but more so, she wanted the young princess to suffer, an unlikely feeling for a shadowy Aellei. Pleased he’d had some influence over the lovely monarch, he proceeded to fuck her until she could no longer function, the beauty of her pain and pleasure too tempting to ignore.

As he watched her magic dim under his Dark presence, he wondered, not for the first time, how Alandra would taste when he finally brought her to heel.

On her side, Alandra snuggled closer into the warmth, seeking solace. In dreams she had seen her aunt being mauled by a Dark Lord, a being very like ‘Sin Garu, yet her aunt’s Dark Lord was not the sorcerer Alandra had sent into the beyond.

The queen had a reputation as a woman who liked her passion rough, but never before had she been known to cater to blood drinkers. And something about the Dark Lord with her had seemed familiar.

A hand stroked her belly, and she lost her hold on the dream to a sudden flare of desire.

“Alandra, love. Wake with me.”

Aerolus ran his hand over her stomach, up her breasts and over her shoulders to her arms. She opened her eyes, shocked that no clothing impeded the magic in his touch.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked, stroking her back with a touch so light she might have imagined it.

“Yes,” she whispered, amazed at the power he wielded over her.

He smoothed his hand over her muscles and rubbed her back. Hard, yet soft, his touch was like magic, a seduction by the very fact it asked so little, yet demanded everything.

“Where did your wings go?” he murmured and ran his hand down her flank, teasing her sensitive thigh.

“They’re always with me, inside me,” she said softly, staring at his grey eyes that smouldered with heat. Shadows, but she wanted him. “Aerolus, I…”

“Hmm?”

She held her breath as he gently pushed her onto her back. He toyed with her belly, and she couldn’t help a soft exhale when his hand drifted to the top of her pubic bone.

“I, ah…” His hands rubbed circles through her curls, making her dizzy with need.

“Yes, love?” His fingers moved downward, parting her folds to graze her hard and aroused clit. He slid them easily through her wet sex.

“Shadows, but I can’t think when you do that,” she blurted, then flushed as she realised what she’d said.

He laughed, a husky chuckle that shot arrows into her heart. “So open.” He kissed her neck, nipping lightly at her pulse. “Yet so closed in other ways,” he murmured and pushed her thighs further apart, burrowing his hand between them.

She stiffened as two fingers thrust through her channel while his thumb flicked her clit, which was growing fuller and harder the more he teased.

Focus, Alandra. Remember, you’re in charge here.

“Mmm.” Her body overrode her mind’s commands. “You kill me when you do that,” she moaned as he began thrusting his digits in and out of her. Arching into his touch, she couldn’t stop the small protest that slipped out. “I’m in charge here,” she tried, knowing she should have protested his amusement, but was unable to summon the will.

“We need to talk,” she gasped as he thrust particularly hard, finding the soft spot inside her that shrieked with pleasure.

“We should.” He trailed his lips from her neck to her mouth, nipping at her lower lip. “We will.” He blew in her ear, and she couldn’t stop the shiver that took her. “Just as soon as I’ve taken my pleasure, purie. Then we’ll do things your way.”

She should have taken affront at the command in his tone, but his hands and mouth completely obliterated all thought to protest.

“And it pleases me,” he paused in his conquest over her mouth, “to please you.”

He shifted and trailed his mouth from her neck to her breasts, stirring new currents of need into a frenzy of hunger.

She cried out his name, pulled at his hands and head to cease his torment, yet he continued to suck her nipples, his fingers pushing her into a climax she wasn’t ready for.

Colours burst behind her closed lids as she cried out his name and arched into a taut bow. She felt his heavy erection against her thigh and marvelled at his restraint. Despite her orgasm, she needed more. She wanted him with her, inside her, giving her his essence and sharing his soul, a special magic only he possessed.

Aerolus ignored her pleas and continued to torment her. Withdrawing his talented fingers, he kissed his way down her belly to the apex of her thighs.

“Light, but I love your smell.” He inhaled and closed his eyes, then opened them to show sparks of lavender amidst the grey. “And your taste is divine.”

She opened her mouth to stop him but could only feel as his mouth covered her clit. His tongue speared her sex in a heartbeat, her body coiling all over again as it raced to rapture.

“Aerolus, please. I need you in me.”

He would not be rushed, but she could feel the tremors that shook him.

“Let me ease you,” she tried again. “Turn around. Let me taste you as you do me,” she rasped.

He stilled for a moment, then glanced up at her. Need and something more lit his eyes, and he stared at her like a predator eyeing its next meal.

“I love your honey,” he rasped, licking at the shine on his lips. “You’re so wet, so hot and waiting, aren’t you, love?”

She could only stare, mesmerised by the sex in his voice.

He licked her clit, and she arched uncontrollably, spiralling towards climax yet again. “Answer me, purie. You want me, but more, you need me, don’t you?”

Sensing he played a game he intended to win, her blood rushed hotter and she moaned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

His eyes darkened and wind ripped through the room, caressing her heated flesh until she became a writhing, mindless creature wanting only one thing—him.

“Tell me, love. Tell me you need me.” He slowly eased up her body, his cock like a pike as it stroked her thigh when he moved.

He loomed over her, his biceps straining, his chest heaving. But he waited motionless above her, waiting for victory.

“I need you,” she surrendered, widening her thighs. “I need you in me. To be a part of me,” she couldn’t help admitting.

“Now?”

“Now.” She twisted, rubbing her thighs around his rigid arousal.

“And forever?”

“Forever,” she agreed, anything to get him to save her.

“Pledge it,” he demanded, his voice raspy. “Pledge your forever, and I’ll give you what you need.”

Wind rippled over her body, a cool breath over her clit that came not from his mouth, but from his element, and she trembled, on the verge of something wondrous.

Nothing existed for her but Aerolus, but his body and heart that pulsed with her needs and wants.

“I pledge my forever, Aerolus, to you.”

He thrust deep and hard, and she immediately climaxed, clenching around his cock instinctively.

“Aerolus!”

He continued to thrust, his cock pounding as he grasped her wrists and held them over her head on the bed, his domination pure and even.

“You’re mine,” he growled, a spark of rainbow showering in his gaze. “And you belong to me.”

He thrust once more, his tip touching her very womb, and he exploded.

Magic and wind and feeling flooded the room, surrounding the two in a haze of ecstasy that overpowered them both, putting all sense aside as bliss reigned over thought.

Alandra tried to catch her breath as she stared up at Aerolus, a look of worry on her face. What had he done?

Her body tingled and her mind buzzed, but her magic… Shadows, it flickered with winks of light that should have burned, but didn’t. She could see her aura and Aerolus’ intertwined around her arm, even after she lifted it from his waist.

“We’re joined,” she said blankly, not understanding how it was possible.

“I know.” He flexed within her, amazing her that he could still think about sex when it felt as if her head had blown clean off with that last climax.

“No, Aerolus, we’re joined,” she said, urging him to look beyond what most could perceive. She cupped his chin in her hand and turned it to her arm, sharing with him her ability to see.

He stared, his handsome face curiously relaxed. “We’re joined,” he repeated. “As if our two halves are now whole.”

“What?” Alandra didn’t feel his calm. Far from it. She could feel an almost masculine energy pulsing within her, and the sense of intrusion, of overwhelming intimacy, spooked her.

She took advantage of his preoccupation with her aura and wriggled out from under him. Their bodies parted, and she waited for her aura to clear, to return to the playful peace that was Alandra le Aelle.

Shocked, she could only stare as she and he remained blurred, combined, imprisoned.