Abduction

Abduction Book One in The Ishadarian Saga

By

Alexandra O’Hurley

ABDUCTION

Alexandra O‘Hurley

© copyright by Alexandra O’Hurley, June 2009 Cover art by Eliza Black, June 2009 ISBN 978-1-60394-327-7 New Concepts Publishing Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

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Chapter One Summer 2009 Feeling the sweat trickle down his tight abdomen under the heavy battle uniform he wore, Besh and his group of warriors marched on towards the small habitation. The heat on this planet was unbearable; unlike anything they had ever encountered on any other inhabited world. Besh looked forward to finishing the scouting missions he and his men had been on for nearly a year so he could get back to Dsh’Attar for a much-needed rest. This being the last inhabitation in the final sector on this fireball of a planet, he knew that the end was near and a retreat was at hand. First though, he needed to find water and sustenance for his men. They had long ago gone through the water supply in their packs because of the sweltering heat and if the warriors marched any longer in the glaring sun that beat down on this world, they would all eventually pass out from dehydration. Besh felt a glimmer of pride when he thought about the new boundaries of The Ishadarian Empire. Under the current Emperor’s rule, the Empire now totaled 157 planets in six different galaxies, with the new addition of Earth. They had spent months incorporating this world into the Empire, and it was all nearing completion. The Earthlings were not quick to trust, which had made incorporating them into the realm just that much more difficult, though Besh and the rest of the Empire fully understood and expected to work to earn that trust. Unfortunately, though, that lack of trust bred small rebel groups and the warriors sought them out, in hopes of squelching any uprisings, and preventing needless injury to either side. The troops had been in this sector of the planet for over a month, scouring the small towns and villages, routing out any possible insurgents, and making sure to post patrols at various points around the planet. But there was something else that lured them here. Besh was searching for something he was unsure of, but was most definitely driving him to this place. He felt it down to the tips of his toes that something besides finishing his mission was drawing him here. As they broached the town limits, the pedestrians stopped and stared at the band of soldiers who wandered into their quiet life. Mothers grabbed toddlers, pulling them behind them, as if acting like a shield. Some raced to windows, noses pressed against them, looking at the spectacle walking down their main street, while others dove into doorways, hoping to avoid attention. It was like this in every town they arrived in on this planet. Fear and curiosity warred in these people, yet they had such a strong sense of courage. Even once they had submitted to alien rule, they stubbornly resisted in small ways, seemingly not afraid of angering them at all. Besh admired that stubborn fire in these people, as it would be nice to have more equals in the realm versus mindless bodies that followed as was the case in so many of the incorporated worlds. As they walked down the main street of this small town, a sign grabbed his attention. His English was the strongest of the Earth languages he had studied for the last five years, and he realized from the sign it was a small restaurant. Besh sighed in relief;

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finally he could get sustenance for his men and a brief respite from the heat. As the men walked through the front door and into the welcoming dining room, the collective gasp from the patrons was audible and everyone inside stopped eating to lift their eyes and gaze at the heavily armed men. The silence was a tangible thing as all paused in whatever act they had been about to complete to stare in wide-eyed wonder and fear. The Ishadarian soldiers remained in full gear at all times when scouting for insurgents, but the drawback was not allowing these Earthlings to see what was underneath, faces that so resembled their own. The huge warriors, garbed in dark encased metal, was surely intimidating, but the army also used that fear at times to their advantage, especially in crowd control, so no soldier removed their gear in sight of humans. Besh moved to the front of the room and demanded everyone but the owner leave immediately. The customers and staff quickly exited, fleeing the unknown of what was about to happen in the small café, turning to look over their shoulders as they escaped. Besh then turned to the woman who remained in the doorframe that evidently exited to the kitchens. She was tall for an Earth female and he could sense that she was holding herself up using the support of the doorframe, trying to not show her fear. But she was given away by the slight tremor he witnessed in her knees. As he approached her, he caught a scent of something that stirred his blood and made his heart start to beat loudly in his ears. He had never smelled something like it before, it was not unpleasant, nor unwelcome, but it was affecting him in a way he could not understand. Was this something coming from the kitchens? He stopped short of the woman as the smell caused him to become weak-kneed himself. “Bring…my men…food and water…now, “ he struggled to bark at the woman in front of him, being short not out of rudeness, but uncertainty of what was drugging his mind and body. The last thing he saw before his vision began to swim was her wide brown-eyed look before she shot back through the door. He turned to his second in command, Dar Jin, to ask if he also noted the same drugged feeling. He gripped Dar by the upper arm and dragged the man to a corner and spoke in hushed tones to hide this sudden weakness from his men. “Do you smell that, Dar?” Dar sniffed at the air around them twice and then turned to face his commander, “Smell what sir?” “That smell…that sweet, sweet smell. It is driving me insane. I feel like I am drugged…my heart is rushing and my body feels weak, yet I feel excited all at the same time, like every cell in my body is on fire.” Besh paused shaking his head, wondering if he was just suffering from the excessive heat. “It is starting to subside now, but a moment ago I felt like I could fall to my knees.” “Ah sir…I don’t smell or sense anything out of the ordinary. I can’t give you any explanation for what you sense, but it almost sounds like…..” Dar’s eyes had opened wide as he paused, unwilling to go on, as if suddenly afraid. “Like what, Dar?” Besh felt Dar’s hesitation in answering him. “It sounds like…. Daya N’goul” “Dar, that can’t be. There is no Ishadarian woman here, so how could it be Daya N’goul?” Dar looked relieved at his commander’s answer and smiled, “I agree there is no

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way it could be that, which is why I was hesitant to say it. But it does sound like some of the side effects. In the meantime, I will check with the other men to see if anyone else is feeling any similar conditions, as for all we know it could be the high temperature. If not, then I have no other answer for you. Should we head out, just in case it is something dangerous?” “No, the men are exhausted scouting in this heat. They need time to rest before we head out. They need food and water. If you find anyone else who is feeling odd, send them directly to me.” “Yes, sir.” Dar walked towards the group of men seated around the small abandoned tables that filled the front of the café as Besh walked towards the lavatory. He walked into the small room, took off his helmet, and used the sink to wash his head, face and hands. He looked into the mirror hung over the sink, resting his hands on the counter of the sink. Am I going mad? Is it the heat? Do these humans have a biological weapon that we did not find in our research of the planet? Whatever it is, get a hold of yourself for the sake of your men. Another splash of water to the face and Besh replaced his helmet and walked back into the large main space of the café. When he returned, the woman was back to serve the men cold water, lemonade and sandwiches. Besh noticed some of the men had started to unlatch their helmets so they could dig in before the woman had left, endangering their upper hand, the fear these people had of them in full gear. If they saw the faces underneath, that fear may subside. “Halt! Do not take off your gear!” As he rushed towards the tables, the smell hit him again and almost overpowered him. He pulled for all his strength, hoping he could make it across the room without falling, and grabbed the woman by the arm to escort her back to the kitchens so his men could eat unhindered. As soon as he closed his gloved hand around her upper arm, his cock became instantly hard. **** Damn…there was no way this Earth woman could do this….no way possible this was Daya N’goul. He needed time for his brain to function. He needed to get away from her. Shoving her through the door to the kitchen, he spat, “I will call for you when we are done. Stay in here until that point.” Her chocolate brown eyes opened even wider in fear at his tone, and tears began to collect there. The last thing he needed right now was a weeping woman, especially when he was contemplating what he was contemplating. Stalking from the swinging door that was the only thing between him and this woman, he nodded to his men to take off the helmets and enjoy their respite. The sighs of pleasure the men let out after freeing their heads from the hot gear echoed through the room as Besh grabbed Dar and pulled him to the lavatory. “Did anyone else experience THAT?” “No sir, I don’t even know what THAT you are talking about was. I’ve checked with the men and no one else has smelled the odor or felt drugged. Should we head back to camp to let a wi’ mia check you over for heat exhaustion?” “Yes, we should head back.” He paused, shaking his head, unable to believe what he was about to say. “I think there is a possibility it is Daya N’goul. Have two of the men subdue the woman in the kitchen, drug her so she will not resist and bring her back to camp. Let’s try not to make a scene in this town by having a screaming woman on our

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hands. I don’t want to create panic in the people here for abducting one of theirs. But if we don’t take her, I may not find her again so easily.” “Sir? I know I said it sounded like Daya N’goul…but..?” “But?” Besh turned and glared at his second, not being in the mood to have his orders second-guessed. “Sir? She is human. A human can’t be the cause. It must be the heat. Are you sure you want to do this and give these Earthlings a reason to fight us? She may become the martyr they need to join together and rebel against us.” Dar looked beseechingly into the eyes of his Captain. “Until I get back to camp I don’t know what to think. If she is drugged and taken in secrecy, no one will know but our warriors. They can’t have a martyr if they don’t know. I want her with us when we return. If it is heat, we release her and nothing is amiss. She will not be mistreated in our care, so make sure the men take great strides in being gentle with her” “Sir…I know it is not my place…but…what if it isn’t the heat? What if it truly is Daya N’goul? What will you do with her then? You can’t Join with anyone but an Ishadarian woman, so what would be the point. You know of the factions in the Empire that are already anti-human. This would be the perfect opportunity for them to exploit their propaganda.” “Dar, be glad we have been friends for more years then we have been warring together. If it weren’t for that, I would have your head for questioning my commands. But I will have to decide what becomes of her if it is Daya N’goul. And that decision is none of your concern. And I am fully aware of the anti-human factions, as it seems your father wants to lead the pack.” Dar blushed lightly, the embarrassment his father caused him evident on his face. “Of course, sir. I meant no offense. I just wanted to make sure you had thought this through, especially if you aren’t yourself at the moment.” “I know you meant no harm. That is why you are still standing before me. But do as I wish. Subdue her, wrap her in linens, and have a man carry her over his shoulder back to camp. I will decide what happens after that.” “Yes, sir.” **** Kaya awoke lying in a bed that wasn’t hers. She jumped up from the sheets, only to find she was also nude. She grabbed the just abandoned sheets and wrapped them around her body as she rose to inspect her surroundings and clear her head. She dug through her hazy brain trying to find the last thing she remembered. The warriors. They had come to her café and the last thing she recalled was two of the incredibly tall soldiers approaching her and grabbing her arms. She had been abducted. Why me? Where the hell am I? She studied the room around her. She was alone and needed to figure out where she was and how she could get herself home. The room was large, larger than her whole entire house. The ceilings were at least 15 feet high and the space could have been used for a ballroom versus a room to hold her captive. It was breathtakingly beautiful. If this is how they hold captives, what do they sleep in? The large canopied bed she had been sleeping in was outsized and round, at least

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10 feet in diameter, and placed squarely in the center of the room. It was covered in a fabric that felt softer than silk, but seemed as strong as cotton. She had never felt something this soft in her life and the sheets covering her body were like heaven itself. The walls were a soft cream color, also covered in a soft fabric. There were enormous pillows gracing the floor everywhere she looked, all of them large enough to sit and snuggle into. One whole wall was graced with doors similar to French doors, open to a large outdoor area and once she walked outside, she was greeted with an outdoor halfcanopied living area with handsome furniture. There were heavy wooden chairs and tables as well as more of the large silken pillows in every shade of the rainbow gracing the floor. Over the balcony railing, she spied a village of people below, all going about their day. She saw what seemed to be bakers and butchers as well as farmers selling their produce. She noticed women with small children rushing through the market area purchasing this and that for the household. It was like something from another age, an old time marketplace, yet something was not quite right with what she saw. The people looked a little odd. Different. She could not put her finger on it, but there was something about these people that was not quite…human? Walking back into the bedroom area, she tried to determine if there was a way out of this luxurious jail cell. She opened the many doors in the room, finding what was surely a bathroom, a dressing area off the bathroom, and closet after closet, as well as another door that opened to a completely barren room with no windows or doors. Just as she was about to open her last chance to find escape, the door opened before she could grasp the handle. She jumped in surprise, only to find an extremely tall woman standing in the opening, apparently as surprised to find her so close to the door. “Pardon me, my lady. I am here to attend to you,” said the meek looking woman standing in front of her. Kaya found it odd she looked so meek when the woman was easily 6 inches taller than she. “Attend to me?” “Bathe you, dress you, prepare you for your tutor.” “My tutor? What is it I am going to be tutored in?” “Why, your education in the ritual of Daya N’goul, of course.” “Die a na ghoul?” “Yes, Daya N’goul…and you will learn soon enough, I am not trained to be your teacher. Come, we must ready you, as your tutor will be here momentarily,” the woman grasped her arm and tugged her towards the bathing area. Kaya pulled her hand from the woman’s grasp. “Wait, I have a lot of questions. To start, what is going on here? Who are you? Why am I held captive and what ‘education’ am I to receive. I am not interested in being brainwashed, so you can tell my ‘teacher’ that I am not interested.” The woman just smiled dazedly at her. And that infuriated Kaya. “WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON?? I WANT TO GO HOME, DAMMIT!” Kaya stomped her foot like a spoiled child and screamed into the smiling face. “Do not worry yourself so. We are not going to brainwash you. We are simply going to teach our culture and our history to you to put you at ease and help you understand Daya N’goul. Your teacher will tell you much more. That is if I can prepare you in time. He is a very impatient man, but he will answer many of your questions,” the woman’s seemingly sincere words, calm demeanor, and smile calmed Kaya a bit, but she

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was still fearful and confused. “And by the way, my name is Be’in. And my sister and I will be your lady’s maids.” “As a captive here, I will have lady’s maids? I didn’t have maids at home and I get abducted and get two.” Kaya shook her head in exasperation. “This makes absolutely no sense at all.” “It will. Soon, everything will make sense. Come, and let me prepare you for your lessons.” Kaya let herself be pulled into the large tub filled with hot sweet smelling water. Be’in’s strong hands bathed her and washed her long auburn hair. Something in the water must have had a calming effect as Kaya nearly fell asleep from the aroma, the warmth of the water, and the kneading hands over her body. Be'in pulled her weak body to stand and urged her out of the tub. Another woman came through the door and the two women dried Kaya’s body thoroughly. “This is my sister J’ Halle. As I said, she will be your other lady’s maid.” The other woman was much younger than Be'in and quite shy. She gave a timid smile to Kaya and turned her head. Be'in pulled Kaya to a seat in a corner of the bath that she assumed was the dressing area. Kaya turned when prodded by the women to take a seat in front of some sort of vanity. She looked into the mirror and nearly screamed. She was her, yet different. Her hair was much, much longer, her body was thinner and toned, and her freckles were gone. She had always hated those freckles, but without them she looked so strange. So alien. After the initial shock of seeing herself looking so differently, she settled in to the ministrations of the two women, almost numb from everything that was happening around and to her. They pulled a comb through her thick hair and pulled it back away from her face with a gold-jeweled clip. Tendrils wrapped and curled around her face and her tresses shone with health and curled down her back. They next applied makeup like nothing she had seen, mainly heavy dark liner around her eyes and gold dust all around her face and neck. Then a beautiful green shear gown was brought into the room and wrapped elegantly about her. It was off one shoulder and twisted in complex turns all around her upper body and let flow past her waist to the floor, with many slits from the waist down due to the oddly collected fabric and all the complex ties. Kaya looked down and noted that the fabric was shear and she could easily see her dusky nipples through the cloth, even with all the twists of the fabric on her body. Soft sandals were put on her feet and tied up her legs to the knee. And then the final touch, jewels were added. She was adorned with a thick golden choker, golden earrings that covered her entire ear like a shell, and a golden head band that resembled a weaving branch of ivy, as well as gold bands placed on both upper arms and wrists. She looked into the mirror and tears formed in her eyes. Fear, fatigue, the ministrations of these women and the unexpectedness that she would ever look so beautiful all caught up with her at once and she began quietly sobbing. “Please, please. Don’t cry. You will ruin all our work and you will be late for your first lesson. You must stop….look how beautiful you are. There is no reason to cry.” Be'in had hugged her to her chest and was rubbing her back, actually making her cry more. She refused to show weakness to these people so she stopped herself, plus a small part of her did not want these women to be forced to redo all their hard work.

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Looking back into the mirror, Be'in fixed a couple of small spots on her face and then beamed at her. “Today, my lady, you look ravishing.” Kaya smiled and let the woman lead her through the bedroom and out to the living area on the balcony. There was someone waiting for her and as he stood her knees nearly buckled. Before her stood the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on in her entire lifetime. Be'in smiled up at the incredibly tall, incredibly striking man before them. “Kaya, this will be your teacher, Lord Fatel. He will instruct you in Daya N’goul and can answer your many questions. Lord Fatel, let me introduce you to Lady Kaya.” Thoughts of her captive status completely fled from her mind as she smiled up into his eyes, and then blushed as she remembered her near nakedness. She covered her bosom with her arms, embarrassed to be so on display in front of this gorgeous male. Lord Fatel stepped towards her and grasped her hands in his, pulling her towards him, his pale blue eyes roving over her form and smiling his approval. He huskily spoke, in almost a whisper, apparent desire showing in his eyes and filling his words. ”I have been waiting for our classes to begin with much excitement. Be'in, if you will excuse us,” he said over Kaya’s shoulder to the maid behind her before resting his gaze back on her face, ”And then we can begin for the day.” A shiver ran down Kaya’s back as she recognized the look she witnessed on his face. He looked like a hungry man seated in front of his first meal in days. Standing so close to the heat of this stunning man, with the desire he felt written over his face, and the fact that she was still reeling from everything that had happened to her thus far, her knees finally gave out and she began to fall, even with her arms held in his grasp. Quickly releasing one of her arms and grabbing her at the waist, the muscular stranger pulled her close to him. She felt his erection against her upper abdomen through the thin material that covered her body and heat rushed into her core. “Why would a stranger…this stranger… cause such a reaction to my body, especially given my captivity?” she thought to herself. “I see you are as excited as I to start your lessons,” he looked down at her with mesmerizing blue eyes. “I will never tire of holding you next to me, Princess.” He had the gall to wink at her as he set her down on one of the large floor pillows gracing the floor. “Well, are we ready to begin?”

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Chapter Two Sitting down on the pillow next to hers with a grace she never knew a man to carry, Lord Fatel smiled at her with humor in his eyes. His grace was even more awe inspiring due to his huge size. She guessed him to be at least six foot eight, if not a little taller. Kaya was a tall woman by Earth standards, towering over many men and women at five foot ten, but everyone she had encountered here so far was much taller than she. Even her maids stood nearly a head above her own height. She glanced over at him and noticed the ease with which he lounged on the pillow and wished she had that kind of fluidity of body. He was amazingly beautiful, which was not a word she normally used to describe a man. His light brown short, wavy hair, his beautiful clear blue eyes, and his even tanned skin, his masculinity all but overflowing, plus this unmistakable “something” that she could not describe, just made him more than sexy. It made him beautiful. Stop ogling this man and get to the questions, Kaya! The fact that she desired this man, a man who was possibly instrumental in her abduction finally settled into her head. And the anger, not only at him for imprisoning her, but the anger at herself for wanting him welled inside her quickly. “Why am I here?” she spat with more vinegar then she intended, but she had to get a grip on the rising lust she felt. “You are the Daya N’goul of our General of the Ishadarian East.” “So I have been abducted by aliens? Great…well at least I have a story to sell to the tabloids when I go home.” Kaya hoped her dripping sarcasm would anger him; she was too angry herself not to push him a little. “That is, if I ever leave. Which leads me to my second question. When can I go home?” “Possibly in about a month.” He signaled for her to let him finish by raising his hand, and she let out a huff, giving him a moment to continue. “We request that you allow me to teach you of our culture before you go. If after that point you still want to go home, you will be free to do so.” “You want me to stay here a month? Why a month?” “You cannot see your Daya N’goul for one Si’ni mon. That is about a month your time. If after I have taught you our culture and you have the opportunity to meet General Besh, if you still chose to leave, you will be allowed to go home.” “Do I have a choice if I stay the month or not?” “I don’t see what is so wrong about asking you to stay a month. You will be kept in luxurious surroundings, be given your every whim, and from the looks of the life you lead, you could use the escape.” How dare he? “And just what is that supposed to mean?” “You are in serious threat of losing your café, and with that you would also lose your home, which you mortgaged to buy your business. Your business is just starting to flourish, but you do not yet make enough to pay the bills you have floated in the time spent building your café. And you have few friends due to your busy work schedule, something you had even before you opened this café, and almost all of your family is

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deceased. And you haven’t even had a lover in over 2 years.” Rage filled every pore in Kaya’s pale complexion and she jumped to her feet, pointing her slim finger at the infuriating man, “How DARE you investigate me and then JUDGE what you do not know! And how will I save my home and business if I am here and not there to work? ” “We needed to know if you had obligations before we asked you to stay, we knew it would be unfair of us to cause you undue hardship. And it is not in our best interest to cause an incident with you when we are trying to earn the trust of your world’s inhabitants. So, your bills have been paid up through the next three months. If you chose to go back, you will be in better shape than when you left. So your life will be there, awaiting your return.” He pulled her back down to the pillow on the floor and brushed a curl of her lush hair away from the angry set of her jaw. “And I did not judge, I merely said you deserved an escape from it all. You are a hard worker and I respect that in you…but a woman as passionate and beautiful as yourself should be treated like the queen she is, not a servant in a kitchen.” His obvious compliments would not have usually have worked on her, but he was weaving a spell on her with his eyes and body, she could feel it. Her body was at full attention and burning in a fire she had never known, smoldering even through her anger. His touch to her jaw had been the breaking point. Before she knew what she was saying, “Fine. I will stay your month. And then I will go home.” She wrung her hands, looking down, instantly realizing she was missing something important in this odd conversation. “So what is this stupid Daya N’goul anyway?” “Oh…just your stupid soul mate, and hopefully life partner and husband.” Kaya’s head snapped to fully face Lord Fatel, her eyes wide with incredulity. “My WHAT?” “Your soul mate, Kaya.” Lord Fatel nearly whispered. Kaya laughed sarcastically at his softly spoken words. “And just how do you know he is my soul mate?” “Ishadarian men smell a chemical our soul mate and only our soul mate produces. It is expelled into the air through the skin; something like what your people call a pheromone. When an Ishadarian man comes close to his soul mate, her scent drives him wild the first time he meets her. He can’t think straight, feels almost ill from the rush of emotion and feeling, and becomes instantly aroused and erect, ready to accept his mate.” Kaya’s blush spoke volumes, “So some random alien walks by me, gets a boner and I get drugged, abducted and brought to this place, and I don’t get to see said mystery alien for a month? And then what? I have to marry him?” Lord Fatel paused a moment, weighing her words and considering his own response to them. “This is why I am here to teach you. You don’t take this seriously at all, nor did we expect you to. Ishadarians have mated for hundreds of thousands of years this way, and no one in all those years has ever been unhappy with a mate. Our women understand the old ways and accept their husband into their arms, hearts, and beds without second thought. You are a challenge. As the first person not of true Ishadarian blood to be the Daya N’goul of one of our men, you were not expected to accept him, and I see we were right. And with our rules making him absent from your side for a month, he cannot convince you to try. So I am here. To give you insight into our culture, our laws, our people. To hopefully open your mind a little to give your soul mate a fighting

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chance.” Not ready to continue talking about her “soul mate”, something she was struggling to believe, she decided to change the subject and quickly. She had so, so many more questions to ask this man. “I am shocked to see how closely you resemble humans. Yet different. I can’t put my finger on it. I saw all the soldiers in the suits and assumed the worst was underneath, of course. But you look human, or is that a ruse?” “We want your people to not know what is under those suits quite yet. A little fear can be a good thing when trying to calm a large group of people. Actually, we are related, humans and Ishadarians, so of course we look similar. It’s quite a long story, but I am up to it if you are.” “Related?” She sensed what he might be about to say, and turned her head in opposition. “I don’t think I can absorb any more of your truths today. I am overwhelmed enough. My brain needs time to catch up.” Deep inside, a deep fear began to grow inside her. “Fine. I will save that story for our next lesson.” His light stare stoked the fire that had been holding deep in her core. His eyes gazed from the tip of her toes to her auburn curls gracing her head and back down to her core, and he inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. Once he opened them back again and looked deep into her eyes, she saw a passion and desire in them that rocked her to her center. This man wanted her like no man had ever wanted her, and his gaze alone told her that truth. She found she wanted him equally, and she fought the sensation, fear of losing herself in him, this stranger that she should not desire so. Sensing her fear, Lord Fatel grasped her by her upper arms and pulled her into his embrace, his soft mouth finding the nape of her neck and running his lips across the sensitive flesh found there. She inwardly gasped, not wanting him to feel so good, to smell so good. Not wanting his heat to envelope her and attract her so. She pushed him away and stood, crossing her arms in front of her again, trying to put distance and a shield between herself and the erotic creature still draped gracefully across the pillow on the floor. She closed her eyes, trying to pull herself back together quickly, and once she opened them back, she saw him smiling up at her face with bemusement. “You feel as excited as I do, don’t you?” His egotistical smile angered her. “I do not know what you are talking about. You have used my circumstances here to manipulate me and take advantage of me. I have been thrust into a situation I have little control over, and am confused and disorientated, as you must realize. How dare you try to use your sexuality to confuse my situation even further and bend me to your will?” “I meant you no harm, and I do realize your situation, truly I do. But you must understand you are an immensely stimulating woman, and I am finding myself at a loss to control myself around you.” Both their gazes dropped to his obvious erection under the thin material of his pants. Then their gazes locked together and the temperature on the balcony rose ten degrees. “Then maybe someone else should be charged with the position of tutoring me?” The annoyance that roiled in Lord Fatel’s eyes and face scared Kaya for a moment, but it was gone in an instant. “No other will teach you but me. You have no choice but to spend your days in

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my presence. I will hold on to my control the best I can.” With that, he rose as gracefully as he had sat and stalked to the door. Turning to gaze at her, he smiled, opened his mouth to say something, but paused. He closed his mouth, smiled again and turned to leave. She watched his back exit through the balcony doors, and then sat back down on one of the large pillows, stretching her body to rid it of some of the tension he had caused in her. She had not felt so attracted to a man in her lifetime, and the height of her passion for him could only be attributed to her circumstances, she was sure of it. She could not fall into the arms of her captors; she had to put up a defense so they would truly allow her to go home again. If she showed this man how vulnerable she was to his advances, he may use and abuse her body at his leisure. And no matter how erotic he made her feel, she needed to fight the sensation and stand strong. Kaya had spent the past few years focused on her business, her baby. She had conceived the idea and built it herself; spending every waking hour working towards its success. She had no time for friends, no time for what little family was left, and definitely no time for a relationship or a lover. She had neglected the passionate side of herself for so long that she had forgotten what it felt like to be wanted and to want so deeply. And if she gave into this man, she may not be able to pull herself back to her life, the life she knew and desperately wanted to go back to. She only hoped she could. **** Lord Fatel returned to his rooms near those of Kaya, throwing open the elegantly carved doors and stalking down the short flight of stairs to his bedchamber. He fell backwards onto the top of the bed, replaying the scene he had just encountered with the beautiful Earthling. Her scent still lingered and inflamed his senses, along with the feel of her fevered skin on his fingers. His penis was still painfully erect, as he was unable to forget the look of passion in her eyes. She had wanted him almost as much as he wanted her. How would he ever control his urges and not plant himself deep inside her sex, a place he craved even now? He lowered his hand to stroke his hardness through the thin material, and his cock pulsed in his hand. He lifted his hand to his stomach and lowered it below the waistband of the soft pants. Not since he was an adolescent had he stroked his penis to find his pleasure, always able to find a beautiful woman fully able to sate his lust from the time he had entered manhood. But he knew the only woman that would be able to sate this lust was but a few doors away, and he knew that was impossible. He had to learn control around her. He stroked his cock from base to tip, imagining Kaya’s fingers around him instead of his own, seeing her face in his mind’s eye. He gripped himself harder, pulling his passion from his engorged flesh, unable to control the emotions running through his body. Her scent still filled his nostrils as he continued to pump away at his flesh with his own hand, driving himself into a frenzy of lust and craving and desire. Thrusting his hand over the turgid flesh, seeing her naked form in his mind’s eye, and imagining her mouth, her hands, her cunt wrapped around his cock brought him to the point of eruption. His seed spilled out over his hand, but once it was complete, his erection still swollen, he realized his lust would never be slaked. His need for her was

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massive, and he knew he could not have her. **** Kaya slept fitfully, confusion and fear twisting her into knots. And even for those emotions that tore through her, there was a sense of rightness that she could not comprehend. She felt with every fiber of her being that she was supposed to be here. Was that crazy? She continued to toss and turn until she finally was able to fall asleep, fatigue winning the war in her beleaguered body. Feeling a presence more than hearing it, she awakened immediately. She could not see well in the room, but knew she was not alone. Looking along the walls, she saw nothing but shadows. After a few moments of tense surveillance, she lay back down and tried to sleep. “Kaya…..” The whispered words were barely audible, but she felt them as much as she heard them, like a shiver along her spine, but there was no fear in the sensation. “Kaya….” Rising from the bed, she looked around the room and found no one there with her. “Kaya…” She screamed as she felt a strong hand grasp her wrist, and was still screaming when she sat up in the bed, awakening from her dreams, still feeling the touch at her wrist and the sound of her name whispered over the breeze.

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Chapter Three Early morning light began to filter into the room. Kaya, not having slept all night after being awakened from the dream, decided that she might as well start her morning. She rose from the bed and began her ablutions. Looking into the mirror above the small washbasin, she noticed the dark circles under her eyes, proving to anyone who gazed upon her of her sleepless night. Hours later, Be'in found her sitting out on the balcony, wrapped in a sheet, watching the sky, a look of wonder on her face. “Oh, Be'in, the sunrise is incredible on Earth, but here it is like watching the heavens open up and spread across the sky.” Be’in smiled at her lady and began setting up her breakfast platter. “You should see the sunset on Kronus 4, it has colors you probably have never even imagined.” “How many planets have you been to?” “I have visited only six, but there are over one hundred fifty in the Empire. You will have the opportunity to visit as many as you want. And I am sure before long you will have to see Hara D’Noll.” “And which planet is that?” “Why, the Ishadarian home world, the seat of the Empire.” “Is it beautiful?” “Like most, it has its beauty and its ugliness. The cities are dirty and too crowded, but the large open spaces are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I am sure Lord Fatel would take you there if you but asked.” “I will have to ask Lord Fatel that very question then.” “Ask me what?” Kaya turned in her chair to see Lord Fatel resting against a doorframe to the balcony. “If you would take me to Hara D’Noll.” He smiled. “I think I can arrange that in the future, if it is your wish. But for now, we have our lessons to continue.” With a groan, she turned back to her breakfast and began picking at the delights she found there. Small pastries were coated in a honey like substance, and fruits abounded on her plate. She picked at the food with her fingers, coating them with the sticky honey. Lord Fatel approached her and grasped her hand, bringing her fingers to his mouth, sucking all the essence from her fingers. “You taste delightful, Princess.” She blushed and pulled her hand away, wiping her hand on the damp cloth Be'in had provided. “So, are you ready for that story now?” “What if I am not?” she asked with an arched brow, still unsure if she wanted to hear more. “You need to hear it eventually.” “Then, by all means, proceed,” she spat out sarcastically.

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“I believe in our last conversation we left off with your race and mine being related,” he paused for a moment, and began, “several thousand years ago, a group of Ishadarian scientists were working on a project similar to the DNA and cloning research your scientists have been working on in the last few decades. They had taken it a step further. We had already achieved inter-galaxy travel, and had been exploring space for many years. Our scientists found a planet that had life, plant vegetation and a species you call the dinosaur as well as a few other fledgling creatures. Our scientists used Earth as a huge science experiment. They took matter and spliced it with every creature on the planet over the course of many, many years, trying to mutate a life form and basically jumpstart an evolution to be able to record the results.” He took a long breath, checked Kaya’s face to see if he had lost her, and finding that it seemed she was following, continued, “After many failed attempts, the researchers finally found an organism that would bond with the matter they used. They started creating hundreds of creatures, but the dinosaurs, being what they are, killed or ate almost all of them. So the scientists, fearful that the experiment would fail due to the dinosaur’s nature, took the drastic decision to wipe out the dinosaur. It wasn’t the right decision, and the Ishadarians of the day protested strongly that the scientists were going too far.” “So the question that has been plaguing our world for a hundred years, ‘What happened to the dinosaurs?’ is simply that they got in the way of your people? That you guys decided that your little lab experiment was more important than a species?” “Well, this was nearly a million years ago. And it was a small group of Ishadarians, so I hope you would not hold us responsible today for something most of our people felt was wrong even then. It was a tragedy, one we are not happy our people were the architects of, but will you tell me there is nothing in your Earth’s history that you are ashamed of? Would you want me to blame you for the holocaust the humans caused in the 1940’s?” “When you put it in those terms, I can’t necessarily blame you for it. But I can’t believe a group of people would kill off a whole species just to aid their warped experiment.” “If it was not for that ‘warped’ experiment, you would not be here today.” “What?” She lifted her eyebrows, almost expecting the answer that was to come. “The creature they used was the primate. The matter they used was Ishadarian DNA. Present day Earth humans have progressed from the combination of primate and Ishadarian genetic material. Over the course of thousands of years, your people have slowly evolved to be more and more like us and less like the primate. With a few subtle changes, you basically are us.” Lord Fatel continued. “And then that leads us to Daya N’goul. Because you are part Ishadarian in a way, I suppose that is why our General was attracted to your scent. Other female populations on planets we have incorporated have never mixed with our men, not because we feel them all inferior, but because their scent is wrong, it does not contain the same chemicals. But with your DNA and ours so similar, I suppose that it is possible to find a life mate on Earth.” Kaya could have been knocked over with a feather. “I can’t believe that,” she whispered, waiting to wake up from this dream. “That can’t be the truth. You have effectively destroyed what humans hold dear to them, our history, whether it is based in

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creation or evolution. Suddenly for us to become the result of a strange science experiment will rock our world to its core.” “It is a lot to take in. To be honest, it took a long time for our own people to believe it; some still don’t completely. And for now, we do not plan on making this history known to the rest of your world, because we know how strongly your religions affect your people.” “We are still now trying to determine everything that occurred during the experiment and the years that followed. For some reason the whole experiment was almost lost in our history. After a few tribes of mutated primates were created, just following the dinosaur extinction, a huge civil war broke out between the Empire and the planets of the Inoc D’Attar galaxy and that war lasted over 200 years. By the time the war was over, the researchers and scientists on Earth had died, and as secretive as this experiment was, few knew of it. So the project was forgotten in our history. A group of Historians discovered information about the ancient project a little over a decade ago and pieced everything together.” “They approached the Emperor with the findings once they had figured out most of what had happened and he sent a scouting party soon after. The scouts returned about two years later with a plethora of knowledge, all of your histories, your languages, and enough information about your societies to show how far you had evolved. And that you look exactly like us.” “The Emperor decided that if you were of our people, you needed to be in our Empire, and under our protection. We have been battling the Bel Tak on and off for almost a century, and we were afraid if they learned of your world and its relation to us, that you would be unsafe. A lot of Ishadarians did not want to use force, but peaceful measures; but our Emperor is more a...hmmm… man of action. He figured we could answer all those questions and sort everything out once the planet was in his control. I believe you have a saying, ‘it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.’ Well, that fits our Emperor fully.” “Fortunately though, the Regent that oversaw the entire invasion is more a diplomat than warrior and he had other tactics in mind, so we found a balance to this offensive. Thankfully for that, there has been almost no loss of life on either side.” “There has been loss? I had not heard about any losses in the news.” “There were small, unorganized skirmishes. Several Earth groups tried attacking us, but most of the groups were so beyond their means that they could not even dent our forces. Most of these groups were known terrorists by your people, and had plagued most of your world’s nations. I suppose they did not like the idea of being ruled by a group even stronger than what was the norm and tried to rebel. Your America and several other nations actually helped us crush some of the rebels.” Kaya had so many questions racing around her head it was swimming, so she changed gears on her next one. “Why do I look different? I am me, just a little different.” “What have you noticed?” “Hair is longer. Nails stronger and longer. Freckles gone. Body is slimmer and firmer.” “Well, that is a decision we had to make and quickly. There were passing Boogdasharians moving through the galaxy when you were brought to this planet. These

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beings are very private and rarely leave their planet unless it is impossible not to. They are master wi’ mia, or in your language they would equate to something between a magician and a doctor. Boogdasharians have been members of the Empire since its inception and their skills in the medical arts have allowed our people to live a longer life than humans.” “Ishadarians live about 225 Earth years, and we have even had some live to be upwards of 250 years. And you, if you were lucky, would last about 75 years. And the General would outlive you.” “So, we asked the visiting Boogdasharians to treat you. To elongate your life as much as possible. To strengthen your body and hopefully allow you to live as long as he.” “So I am going to live to 225?” “That is the hope. The wi’ mia strengthened your organs, repairing any damage you have done so far. By the way, your diet is horrible, if your kidneys were any sign.” “I don’t need you or your kind judging my body and its chubbiness, and then deeming me unworthy.” “By diet I meant what you eat daily and I never said you were unworthy. I thought your curves were extremely pleasant to the eye, but the wi’ mia said that you needed to be slimmed to put less strain on your heart and lungs. Considering you are a chef, you would think you could have cooked yourself healthier meals. Your freckles were taken off by accident, the wi’ mia assumed they were a cancer of some sort before they investigated further, but it was impossible to replace them, which saddens me. They gave your face character.” “Your hair was strengthened for health and longer for ceremonial reasons. Your nails strengthened and elongated for your benefit, working with your hands daily damaged your fingers and nails.” “So you just decided to take advantage of the passing aliens and fix me to your standards without me being allowed to choose?” “You were still unconscious from the drugs the soldiers gave you to bring you here. You are much smaller than we are, so they overloaded you a bit and you slept four days. We waited, but were scared if we waited longer, we would miss the opportunity. And we only made you healthier and stronger in hopes of lengthening and enriching your life, not to have you fit any standards you seem to think we have. I have studied your society and I see the pressures your people place on perfect bodies, but we have no such standards. We do strive for healthy minds and bodies, but we love our soul mate, no matter what our soul mate looks like. We are kindred spirits and when we meet, the attraction causes us to love the face and body we see.” ”We had one reason and one reason alone for lengthening your life. Your soul mate is only 32 Earth years old. You are 28 Earth years old. If you were to die at 75, he would live another 120 years or more without you and that would crush him. If you choose to Join with him, of course.” “And I am expected to just accept this man with open arms. I am supposed to believe all this hooey and give in to what you tell me?” “Hooey?” “Bologna. Tall Tales. Bullshit. You understand that?” “Such fire. Makes my blood boil.” His sly grin and sarcasm just pissed her off

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the more. “You will be granted access to the archive information that we uncovered and the research we did in the 10 years that followed. You will be given access to this village, escorted by myself, or your lady’s maids of course, for your safety. You can ask any questions you may have. We have nothing to hide and you can make the decision for yourself whether you believe the ‘hooey’ I have told you.” “’For my safety’, more like so you can keep an eye on me. What if I choose to travel the village alone?” “That will be your choice. But an Earthling, wandering the streets of the village will surely be a sight for them to behold, even though you look so much like us it is apparent you are not Ishadarian and there will be questions, I am sure. Their curiosity may get the better of them. And if the truth came out, some may not be happy an Earthling is the life mate of the General.” “They would harm me?” “I should hope not. But I can’t say the answer is no. You are different. And not all our people may be glad you are here.” “So exactly where are we?” “You are in a village on Planet Dsh’Attar, the closest planet in our Empire to Earth. This is an Inoc planet, but this is a small settlement of Ishadarians who have lived here for about 400 years.” “I thought you said the Inoc were the enemy you fought in the civil war?” “They are, but that was nearly a million years ago. We have lived peacefully with the people of the Inoc D’Attar galaxy for hundreds of thousands of years now. Many Inoc are on the Emperor’s council now.” “For a civilization that has been around for over a million years, I expected many more technological advances, yet this village looks very simple from what I see over the balcony.” “Actually, this colony was created by a group of our people who were tired of the pace of our cities and decided to make a quiet community on the outskirts of our Empire. They created a simple village with few of our technologies. Believe me, our cities can be quite overwhelming, another reason you were brought here. It is the closest planet to Earth in our Empire, and its quiet nature was a good place to introduce you into our society.” “You said there were subtle differences between our people. What are they?” “Well, for one, height and build. As you have probably noticed, our soldiers are all quite tall. Most men stand at least six foot six to seven foot four. Me being only six foot eight, I am considered a shorter man. Our women are all tall as well, most at least six foot two. As such, our builds are thicker and stronger. Other things are larger on us, longer fingers and larger feet, but it is proportional to our heights of course.” “Larger feet, hmm?” Kaya felt the red tide rush across her face, not believing she had even uttered the stupid, immature remark. “Yes, that is actually something I need to talk to you about as well.” Lord Fatel lifted a large case that had been resting by his feet. “Your life mate is indeed larger in all ways than what you are accustomed to in a human man. You will need to prepare yourself, in the event that you do accept this life.” He opened the case and turned it to face her and she nearly passed out with embarrassment. The case was filled with what looked like varying sized penises. Her

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blush crept over her again and she felt like she would sink into the pillow she was sitting on. “What in the hell are those for?” “Preparing your body, unless of course, you enjoy pain ripping through your vagina. Your Daya N’goul is quite large, equal in size to the largest B’itakke in this case. I suggest you find the one that fills you with the least amount of pain and stretching, and wear it at night. And when you get accustomed to that size, go to the next, until you are comfortable filled with them all.” “I only agreed to wait the month in order to learn and meet him, I did not say I would agree to having sex with him.” “If you choose to stay at the end of your month, if you choose to stay with your mate, you will take part in the Joining ceremony the very next day. In the Joining, he will enter your body, have the blessing cast over your joined bodies and fill you with his seed. I know you have not made a decision, but there is nothing wrong with preparing yourself, just in case. I would not want to see you hurt.” “I am not going to go to bed wearing these. How would I sleep? There is no way.” “Well, I will leave them and you can make the decision for yourself later. You have been given a lot of information to ponder, and I will drop the subject for now. How about we take a walk through the village and I can show you around. We also need to deliver you to the dressmaker for measurements so she can create clothing for your month’s stay.” “I would love to see the village, but I can not go outside wearing this.” “You look beautiful in anything, but I agree about the sheet. What is wrong with your dress?” “You can see through the material. I don’t make a habit of exposing myself in public.” “This is the garb of our women, and you will become accustomed to it in time. Your body is a work of art, why shouldn’t the people see what splendor you have?” Kaya blushed again, her eyes dropping and catching a glimpse of his erection again. Curiosity winning over embarrassment, she had to ask. “I felt you against my stomach yesterday, and now I see you are erect again. I thought my life mate was the one who was attracted to me?” “Your life mate becomes erect once smelling your pheromones, and feeling the effects of Daya N’goul. But that does not mean another man cannot find you attractive.” “But you are my teacher, whatever that means. If I am to see you regularly for this month, I would hope you would control yourself.” She could not understand where she felt this sense of power from, but she liked it. “I will try to curb my passion, but looking at you makes it difficult to do such. You should take my erection as a compliment. I desire you. That does not make you feel good? To be wanted?” Yes…it felt wonderful to have this handsome, intriguing, arrogant man desire her. She felt the heat rise across her face once more and another heat blaze down to her vagina thinking about him using that wondrous body of his to give her the pleasure he so obviously wanted to rend from hers. Her blush showed him the truth, when she was about to speak a lie.

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“No, I do not see it as a compliment. I see it as you not being able to control your lascivious nature, but why should I be amazed that Ishadarian men were not so different from Earth men and their lack of control over their sexual appetites.” “I think you lie. I can smell your wetness from all the way over here.” Kaya visibly blanched. “That is another difference. Our sense of smell is more greatly attuned than humans, as is our hearing and sight. So do not try to lie to me, I will know it for what it is.” “I have not lied to you.” Lunging over to her pillow, Lord Fatel pinned her down beneath him, pulling her arms above her head and holding them with one large hand. Her back arched instinctively to take the pressure off her arms and back, bringing her breasts in tightly to his muscular chest. Her heartbeat escalated, part in fear, part in desire. She felt the thrumming of it in her chest and could hear it in her ears. His weight on her made if difficult to breathe, but it also made her want….made her need…in a way she could not describe. He lowered himself down a bit, and took a hard nipple into his mouth through the fabric of the sheet and suckled it, bringing a harsh moan from her mouth. How dare her body betray her like this? She did not want him to overpower her, but my god, she did not want him to stop. He suckled her nipple, laying swirling circles around the tight bud with his tongue, and with each pull to the aching skin, a shot went straight to her womb. The pleasure that built there was becoming overwhelming and she rubbed her groin to his, feeling his hardness rub against her mound. He lifted his head from her breast and she whimpered in protest. The warm air felt cold against her wet nipple, as the air was nowhere near as fiery as his mouth. He grinned down at her and bent again to lave the other nipple. She moaned in delight and began rubbing her mound against his huge erection. Lord Fatel raised his head slightly, pulling away from her hard nipple, “Naughty girl. You can’t have my cock inside you, unfortunately. I would give you all you could take if I could have you.” He glanced over her head at the case. “But I can give you something to take the ache away.” He reached above her with his free hand for the case of cocks. Opening it quickly, he pulled out the first cock, the smallest of the bunch. He set it down beside her, then used his free hand to pull the sheet up to her hips. “Please….” Kaya whimpered, her body betraying her, still rubbing against his hardness. “Please what? Please don’t or please don’t stop?” “No…don’t.…” That was all she could say as he forced her thighs apart with his powerful body and pushed the cock inside her. She nearly screamed in pleasure as the device was inserted into her vagina. “No, I think this one is too small. It slipped inside you too easily. But then again, you are just so wet and ready, that could be the cause. How about we try another?” Before she could respond or consider the fact she should be embarrassed at her wanton display, he grabbed the next two sizes and pushed the smaller of the two inside her. “Too easy.” He then grabbed the third, and pushed it inside her, stretching her more. He sensed her momentary discomfort and paused for a moment to allow her to grow accustomed to the size. After a moment her treacherous body was grinding against his hand, feeling the cock inside her massage the walls of her sex.

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“I still think you can accept more. Let’s try one more.” Kaya whimpered and whispered a weak no. He smiled at her weak plea, knowing it for the lie that it was. He took the fourth cock and slowly pushed it against her opening. He rubbed the phallus against her wetness, lubricating the cock. He then pushed just the head just inside her lips. After a moment, she began trying to pull the cock inside her with the muscles of her sex, grinding against the phallus, feeling the pleasure build to fever pitch within her body. Her brain was switched off, her body only open to feeling the pleasure his intrusions were creating in her. “I knew you would react like this. I can sense your heat, your desire, your sexuality; you are a prize for any man. Smart, beautiful and full of passion for pleasure.” He looked down at her and grinned. “I hope the General appreciates you as much as I do.” With that, he slid the large cock inside her with one thrust, making her scream out with her pleasure at the intense feeling of fullness. He waited one moment to allow her to adjust and then began the slow in and out motions of intercourse. She ground herself into his hand as he took a nipple back into his mouth, suckling her. He then released her hands and she wrapped them around his head and shoulders, arching her back more, pressing her breast in tighter to his mouth. She held his head tight and rocked her hips to the rhythm he was creating with the cock in his hand. She was so close….and then he bit her nipple hard and she came with a violence she had never felt before. Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her body from her head to the tips of her toes. Never had she felt like this with any orgasm she had experienced in her life. She closed her eyes, and tried to catch her breath. Embarrassment prevented her from gazing upon his face, this man who had practically forced himself on her, yet had given her more pleasure than any other man in her life. “Open your eyes, little one.” She slowly opened her eyes to him and the blush followed soon after. “Do not be ashamed at such passion. It is truly a gift in a woman to be able to feel such pleasure, to respond so to desire. You deserve to be loved and pleasured like that every day of your life, so do not feel embarrassed that you found orgasm by my hand. You are too beautiful a treasure, as is your desire, to waste time on such guilt and shame.” Tears formed in her eyes. The day had been overpowering, with everything she had been told, everything that had happened thus far. He kissed the tears from her eyes, and pulled her into his arms, holding her close to his warmth. Unsure why she felt so safe in this stranger’s arms, she soon let sleep overtake her. Lord Fatel carried her to the large sprawling bed, and laid her down, crawling into the sheets behind her and cuddling close to the warmth of her body. Exhausted, she slept most of the day. Lord Fatel left her sometime in the night, so when she awoke, she wondered if the day before had been a dream. She realized it was no dream, when she felt her wet sex filled with the phallus he had last used on her the afternoon before and her abused body ached with the pleasure he had rent from her. Newfound embarrassment made her blush, even without the presence of anyone in the room. Kaya had occasionally considered purchasing a sexual toy over the years to ease the ache she sometimes felt late into the lonely nights, but had never had the courage to do it. She had even gone so far as to browse some of the Internet sites that offered the

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toys and creams, but felt fearful someone would somehow find out. And now, this incredible man had used one to destroy her body, to give her the most powerful orgasms to have ever ripped through her. How would she ever make it through a month with this man?

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Chapter Four Besh stepped towards the round bed that held his lover. He glanced at her shrouded in the moonlight that traveled through the doors to the balcony. He watched her petite form ever restful in slumber. She was his and it filled him with pride to have finally found his love. He carefully sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the soft sheets from her body, watching in awe at her soft, smooth skin and her beautifully formed body. He slowly stroked her cheek and let his hand slowly wander down her body. Her neck, then traveling to her chest, running one finger down the space between her firm breasts. He then cupped one dense breast in his hand and felt its weight. She stirred slightly in her sleep but did not awaken. He paused a second, not willing to awaken her just yet. He needed time to thoroughly inspect her luscious form. Besh moved his hands down further and rested one hand on her hip. What beauty she possessed. He was astounded by the lust rushing through his body. He had paused at the top of her thigh and detoured to the inner wall of her leg. He took both hands and slowly spread her thighs. The strong moonlight, both the planet’s moons were nearly full tonight, allowed Besh a wonderful view of her labia. He squatted down on his stomach, facing her gorgeous sex. He paused, overwhelmed with desire. He grinned when he found the large B’itakke inside her opening, covered with her cream. He slowly pulled the cock from inside her, pleased that she was already halfway through the stretching of her vagina in readiness for him. Then grabbing her labia, he parted her nether lips and bent down so his head was level with her labia, slid his tongue inside her vagina, tasting her sex for the first time. A soft moan escaped her lips, and her hips pressed forward, giving him permission to explore more. Her hands instinctively went to her breasts and in her sleep she touched her hard nipples, moaning again. Besh smiled to himself and bent his head again to the work at hand. He slowly licked the folds of her sex, from the bottom to the top, coming to rest on the nub of her clitoris. A wave of pleasure rocked through her body, and he was pleased he caused it. He smiled again before feasting wholeheartedly on her clit. She began moaning in earnest and soon opened her eyes. She ran her fingers through his hair and held his head close to her mound, pushing him closer to her sex. She was moaning loudly and thrashing under his ministrations. He inserted one of his very long fingers inside her opening, all the while suckling her clit with the ferocity of a starving man. He began to move his finger in and out; emulating the sex act he would show her in mere minutes. The fast in and out of his finger and the pressure on her clit was building a fire inside her unlike anything she knew. He finger fucked her pussy with passionate abandon and quickly added a second finger, bringing her to a screaming climax. “Lord Fatel….Fatel…yes….” So, she desired her teacher, did she? He would show her real desire tonight.

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He pushed himself up to his knees and brought her wet sex even with his engorged cock. He was huge and hopefully would not hurt her tonight. She had prepared herself thus far, so he decided to try. He was too far gone not to. He rubbed the bulbous head of his cock along her slit, wetting it and readying him for the assault of her sex he had envisioned. She was writhing and moaning on the bed, “Lord Fatel….” He slowly spread her labia open with his cock head and stopped when the head was encased in her sex. He stopped for a moment, pausing to adjust himself so he was covering her whole body with his own. He kissed her breasts, then chest, up her neck to her ear. “My name is Besh, and you had better remember that,” he said into her ear as he plunged his entire huge member inside her in one slick thrust. She screamed, her dark brown chocolate eyes opening wide in surprise at the invasion of her body, but not in pain, but in the most tremendous orgasm that had ever wracked through her body. He paused for a second to allow her to catch her breath, and then began pounding her sex with his huge cock, fucking her with a speed and desire unmatched in any man ever to touch her body. She was clinging to his massive frame. Everywhere she grabbed, she met slick, sweaty muscle. This man was raw muscle, raw power and he proved it in the way he abused her body. Even after just experiencing the amazing orgasm she had just barely recovered from, he was building another one that hinted at being even stronger than either of those. She curled her toes and stiffened her body as she felt his penis shudder inside her, and they both came violently together. “Besh, my name is Besh…,” he whispered in her ear. **** Besh felt himself being shaken awake and he fought it tooth and nail. Damned the luck, he would not leave her side. Not yet, not now. He opened his eyes to see Dar, his second in command shaking him awake. “You are alive. You sleep like the dead, sir.” “What in Jang N’Fell are you doing here? Let me sleep or I will have you shot.” Dar had the audacity to laugh at that, “Sir, I am sorry to awaken you, but the Emperor has called for you. He has questions about this human woman you have brought here. He wants to see you immediately.” Besh sighed, rubbed his face, and sat up in bed. Leave it to the Emperor to ruin the best fucking dream he had ever had in his life. **** Kaya’s eyes flew open as the dream man disappeared from her bed. Tears were in her eyes as she realized it had been just that, a dream. That amazing man could not have been a dream, he was just too real. Besh. Wasn’t that the name of the man who was supposedly her soul mate? She could not see his face, which was odd, because in all the light of the two moons, she could clearly see everything else. She had assumed she dreamed of Lord Fatel, he looked so much like him everywhere else. But, Mr. Dreamy had seemed angered by her mistake and drove that point home, pun definitely intended. **** Court was always a tedious place for Besh to visit and he avoided coming at all costs. The only times he did come, especially as of late, was at the Emperor’s command.

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He snarled at a couple of passing Ha Ni Shin delegates, being one of the most recent members of the Empire, just prior to Earth. Besh did not trust the beings, or their motives, since they had been closely allied with the Bel Tak in the D’Na Sigh attacks several years before. He stalked away, towards the highly placed dais that currently held the Emperor and his Empress. Besh had taken great pride in destroying many of the Ha Ni Shin battleships in the various battles that had erupted over the few years after that, until that was; the Great Olum Naucht of the Ha Ni Shin had come before the Emperor and bowed at his feet. Olum Naucht had begged for forgiveness in the initial attacks and asked that the Ishadarians would protect them from the Bel Tak. The Emperor, in a rush to prove to the Senate that he could be diplomatic in light of the consensus that he was too ready to make war, rushed into an unstable agreement with Olum Naucht and his people. In that agreement, the Ha Ni Shin had become a fullfledged member world in the Senate and was given full diplomatic rights. Most worlds waited a decade or more to achieve full member status, and he wondered if the Ha Ni Shin had given the Emperor more than was contained in the agreement. He loved the Emperor, more so than many, and he was more loyal to him than anyone else in the Empire. But unlike most, Besh knew that the Emperor was a man as well as a leader, and men had faults. A man could make mistakes. The accord with the Ha Ni Shin was a mistake and he hoped that it would not eventually put the whole Empire in jeopardy. Because of this loyalty and respect, the Emperor had shown great respect in return for Besh. It also helped that Besh was honest to a fault and would say what he thought, instead of what those around him wished to hear. Sometimes that got him into trouble. As he stepped directly in front of the Emperor, the crowd of various delegates from each of the 157 worlds hushed, awaiting what was so important that the Emperor would pull the General of the Ishadarian East back to Hara D’Noll in the middle of the invasion of Earth. “So, the mighty General has found himself a mate?” A murmur rippled through the crowd at the emperor’s announcement. Besh was well over the age of Daya N’goul and many thought he would never find his life mate. Most Ishadarian men found their soul mates by the time they reached the age of consensus, the year they entered the military for their mandatory two years of service. Some did not find their mate until they had concluded that service. But none had ever waited twelve years after his military service began. Every Ishadarian man in their entire history had found a mate by the age of 25, most earlier, so at 32, Besh had become something of a freak on his home world. Thankfully, he was a superior warrior and had insured many Ishadarian victories, allowing that the populace left his unattached status alone for the most part. If not for that, he may have been truly labeled an outcast and forced into exile. “Yes, your Highness, I believe I have found my Daya N’goul. She was brought to the palace at Tok N’gaul in the Inoc galaxy, the closest planet in our Empire to Earth.” “Don’t you think that the invasion of Earth is a priority? Especially for my top general?” “Regent Ca Heel led this invasion and has run it with unerring wisdom and judgment. I have been at his side since it began, and only left him a few days ago.”

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“But I expected you to be highly visible on the planet for good reason. Plus, we are in the middle of a war. You need to be there.” “This has not been a war from day one, even though maybe you were hoping for bloodshed. The planet has not given any major resistance, nor have any of its nations. We used Brox Catha to materialize soldiers, as well as diplomatic ambassadors, into the offices of each head of state, general, and leader over the world. Those governments all chose to lay down their swords and allow us to include them into our Empire, seeing we were technologically advanced. Also, I think they decided that a huge loss of life on their side was foolish at this stage.” “Boy, I am not as bloodthirsty as you seem to think me. I thought we respected each other enough for you to know that by now. I have no problem that my brother the Regent chose to use diplomacy in this mission. It is so like him, I had practically expected him to walk up to the Earth world leaders and beg them to join the Empire. But that does not change that I had wanted my best general at his side, which after your comment makes me wonder if you are my best general. Nonetheless, my eldest brother is not a young man and I need an able man to fill his shoes as Regent. You are the best candidate for the job.” “I appreciate your faith in me and my abilities, but how does being on Earth change my ability to do that job?” “Most of the member worlds that make up our Empire were invaded thousands of years ago. The few that were invaded more recently still happened before I was even born. We have become so powerful that worlds now come to us asking for member status and world invasion is becoming less and less necessary. I wanted you to have this experience.” “Using the Brox Catha, I can be back on the planet in less than twenty minutes Earth time. I am able to oversee the entire operation from the system in my rooms in the palace and have been in full communication with the Regent since leaving for Tok N’gaul, ready to return at his call. I have been there since day one and have continued to serve our Empire. Am I supposed to ignore the rules of Daya N’goul?” “No. I suppose not, but this is horrible timing.” “An understatement if I say so myself. If I could have chosen another time, believe me, I would have. But, Your Highness, if I may add.…” “Of course.” “I thought you would have less issue with me leaving at this point versus the fact she is of Earth.” A gasp shuddered through the crowd at Besh’s words. Voices raised and soon the crowd was in an uproar. “SILENCE!” The Emperor was at his feet, red faced and fully enraged, glaring at his court members. “The General cannot ignore the rules of Daya N’goul, as all of you know. If this is the woman who is his life mate, then she will Join with him, regardless of what you in the court think. Our laws state that no Ishadarian man can deny his Daya N’goul and he must claim her after the proper period of Si’ ni mon. Besh deserves his woman, especially considering we thought for some time he would have none.” “But your Highness,” a voice raised from the mass below, “no Ishadarian man has

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ever Joined with a woman from another world, not even worlds that have been members of the Empire for thousands of years. How can he Join with this Earthling?” The obvious distaste for the world Earthling dripped from the man’s voice. “Ishadarian genetics run through the human blood. Meaning they are part Ishadarian. Meaning they are a sister race and have similar characteristics, similar scents. I think it is highly probable that more of our men will find their mates on Earth.” Another small murmur and then a hush fell as the Emperor eyed his court. “I decree that it is legal for an Ishadarian male to marry an Earth woman if she is his Daya N’goul. As Emperor, my world is law.” **** Lord Fatel had not come to her the day before for some reason. She assumed that he would visit her everyday to “teach” her about the society she was expected to become a part of. For some reason she was disappointed that he had not come, even though she told herself that she did not want to see him. She was lying to herself. She did want to see him; he was driving her mind and body past the point of distraction. And now she had bachelor number two invading her dreams. Like she needed that. Her body was sore, and ached in all the wrong places. Her b’itakke had slipped out sometime in the night and was on the floor. So stiff, she could barely sit up, so she gave up and floated back to the bed in a huff. Kaya was so confused. Nothing seemed to make sense. Abducted by the invaders of her planet and told she was the soul mate of some soldier in the army, or general, whatever. Held in a beautiful prison, pleasure ripped from her body from her teacher and now her dream man. She felt like it was all a dream and wondered if she would ever awaken from it. After laying there motionless for nearly an hour watching the sunlight slowly shift through the room as the sun grew higher and higher into the sky, J’Halle walked into the room bearing the large tray of breakfast foods. Her stomach growled and betrayed her, so she sat up, smelling the wonderful aroma of the food. She stood, wobbly at first, and gained her footing and walked to the balcony to eat. She sat nude at the table, enjoying the warm sun on her skin, ready to dig in. It was amazing how easily she was becoming accustomed to nudity in front of her lady’s maids. She only had one dress and they had washed it the night before so she could wear it today on her trip to the dressmaker, so it was either nude or the sheet and she did not have the energy to wrap the sheet around her like a toga, not when her stomach was screaming for food. She had been eating with stamina since her arrival here, given that all the foods they served her were like ambrosia, and nothing she had ever tasted before. She just hoped she would not see her waist and hips spread from all this wonderful food. She was just starting on the delicious, foreign fruits when Lord Fatel walked onto the balcony. She covered herself with her hands, and dropped them immediately when she saw his eyebrow rise. “Why should you be ashamed?” that eyebrow said to her. He was right, but it was still hard to get used to. She continued eating the delicious fruits that were soon becoming her favorite of anything she had tasted thus far. He smiled watching her enjoy the foods, and reached over to grab a piece of fruit that resembled an orange but was pale green and blue. He slowly suckled the juice from the fruit, while one drop slid down his chin. She was mesmerized watching his lips and mouth on the fruit

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and felt that suckle all the way down to her clit. He smiled, knowing where her mind had led her. “Ready to be outfitted today? I, myself, prefer you completely nude all the time, but I am sure you would like at least a few dresses to cover that beautiful body.” “I am more than ready. I was hoping we would go yesterday, but since you did not show up, I had to wait.” “Oh…are we pouting, my princess? Did you miss me?” “Stop it, you ass, I just want something besides the one dress and sheets to wear. All I care about is one more dress so I can wear something while the other is being washed.” “Your General is a very important man in our world and he means to see you outfitted properly. We have orders to purchase fifteen gowns for you as well as proper dresses for sleeping and special attire for the ceremony.” “I have made no promises, so the clothes for the ceremony can wait. As can the others. All I need is one, maybe two dresses at most.” The thought of fifteen dresses excited her, to be doted on in such a way. She had grown up with a single mother who worked hard to make ends meet and she was not used to such luxury. But accepting his fifteen dresses might tell her General that she had accepted him. And she would not send that particular message. “You will get what the General desires. He wants you to feel as beautiful as you are. He wants you to know he adores you even now, before he has ever claimed you as his own. It is hard for a man that has no way of spending time with you to actively court you. This is his way.” “Well, he can’t buy me. But I will take his fifteen dresses and enjoy them then. As long as he knows that by taking the dresses I have not made any decision in his favor.” “I am sure he understands that Princess.” “Why do you keep calling me that?” “Princess? Because it fits. You should be adored and treated like a princess.” She blushed and tried to hurriedly change the subject. “Why am I not allowed to see my soul mate for a month?” Lord Fatel looked stunned. He stared at her and then looked around bewilderedly. “Princess, I don’t know the answer for that. It has always been the custom of our people to wait Si’ni mon without seeing each other before they join. There was never a question as to why, it just is. ” “In the meantime, we need to get your beautiful body to the dressmaker. I am in no rush to cover you, but if we do not show up this time, Meet Sook Nu may have my head on a platter.” “Who is Meet Sook Nu?” “Only the most talented dressmaker on this planet, and probably any other planet. She is blind, which only makes her talent that much more amazing. She creates beautiful dresses for only the most beautiful women, and her skills have her in high demand. Such high demand that if we do not leave soon, she will not make any dresses for you.” **** The lady’s maids had covered her in the twisted contraption of a dress, fixed her hair and makeup, so she looked very much like she did the first time she was prepared for

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a meeting. She sat numbly through the whole process, still reeling over the dream of last night. Lord Fatel watched the whole process, his evident erection tenting his pants the entire time. He just smiled at her each time he caught her looking at it through the mirror she sat before. Once she was done, he offered her his arm, and he escorted her to the balcony for her lunch. She sat at the table, warmed in the sun, and began to pick at the platter in front of her. Lord Fatel took nibbles of fruit, tonguing them and suckling them as she watched. Each lick and nibble of his mouth sent shock waves through her body, and a warm wetness pooled in her sex. “Little one, you look in need of attention. Do you feel well?” “Of course, I am well. You purposely bait me.” “And how have I baited you?” He asked in mock surprise, knowing full well he was titillating her with every move he had made. Kaya rolled her eyes, refusing to rise to his bait. He continued his nibbling, eyeing her while deeply sucking the fruit nectar from his fingers. “STOP THAT!” “What have I done? I am just eating some fruit.” He said with a mocking smile. “You know damned well what you are doing, so just stop it.” “I like making you wet. I can’t get enough of the smell your cream makes. I want to lap it up all day long.” With that, he ducked under the table and rested his head between her legs. She jumped up from her seat, and he crawled after her on his knees, pinning her against an outside wall. Trapped, she began pushing him away, but he overpowered her, pulling her down onto his lap and then turning her over in one quick move, so she was again pinned below him. “Damn it, I don’t like you overpowering me!” “I can’t help it. I feel your need, your desire and it makes me insane.” Grasping her lips in a kiss, he began causing her to spiral into insanity right along with him. His kisses set her body ablaze, and made her mind shut down all logical thought. And then his kisses began to trail down her neck and chest, and he again grasped each nipple in a deep suckling kiss. Then down her stomach, pulling her thighs apart, until his face rested level with her womanhood. Jerking the labia apart with two fingers on one hand, he used the other hand to test her wetness and then brought those fingers to his mouth to taste, causing her womb to clench in a pre-orgasmic wave. A hint of what was to come. Lord Fatel began a delicious attack of her pussy, licking her slit with urgency, lapping up her cream like he was a starving man. His fingers invaded her sex, diving in as far as he could reach, while he centered his tongue on her clit, swirling it around the hard little nub. Kaya felt the pressure build with each lick of his tongue, with each thrust of his finger, with each nibble of her clit. She was approaching a deep orgasm, and he was driving her hard towards the edge. She screamed her pleasure after he suckled her clit deeply. “My, my, little one. I imagined you would be responsive, but I never imagined just how responsive you would be. All women should dare to be so open to receiving pleasure.”

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Lord Fatel stood up and walked briefly back into her rooms, giving her a moment respite, before walking out with the next phallus from the case, the one just slightly larger than the one he used previously. Kaya’s eyes grew large, not expecting him to assault her sex again so soon after bringing her to orgasm. He kneeled beside her, and wet the cock by rubbing it against her aching sex, before plunging it into her. Arching her back and sucking in a deep breath, the intensity brought her body up what felt like a foot from the floor. He paused a moment, allowing her body to adjust to the invasion, and then began the movement that brought her the most pleasure. Kaya pulled her hands out from her bondage and began to pull his massive frame closer to her body. Wanting to feel his heat and his hardness, she slipped her hand under the waistband of his pants; searching for the hard cock she witnessed tenting his pants, proving his lust for her. Lord Fatel, lost in his desire for her touch, eased his pants down, giving her better access to his aching flesh. She grasped his engorged cock in her fingers, not able to completely encircle its width with one hand, caressing the hard muscle covered in silky skin. Starting at the base, nesting her fingers in the soft curling hairs found there, and then pulling as tightly as she could along the excessive length to the bulbous dark purple tip. Both lost in a whirlwind of desire, him pumping the fake phallus into her wet sex, invading her mouth with his tongue, and her pulling his pleasure from his cock with her hand, while caressing his feverish skin with her other hand, neither had noticed the guest arrive in the midst of their pleasure. “Well, isn’t this uncomfortable?” Both looked up to see a man of indeterminate age standing in the doorway of one of the French style doors, staring at the two of them entangled in each other’s arms, a wide smirk on his face. Lord Fatel growled at the man and asked, “What in the Jang n’Fell are you doing here, Dar Jin?” “I came to see what had fascinated our General so much that he insisted on abducting the girl. I was intrigued, and felt a compulsion to come and introduce myself to her.” Kaya tried to cover herself, and pull away from Lord Fatel, afraid they had been compromised, and possibly in trouble. She felt something uncomfortable about this man, but she was discomfited, so that was enough of a reason to be behind her feeling. Lord Fatel turned a furious glare to her, meeting her chocolate brown gaze, whispering to her, “Do not move. He is an interloper and he will leave.” Lord Fatel pulled a cloth from another pillow to give her some modesty. “Dar Jin, this is Kaya, the Earthling. Kaya, this is Lieutenant General Dar Jin of the Ishadarian East.” “Then you work for General Besh?” Dar eyed Lord Fatel. “Yes, I work for General Besh.” “Now you have met her. Leave.” The impatience and anger showed in his words and his stance. “I am sorry to have interrupted you,” Dar Jin said, smirking, offering a low bow. “Good day to you both.” They both watched Dar Jin’s back disappear from view and turned to look at each

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other, neither wanting to say anything. Finally Kaya spoke. “Who was he, and what just happened here?” Lord Fatel took a deep breath, weighing what he was about to say. “I am not allowed to enter you with my body, your Daya N’goul will enter you, claim you, when you Join with him. If I enter you with my body before the ceremony, I could be charged with a crime. It is not a law that is normally enforced vehemently, but considering you are from another world, someone with motive may try to use me as an example.” “Then why pursue me as you have?” “Because you drive me insane and I cannot control myself.” His bold declaration sent a ripple of pleasure through her body, but ultimately, she knew what she must do. “Then I suppose I will have to control us both.” With that, she stood and removed the phallus, “I think now would be a good time to go to the dressmaker, don’t you?” Lord Fatel stood, eyed her briefly before finally reaching down to right his clothing. He then offered her his arm again, and they left her prison for the first time. **** Dar had just reached the room he had been given just after arriving at the palace when his comm. unit had gone off. He turned on the screen, answering the call. As soon as he laid eyes on the face the screen showed, he felt a knot in his throat and bile begin to churn in his stomach. The man smiled, knowing he made Dar quite uncomfortable, “Lieutenant, how nice it is to see you again, it has been far too long since I have had the opportunity to speak with you.” Dar paused, looking the man squarely in the eyes. “What do you want from me? You only call on me when you need something.” “Oh, come now, boy. I wanted to call and make sure you had not suffered any ills from the invasion of that wretched planet.” “Do not attempt to show care and concern at this late date, old man. It does not wear well on you. So why not just go ahead and say what you want and get it over with. I already tire of you and I have but seen your face for a moment.” “Are we finally growing a set boy? You would think that the boy who killed his friend would be more careful in what he said to me.” “Dammit, you continue to use that against me, even now, years later, when you know full well that it was an accident. “He was my friend...no, more than a friend. He was like a brother to me. I would never have wanted harm to come to him. Yet you would take my grief and my pain and twist it into a story of vengeance and deceit so you could force me to do your will. To fulfill your evil intent. I have been the slave to your dangerous game for far too long, and I grow weary of it. Maybe I will go forth and admit to my sins so I will no longer have to be at your mercy.” The older man sat calmly listening to Dar’s tirade as if it were nothing more than a dissertation on the weather. “Are you quite done now, my boy?” Dar rolled his eyes and turned his back on the screen. He squeezed his hands into fists, trying to curb another eruption that obviously would do no good in making this man set him free. Dar was coming to understand that there was only one person who could set

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him free, himself. “If you are done, then turn around here and listen to me but for a moment. I think this may just be the last time I demand your assistance and we close the book on your little discretion once and for all.” The asylum of freedom perked Dar’s curiosity and he turned to face the man. “What is it you would have me do this time?” “It seems it is happening again, the tendrils of these Earth bitches are wrapping around yet another man in control of this Empire. This could be a boon for my cause, yet there is always the chance that Ishadarians and the rest of the Empire will embrace the human whore and cause me to have to work harder to discredit the race. So, I think the best thing would be for her to have an unfortunate accident.” “I will not kill her. I refuse to destroy my friend by taking away his soul mate, regardless of how you feel about the human race. You will just have to hope for the best and leave this woman be.” “Well, since you have experience with ‘unfortunate accidents’ with friends, I felt you were the perfect man for the job.” Dar winced, the remembered pain still great, the weight of it still crushing his soul. “Dar Jin, this will be the last thing I ever ask of you. With her gone, I can proceed with my plans, and you can get on to living your life without my shadow following you. And the threat of the Empire finding out you were the one to kill its greatest son will be over.” Tears formed in Dar’s eyes. He could not face the world knowing that they knew what he had done. He could not even face looking at himself in the mirror since that fateful day. But to kill this innocent woman just to save himself? She did not deserve this. Yet, the thought of losing everything he had, the position he had worked hard to reach, the trust of those around him, the love of the family he could easily destroy, just because of a stupid mistake he had made as a younger man, killing the one who had been the only true family he had ever had, the one man who had been his greatest advocate and friend, ate at him inside. “I will NOT kill her. There has to be another way. There will not be any more blood on my hands.” The older man looked thoughtful. “There just might be another way. But in giving you this alternative, I will be giving you much too much information. I must know that I can trust you with it.” “You know too much about me for me not to be trustworthy, you damned well know that.” “Well after that tirade, I am unsure where your allegiance lays, boy.” “Then I guess you will have to hope you can trust me.” “Hope is for the weak. Hope is for men who do not go and take that which is theirs. Know that if you turn on us, then you will know more torment then you could ever imagine.” Dar paled. The older man grinned. “Fine, tell me your plans and I will decide if I can stomach being your pawn for the last time.” “Take her back to Earth, deposit her in the spot she was abducted from and let her rot on that world.”

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“And have Besh follow after her and have her tell him what I have done? That makes little sense. I would lose the trust and honor I have spent years earning. And would do little for your crusade. She would be back in his arms before long.” “Not if he isn’t there to find her.” Dar looked up with fright in his eyes. “What do you mean by that?” “Do not worry your weak little head, boy. There is no plan to kill him. Just move him out of the way.” Dar looked up solemnly into the older eyes on the screen, just as evil laughter erupted from the man, as he realized Dar would submit to his final duty. “Glad we have made a deal, Dar. Now let me further explain our plans.” **** Lord Fatel and Kaya walked down a short hallway, which had one side open to the outdoors, so she was able to catch a sight of another segment of the village. There were mostly homes on this side, but each was so colorful and had such beautiful gardens surrounding them that her eyes were searching everywhere around her. Lord Fatel urged her down a flight of stairs at the end of the hallway and they exited the building into the main thoroughfare of the village. She saw many carts and vendors with fruits and flowers, exquisite jewelry, and something she suspected was similar to dairy and meat products on Earth, as well as other various carts laden with goods. As they walked, people turned to stare at her being led by the handsome man. He was right to say that he was a short man in this world, because almost everyone they passed towered over both of them. She was glad, though, that he was not any taller, for even though she was tall at five-ten by female Earth standards, he still towered far, far over her. She stuck out on the street because she was so small, and for the first time in her life, she felt dainty, petite, and for some reason, she loved the sensation. She had looked eye to eye with many men on Earth, and it seemed to intimidate them. There was no way she would ever look down at the top of a man’s head here. One point for the Ishadarians. Lord Fatel led her down the street and put his arm around her in an obvious show of his protection. Not that anyone had made any threatening advances, but possibly to make a point with the staring crowds around them. They turned down a small street to their left and walked a few more yards. This street was less busy, but the few people did stop what they were doing to stare at Kaya. She felt incredibly self-conscious from the moment they had walked into the street. Thankfully he led her to the doorway of the small white building. She escaped the staring masses and dove through it, nearly bumping into a tall white- haired woman with glowing red eyes. Was this the famous Meet Sook Nu? Lord Fatel was close on her heel and he walked around her to greet the woman who was almost as tall as he. “So this is the woman for the General? She must be small, since she bumped into me at such a speed, yet did not hardly move me from my spot.” “She is an Earthling, Meet, and they are not as tall as we. She is beautiful regardless, and very worth your effort.” “I am sure nothing less than great beauty would be given to our great General. Come little one, let me measure you and decide what I shall garb you in.” Kaya had kept quiet through the whole exchange, intimidated as hell of this huge woman with glowing red eyes. After a moment of hesitation, she followed the woman

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into a back room. “Take off your clothes. I need to measure you.” Kaya removed the twisted dress with difficulty. Finally Lord Fatel came behind her and helped her unwind the crazy dress, but his motives were not totally helpful. He pulled her rear into his groin, and rubbed his hardened cock along the seam of her ass. Heat flooded her sex and she almost moaned in front of this woman. How dare he do this to her with a stranger in the room! She pulled from his embrace only to have her breasts grabbed and her body pulled back into his arms. He lowered his head to her neck and licked her sensitive skin there. She could not help but groan. “Lord Fatel, leave her be. I have a lot to do if I am to have many dresses ready for her in a few days.” He released her and pulled the dress away in his hands. She was left standing in the middle of the small room filled with mirrors, with him watching her with desire clearly written on his face. “Lord Fatel will get himself into great trouble if he abuses your body. He knows the law. If he is caught inside you he could be killed.” Meet spoke loud enough so that both could hear, but Kaya knew she was speaking more to Lord Fatel then her. “You will have to help him stay away from your body.” Kaya’s eyes flew open wider. She had not been seducing him, but the other way around. She did not have sense when the man was around, so how was she going to keep him at bay? But if he knew the threat of death, why would he seduce her at all. She would keep that in the forefront of her mind from this moment forward, but that may not be enough if he really tried hard to get his hands on her. He watched her with interest as the dressmaker started to measure her. His hooded eyes still showed his desire, even after Meet’s words of warning. Kaya stared at him through the mirror in front of her, instantly imagining that it was his hands on her skin, measuring her arms, her wrists, her stomach, her thigh. She grew warm thinking of his touch. Kaya had never been a wanton woman, but ever since she had come to this planet, she had been feeling nothing but sexual desire. It was almost as if she had been drugged. Had she? Meet stood up, finished with her measurements and then began to “look” through the bolts of beautiful fabrics that were stacked along one wall. Lord Fatel came back through the doorframe to watch the woman pick the cloth. Meet brought several bolts over to Kaya and draped then over her, one at a time. “Yes…..yes….no….yes….absolutely not….maybe…..yes…” Meet spoke out loud as she draped each cloth over her shoulder. “I know you said that I would have dresses in a few days. Is it possible to have one today so I don’t have to keep wearing this one that I have been in for four days?” “Of course, you will have one in a few moments. Wait right here.” Meet left the room and came back seconds later holding a midnight blue piece of cloth in her hands. She pulled in over Kaya’s head and it fit perfectly. How would Meet have had this considering that most of her dresses were probably for much taller women? As if reading her mind, Meet spoke. “This dress was made for the daughter of Princess Em Wann of the Inoc D’Attar. She did not like it, as she is a spoiled child. But it will at least be something other than the puzzle you have worn for four days.” Kaya looked into the mirror, amazed how beautiful the dress was and especially

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grateful that it fit. It showed off her curves and was the same sheer fabric of the green dress, but since it was quite a bit darker, did not seem to expose quite as much. She was thankful for that. Meet came up behind her as she gazed at herself in the mirror. Kaya was standing on a pedestal in the middle the small room, so her head was nearly level with Meet’s. “Child,” she whispered into Kaya’s ear, “You must tread carefully with the man you are here with. I can sense the desire you both are feeling for each other, and if you are not strong, he will not be able to hold back. If he is caught taking you before you are Joined with the General, he could be executed, regardless of how powerful a man he may be. Not all is well with the Empire, I have sensed it as of late, and he could be used to prove a point. He is too good a man to die because neither of you could control your bodies. His life is in your hands.” She turned to look at the woman. Kaya was speechless. Lord Fatel thanked Meet for such a beautiful dress and the promise of more to come, then grabbed Kaya’s hand and led her from the shop. She was still so shocked by what the dressmaker had told her that she did not even notice the hundreds of eyes upon her as they returned to her lavish prison. She walked into her room and ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. “Kaya, are you unwell? You have been pale and quiet since we left Meet Sook Nu.” Pause. “Kaya, please, are you alright?” Pause. “Kaya, this is your last chance. If you are alright answer me, or I will break down this door right now.” Pause. Lord Fatel rammed the door six times hard with his shoulder before he finally cracked through the hard surface. He reached in, unlocked the door, and pushed it open with a jerk. He rushed into the room to find Kaya lying unconscious on the floor.

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Chapter Five Kaya opened her eyes to moonlight. She was lying in the middle of her round bed in her prison room once again. How did she get there? The last thing she remembered was rushing to the bathroom and locking the door. She had been trying to put distance between Lord Fatel and herself, scared for his life. She could not be the one who caused his death. Could she request a new teacher? Was that allowed? She sensed she was not alone. She lifted her head to see her dream man sitting in a chair to one side of the bed. Seeing may be going too far considering his face was still out of focus, even though she saw the rest of him with perfect clarity. “Are you alright, Princess?” “Lord Fatel?” “No, as I have told you before, I am Besh, your soul mate.” “Why can’t I see your face clearly?” “I can’t answer that. I also can’t answer why these dreams feel so real. But they just are. You still have not answered my question.” “Am I alright? As alright as I can be given my situation.” “Our doctors have looked you over and found the reason for your fainting. Evidently when the wi’ mia improved your organs, they stimulated an area of your brain that humans rarely use, which has caused irregular activity. It could be what is causing our moonlight meetings. Was there anything that happened before you passed out? Pain or anything of that nature?” “No. The last thing I recall is slamming the door closed to the bathroom. This is the only memory after that. Is this brain activity a bad thing, will it continue to cause me to faint or other side effects?” “The wi’ mia feel that you will become accustomed to the new activity, but with all of the stresses of learning our culture and being pulled from your daily life, that everything was too much for you and you just shut down. There is a possibility you will be able to do more as you learn to control your brain waves. For now, they suggested rest. Why did you rush to the bathroom after you left the dressmaker? Were you feeling unwell?” “I guess you could say that.” “What do you mean?” “Well, I suppose I can tell you the truth, since I am not even sure if this is real or not. I am attracted to Fatel and he is attracted to me. And the dressmaker told me that if he were caught having made love to me then he could be killed. I cannot be the reason for his death.” “Do you care for this man?” Besh did not sound mad. He actually sounded intrigued, which was odd since his earlier show of jealousy in claiming her body as his own. “I don’t know the answer to that. I have only known him for a few days. But I know enough of him to know that I do not want to cause him harm.” She looked at

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where his face was. “Are you General Besh, the one who is supposed to be my soul mate?” “Yes. I am. I AM your soul mate, your life partner. I will be your lover and your rock. You will stand at my side and mother my children after I fill you with my seed.” “I have made no promises of staying.” “I know, but I am ever hopeful that you will choose to stay with me. Our people have mated this way for eons, all have been happy and found love in their soul mate. I wish you could open your heart and mind to me. I could make you happy.” “I will not know you when it is time to Join you in the ceremony. How can I guess my future without knowing you at all? Ishadarian women may accept this for themselves because it is accepted throughout your world. If I was to marry a man I had met the day before, I would be called crazy on Earth.” “Forget Earth. This is not Earth. You would become an Ishadarian once you Joined with me, and you would be accepted as my wife and life partner. I will bring you joy. You will never want for anything. I will do everything in my power to make you love me.” “What happens if I say no?” “What happens to whom?” “To you?” “Don’t concern yourself with that.” “Why not? If I am your life partner and I decline, will that cause you a life alone? Can one have two soul mates?” “I don’t know, it has never happened before. You have to make the choice you feel is right. I will not force your hand. But I know I can make you happy beyond all your dreams.” She looked at him and suddenly became overwhelmed. This was just too much for her to handle. She started to sob. Besh rushed to her bedside to comfort her. He was as nude as she was, but he carefully slid under the sheets with her, and pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin. He rubbed her back and neck, rubbed her head and just let her cry into his arms. It felt so good to be comforted by his warmth. Reaching across to a vase of foreign flowers next to her bed, he plucked a small pink flower that looked similar to a daisy and tucked it over her ear. “My beautiful flower, get some rest. I will hold you for as long as this dream allows.” She rested her head and body closer to him, reveling in the heat of his muscular body. Kaya knew this was just a dream, but it seemed so real to her. The cry was exactly what she needed, and she finally felt at peace for the first time in days. Months actually. Her business took so much out of her, and Lord Fatel had been right in his comments about her personal life. She had no family, few friends, only work. And she had been driving herself to insanity working as hard as she did. Kaya felt at home in her dream man’s arms. She drifted off to sleep and for the first time in months, slept peacefully. **** Sunlight started to peek through the room as morning broke over the small village. Kaya awoke feeling more rested then she had felt in a very long time. She stretched her arms above her head and sat up in the soft bed.

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She scuffled to the bathroom to take care of her morning ablutions. She turned to the mirror to check her appearance before returning to the balcony for the plentiful breakfast that would soon be there. She nearly fainted again when she saw the dainty pink flower tucked above her ear. **** Lord Fatel walked onto the balcony to see if Kaya was eating her breakfast. He whipped around the corner to see her basking naked in the sun, feasting on her breakfast. He smiled and headed towards her. He suddenly stopped cold in his tracks after facing her and turned quite pale, especially considering his normal tanned complexion. “Fatel? Are you alright?” Kaya looked at him warily. “I am fine, Princess. I am more concerned with how you are doing. After passing out yesterday afternoon, I was worried you were ill,” he said looking very out of sorts. She eyed him for a second, realizing he was covering something that was making him feel quite uncomfortable. Deciding it wasn’t worth it to press him about it, she switched gears. “When can I take a look at the research material from the experiments?” “As soon as you finish breakfast and get dressed for an outing.” “Dressed for an outing?” “Well, yes, some of your dresses have arrived from Meet Sook Nu. I saw them on your bed as I was coming in the door to your room. I also saw jewelry boxes along with them. Evidently the General wants to spoil you already.” Kaya’s eyes lit up and she jumped from the table, running into the bedroom to look at her new goodies. It felt like Christmas morning, and she, a delighted child. She had a good life with her single mother, and they had always had enough, but an overabundance was a rarity. She was not used to being spoiled, and even though part of her did not want to be excited by the mountains of boxes on the bed, another part of her was elated. She opened the first of the boxes to find a beautiful silk like gown in a beautiful color she could barely explain. It was sheer and ever changing, slightly translucent, but instead of changing as the piece moved in the light, the fabric changed without movement. The colors swirled together on the super soft cloth, and felt like heaven to her fingertips. She pulled it close to her body and reveled in the feel of it. Looking closer at the dress, she realized it was almost two pieces, and it would bare most of her midriff. She had noticed ladies in the markets wearing dresses similar to this. The high-necked top and long sleeves would be tight to her body with two straps of material through the middle of her stomach and back to hold the skirt in place. The skirt would dust her hips tightly, but lay loose to the floor. “How about this box next, I think you will find it somewhat complementary to the dress,” Lord Fatel said as he handed her a smaller box. She grinned and opened it up to find the most beautiful necklace, totally covered in gems. There were mainly two types of gems, one that resembled a pearl, but its translucence was like the material of the dress, with colors swirling in and around the orbs. The other was something like a diamond, only brighter and slightly pink. Finally, there were small touches of a pale blue gem dispersed here and there. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. “I think you should wear that dress today. It definitely becomes you.” Be'in surprised them both, hovering in a corner, delight showing in her face at the dresses and

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jewels. She would dress her lady in these fine things with honor. “Usually there are matching arm bands for fine pieces like this.” Be’in opened a smaller box closest to where Lord Fatel had lifted the necklace box, and sure enough, there were four bands in the pearl-like material, all swirling color. “Why are there four?” “Two for your ankles. You are meant to walk barefoot in this dress.” “One more box goes with this outfit.” Lord Fatel handed her a very small box. Kaya opened it to find a string of the long pearls connected to fabric. She wasn’t sure what she was looking at, so she asked what it was. Be'in blushed heavily. She almost whispered, “You may call them underwear, my lady.” It was then Kaya’s turn to blush. **** Be’in and J’Halle bathed and dressed Kaya after the mountain of gifts was opened. They again pulled her auburn hair back away from her face, allowing ringlets of curls to fall from the back. J’Halle had found pearl combs in the basket that had been supplied when Kaya arrived. They dusted a white sparkling translucent powder to her face and put on minimal makeup, except for a hint of blue and pink around her eyes. They dressed her in the wonderful fabric and helped her into her “underwear” which would be the end of Kaya she was sure. They added the beautiful jewelry to her neck, arms, and ankles and then turned her into the mirror. Kaya stood almost in tears again. She had never felt beautiful in her life until she had come here. This place must hold some kind of magic over her; there was no other reason for how good she felt when looking into the mirror. She gathered up her wits and exited the bathroom into her bedroom. Lord Fatel was waiting on the bed, looking lost in thought. His mouth dropped open a bit when she came into the room, and he slowly rose to his full height. He could not take his eyes from her. For the first time, she did not see the lust in his eyes, there was something different there that she could not understand. He took her hand and led her through the door to the outside. Almost instantly, the pearls of the underwear rubbed against her pubis, almost making it impossible to walk comfortably. She noticed instant pleasure from simply walking. She also found pleasure in walking barefoot, she despised shoes, and always had, and being able to walk unfettered was a joy in itself. She just hoped she would not come across any unforeseen obstacles to her feet. As they walked down the street, she again felt the hundreds of eyes on her, but this time, they did not bother her like before. She held her head high, daring them to say she was anything but beautiful. Lord Fatel seemed to notice her change in attitude, and seemed even he stood up taller with a large grin on his face. They traveled in the opposite direction of Meet’s shop, towards all the beautifully colored houses that lined the street she saw from the hall. The scents of all the exquisite flowers hit her before she even clearly saw the first flower. Children played along the street and they, along with the parents who gathered by doors and windows, all stopped to look at the curious Earth woman walking down their street. Some of the young children were even taller than Kaya, she noted, almost with a laugh. She had been this height since she was eleven, and was not in the habit of being

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dwarfed by children, even when she was a child. She noticed many more smiles coming from the people she passed this time around, or maybe it was her imagination coupled with her new attitude. Maybe it was just the pleasure of the pearls at her nether lips that made everything look happy in her mind. The pleasure she was receiving was overwhelming. Because almost every incident she had experienced since coming to this planet had been overwhelming, especially those of a sexual nature, she just went with the flow and wondered where she would end up. Lord Fatel stopped in front of a large building near the end of the road. It was very old looking, and fashioned of old gray stone. He explained to her that it was what they used for a library. He shepherded her inside and a rush of stale, cool air hit her as she entered the door. Libraries must all be the same, no matter what planet you were on. The elderly man who seemed to work in the building nodded warmly and once Lord Fatel quietly asked the man for what Kaya wanted to see, he ushered them to a smaller room off the main hall. Kaya and Lord Fatel sat at a long trestle table in the center of the room awaiting the material the librarian brought. After a few minutes, the older gentleman came in with a cart full of books and what looked like computer screens. He told them the older documents were bound in book form and asked them both if they were familiar with a book. Kaya laughed and said that she was quite familiar. The librarian smiled in delight, and then handed them the screens and books, laying them across the long table. Kaya had a lot of reading ahead of her. “Is there any one piece that summarizes all of this material in any way?” She asked the librarian before he left them alone in the room. “Yes, my lady,” he shuffled back towards the table and sorted through the books and screens until he found the screen he wanted. He handed it to her, “this is the report turned into the Emperor once the researchers had gathered most of the information on the Earth experiment. It should give you an overall description of most of the data, and give you a spot to start from.” He smiled again, and it was contagious. She smiled back warmly at the man before he turned to leave them. “Well, here goes nothing.” Kaya turned on the screen after Lord Fatel showed her how to use it, and she began her arduous duty of gathering information on the Ishadarians. Hopefully what she found here would help her make a very hard decision. **** After hours at the library, Kaya’s neck was in pain and she had only managed to get through 50 pages of the dreadfully boring material on the first screen of the report to the Emperor, and there were 120 more pages to go. Kaya looked up to see Lord Fatel engrossed in another screen, looking as handsome as ever. She smiled, and thought that four hours sitting here reading was plenty. “Can we ‘check-out’ material?” “Do you mean take the items with you?” “Yes.” “Some screens, yes. Being that these are research materials, I am not sure. We will have to ask.” Lord Fatel looked as tired as she did. Fortunately, the librarian, Eetu was smitten with her and allowed her to take the screen home, as long as she promised to bring it back in a couple of days, adding the

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Daya N’goul of the General was always welcome to come back. She promised to bring it back with another grateful smile to the warm man and they exited the building to feel the warm afternoon sun on them. They walked back, Kaya again feeling the effects of her underwear and walking with difficulty. By the time they arrived back to Kaya’s room, she was nearly at orgasm from the pearls. “My lady, you look faint, are you alright?” a nervous J’Halle asked. “I am fine, but did we not open a gown for sleeping?” J’Halle nodded her assent. “Please start a bath for me. The library was dusty and I feel tired. A bath might relax me and then I would like to dress in the sleeping gown.” “Yes, my lady.” J’Halle exited to the bathroom with a smile on her face. “Well, Princess, you are definitely getting used to having lady’s maids at your beck and call.” “Was I being too demanding?” Kaya shuddered, realizing that was the first time she had ordered her maids to do anything. It had just come out with no thought, as if Kaya was used to being waited on by lady’s maids. “No, you performed brilliantly. And from the smile on J’Halle’s face, she was quite pleased as well.” “Why would she be pleased to be ordered around? I certainly wouldn’t.” “J’Halle and Be’in are artificial intelligence. They are programmed to serve and protect you. If you do not stay, they will have to be re-programmed for another. They want you to stay and be their lady, to boss them around and tell them what to do. J’Halle is obviously pleased you have begun to accept them in that role.” “They are robots?” “Well, not a ‘robot’, like you have in your American films. But an artificial life, nonetheless. I suppose the closest thing in your society is a robot, but most of what makes up the sisters is organic material.” “Amazing. So they actually want me to tell them what to do?” “Yes, and they have been wandering aimlessly around most of the day unsure what it is that they are supposed to do.” “Why didn’t you tell me sooner then?” She gave him an exasperated grunt and punched him playfully in the arm. “Maybe because you may not have accepted them before you got to know them a little. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable around them. They are highly sensitive to their lady’s emotions, so they would have known you were upset around them and they may have taken it to heart. Unlike your robots, these creatures are highly emotional and in severe cases when they were mistreated, they have ended their existence.” “Suicide? What will happen if I do not stay? Will that happen to them? They are both too special. I can’t have that on my conscious!” She was near hysterical by the end of the sentence. “Calm down Princess. They will be reprogrammed before they even know you are gone. We would not willingly let our creations end their existence. We don’t call it suicide since they are not born. They don’t die and are not killed.” “They are organic. They have feelings. Then they can die and they can be killed. Don’t try and explain away the truth of the matter to appease your own emotions.” Lord Fatel sighed heavily. “You sure are opinionated. Most of the time I like it,

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but at times it really is a pain.” “I am not here to be your entertainment, nor do I always have to agree with you.” “I didn’t say you had to agree, nor would I want you to. I like you just the way you are.” “Unfortunately, I think you like me too much.” “I have kept away from you today. I am trying to be a good boy.” “My lady, your bath is ready.” J’Halle was standing in the doorway to the bathroom. “Make sure it stays that way, my lord.” Kaya gave Lord Fatel an evil glare and left him to take her bath.

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Chapter Six Kaya was in heaven in the bath, feeling all the knots in her neck and back release as J’Halle and Be’in bathed her and rubbed her shoulders for her. Never raised in such luxury, Kaya was definitely becoming quite accustomed to it. After her bath, Be’in brushed her hair and tied it in something of a braid down her back. They dressed her in the white gauze-like sleeping dress that was voluminous, yet as all the others were, sheer. She stepped out of the bathroom to find that she was alone save for her lady’s maids. J’Halle exited to bring her a platter of foods for dinner. The sun was just starting its descent, meaning it was just late afternoon. She could not wait for dark to sleep and hopefully see her dream man again. J’Halle brought in the sumptuous tray of steaming breads and vegetables, along with a small amount of something that tasted like chicken. Kaya laughed to herself, See, even on other planets things tasted like chicken. She smiled with that, and slowly ate her meal. There were three more hours until the sun set, so she could read for a couple more hours, at least this time propped up on a pillow or on the super soft bed. So that is what she did, she read more of the Emperor’s report; propped up on a pillow in the soft bed. She read about 20 more pages of the boring, blustering report, which was distressing considering her curiosity about the subject matter and she loved to read as well. She felt sorry for the author of the report if he could not even make fascinating information appealing to read about. Soon enough, the sun began its descent, and Kaya could not wait to get to sleep. She moved the screen to the side table, and before the sun had even finished hiding for the day, Kaya was sound asleep. **** “Kaya?” Kaya opened her eyes as soon as she heard his voice. “Yes…Besh?” “Yes, my flower. I have been waiting all day to see you. I could not wait to finish my day so I could sleep and see you again.” “I could not wait either.” She looked at him; still not seeing his face clearly, which still troubled her. She stared, trying to gather her courage. “I know you said they think I am the cause to these dreams, but I am unsure. Is this some sort of spell?” “Why do you ask?” “The small flower you placed in my hair?” “Yes?” “It was there when I awoke this morning.” “I know.” “How do you know?” Then all of a sudden, it occurred to her, “Lord Fatel?” He paused, as if trying to think of something to say. “What?” “Lord Fatel told you of the flower in my hair?” “Of course.” He let out a deep sigh and stepped closer to the bed and sat down on the edge. “I don’t know how this is happening or why. Maybe you have cast the spell.

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Are you a witch?” “Absolutely not!” She said with incredulity, a smile on her lips. He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “My flower, I don’t think you a witch, but you have definitely put a spell on me.” “Good, I wouldn’t want to have to beat you for a comment like that.” “But I sure would like you to try,” he said with a smile in his voice and then pulled her closer to him. His nude body shone in the moonlight, as did hers. She was almost disappointed that she was nude; having worn the sleeping gown he had bought for her just for him, she had wanted to show off. “Thank you for my breathtaking clothes and the stunning jewelry. I was wearing the sleeping gown to bed tonight, but it seems to have disappeared in my sleep.” He took her further into his arms and took her lips with his, “You are most welcome. A beautiful woman should have beauty surrounding her.” Kaya looked up into his face and even at this non-existent distance she could not see him clearly. His finely honed muscles and strong arms, she could see fine. The soft dark hairs that grew on his chest and the tight muscles of his chest, and the arrow of hair leading down to his massive erection, she could see just fine. “I still can’t see your face clearly.” “You shouldn’t be seeing me, nor I you. I can’t explain why we see each other, let alone why you can’t see my face. Do you see the rest of me?” “Yes, I see every detail of your body. Every single detail, down to the last hair, as long as it is below the neck. Above the neck, it is like you are distorted. Do you see all of me clearly?” “Yes, I see everything about you clearly. It could possibly be because prior to our seclusion, I have seen your face. I was in your café and had my helmet on, so you did not have the luxury of seeing me as well.” “I suppose that could be one answer.” She cuddled into his arms as he moved with her into her bed. He was warm and deliciously naked again. He pulled her head under his chin and again rubbed her back and arms and neck. She felt safer and more loved in his arms then she had ever felt in anyone else’s. And she knew nothing of this man. Nothing at all. “Besh?” “Yes, my flower?” “I know so little about you. I know you are a General in the army and that you saw me at my café the day I was abducted. I know you have some wealth if you consider my rooms and the gifts you have given me, not that wealth is something that matters to me. Even though we can’t explain why we are here together, why not use this time? I feel safe with you, but I can’t use that as a reason to stay.” They spent the next few hours discussing their likes, loves, and dislikes, finding they had much in common. He made her laugh and she him. They bonded in a special way, him only holding her in his arms while they talked. And the more they talked, the more she sunk into his arms. She wished she would never have to leave the spot she was in, feeling safe and loved by this mystery man who was now a little less a mystery. Once they realized the sun would be up soon, Besh slowly lowered himself so he was directly beside her in the bed. He caught her mouth again with his, and began running his hands down her body, paying special attention to her breasts. He kissed her

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with a longing she had not sensed before in him and he slowly forced his tongue into her mouth. He explored her mouth with his own, tasting her in such an intimate way, like it was their first kiss. His hands roamed the whole time, spreading heat throughout her body. Lust had changed somewhat. Was it love? It was too soon to tell, but she needed to let him know of the change in a special way. She pulled her lips from his and slowly descended his body, pushing him onto his back. She lay atop his legs looking at the huge erection pulsing at his hip. It was too large to ever be taken fully into her mouth without breaking her jaw, so she found other ways to taste and tempt him with her tongue. She started at the base of his sex and licked all the way to the bulbous head. He loudly groaned his approval of her exploration, and put his hand to her head, guiding her back to his staff. She grasped the base with both hands and started to move them up and down his length, all the while licking and suckling on the tip of the head. He was so large that she could barely fit the head into her mouth without pain. He was bucking his hips madly to the friction of her hands and the temptation of her lips and tongue on his penis. She gathered speed, and sensing he was coming close to the brink of orgasm, she engulfed as much of the head as she could into her mouth. That was all it took to have him spend into her mouth and free his seed down her throat. Kaya licked him clean; something she would never have done before to any of her other lovers. She smiled down at him as she sat up. Another point for the Ishadarians, their come was actually sweet and tasted like candy. Or maybe it was just the dream world they were in. He was still hugely erect even after his orgasm, and instead of release, he almost seemed more on fire to have more of her and her body. He grasped her by the waist and pulled her under him in one swift, strong pull. She instinctively opened her thighs to him, welcoming the weight of the man she cared for. He pulled his manhood to her slit, rubbing it against her wetness to ready him to enter her aching sex. Slowly, he pushed inside her, as Kaya moaned the entire time, until he was fully planted inside her. He paused a moment to enjoy the sensation of being fully encased in her hot sex, and to allow her a moment to stretch to fit him. Once he was sure she was comfortable, he began the slow in and out motion that would eventually bring her to a massive orgasm. He slowly built up speed, but not fast enough for her. She bucked against him, using her hands on his buttocks, trying to urge him to move faster. The rush of heat in her womb was rapidly growing, and she knew she needed him to pound his cock into her to fully realize release. She was not the type of woman who wanted slow and lazy lovemaking, but a fast wild ride. He took her cues and began an assault on her body. He pumped his engorged cock in and out of her body at a rapid pace. He bent his head and suckled one nipple, then the other, and back again. Besh could not get enough of those beautiful breasts, especially those breasts in his mouth. Kaya wrapped her hands into his hair, loving the attention her breasts were getting and sensing her orgasm was close, she used her other hand to rub her aching clitoris. Seeing her hand, he viciously pulled it away. She gave a moment’s pause to the harsh action until he replaced her hand with his own, rubbing the hard numb, all the while pumping hard into her sex and suckling her nipples.

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She opened her eyes to the room, only to see the sun begin to rise and peek through the windows of the balcony. She was so close and from his speed and power, she knew he was too. So close, she was almost there, almost there, almost there. The sunbeams hit his back and he was gone. **** Kaya opened her eyes and was immediately angered that she had been moments from orgasm when the damned infernal sun had rose and stolen her lover away. Damn it all to hell. She already could not wait until sunset. She rose and went to the bathroom to do her daily ablutions. She looked into the mirror and saw that she glowed. Her lips and breasts were abused and her sex raw. This definitely was no dream. No dream at all. But she was still pissed to have lost her lover to the awakening sun. She finished brushing her hair and washing her teeth and face before stepping out of the bathroom. She went to the balcony to see a delicious platter of food, and for the first time since she had arrived a week before, she had no appetite. She picked over the food. Lord Fatel walked onto the balcony and sat down at the table, picking a few bites of her mostly uneaten platter. He had a frown across his face, which was unusual for him. He was not Mr. Sunshine, but nor was he a sour puss, especially so close to her. “And what troubles Lord Fatel this morning?” “Nothing. I just did not sleep well last night. You don’t look your usual chipper self either. Rough night?” She blushed a little, and with her bad mood, got pissed that she blushed. “None of your business.” “I see you are in as bad a funk as I am this morning. How is it that we were becoming such friends, and yet as of late, you have been distant?” She sighed, knowing part of what he said was right. “Lord Fatel, you know what trouble lies ahead of you if we become too close. So the only way to save you was to push you away. I did not do it to hurt you, but to save you from the both of us.” “I have been a complete gentleman as of late, and have not even attempted seduction. It has taken every last bit of my control, but I have done it. I am simply your friend and teacher. Don’t push me away, I could not bare it.” She looked into his handsome face, and smiled. She wished his plea had not made her smile, but there was something about this man that she could not resist. “I will be your friend and your pupil, but nothing more. Deal?” “Deal.” He smiled. “Did you read any more of the report for the Emperor?” “A little, but I went to bed early.” He cocked his eyebrows and gave her a questioning look. “Don’t ask. Anyway, I have read about half of the report, but it is as boring as watching paint dry. So I think we need to head back to the library and look at more information.” “I was scared you were going to say that.” **** They spent the next couple of weeks searching the library for information about the experiment, about Ishadarian history, and the rules of Daya N’goul. The time was spent in quiet friendship, both pouring over books and vid screens, passing information

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along, as tidbits of interest were found. They grew closer as Fatel explained certain aspects of his world, and Kaya offered information about growing up on Earth and they explored the differences between their cultures. Sharing more about themselves, they grew to like each other for more than the intense chemistry they first felt upon meeting each other. Kaya then spent her nights in the arms of her lover Besh. She grew to love him even though she could not see his face clearly in the weeks spent in his arms. His care and concern for her body, mind and spirit showed up time and time again. When she wanted to talk, he would talk with her, sharing his dreams and desires. When she wanted his body he gave that as freely, giving her the most amazing sexual experiences she had ever had. She grew to love both these men in different ways, her friend and her lover, and realized she could not leave either of them. She had nothing really to hold her to Earth, and Besh had promised she could visit her few friends from time to time. Her business was her life, something she had given her heart and soul to for as long as she could remember. But that heart and soul wasn’t only hers any longer, and she knew she could not leave the love and warmth of Besh. The only stumbling block she had was voicing these feelings to Besh, without seeing him standing before her in the flesh. Her dreams were one thing, but she had to know the real Besh was the same man she had bared her soul to night after night before she could give herself completely to him. So on the night before she would finally meet Besh in reality, she decided to go ahead and tell him her choice of staying in their shared dream world, to see what his reaction would be to her. Before she could utter the words, he said the one thing that had her reconsidering her choice. As they lie in her bed, wrapped in each other’s arms after an amazing round of lovemaking, he gave her the bad news. “You cannot see your teacher again after tomorrow morning.” “What? Why would I knowingly choose to lose a friend?” “You are mine, and you have a choice to make. Come to me, walk away from him and this attraction the two of you share. Show me I am the man you want. If you want to share my life, my world with me, you will have to say your goodbyes to Lord Fatel in the morning.” “Does he know of this?” “Of course.” “Why did he not tell me?” “Because it was not his place to tell you, it was mine.” She was stunned into silence, her thoughts warring inside her. She loved Besh, but Lord Fatel was her friend and confidant. How would she navigate this new world without him? Sensing her fear, Besh pulled her closer to him. “One more thing, my flower. Tomorrow you cannot let on that we have met like this. When you see me, I am a stranger to you. We are not supposed to see each other before we Join and if they knew we had been meeting in dreams this whole month, then I’m not sure how they would feel about it.” “Fine. I understand.” Kaya said briskly. Besh tried to ignore her response to him, knowing she was obviously distraught at having to give up her friend, one of the only ones she had in this foreign land. But he had to know he was the reason she stayed, not her care for another man.

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Kaya rolled to her side, facing away from Besh, allowing him to pull her to his chest and wrap his arms and thigh over her. She would have normally have loved to have him spoon her so, as it was her favorite way to be held. She always felt so warm and loved, but tonight, all she felt was cold and alone. Numb. She needed time to think about how she could keep them both in her life. He pulled her closer and they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

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Chapter Seven The following morning dawned bright and beautiful. Kaya woke earlier than normal, having slept fitfully all night. Having spent most of the night going over her options. She was not ready to say goodbye to her only real friend on this world, but over the course of the night, she could not come up with a way to keep him with her. Forced to make a decision, she knew that either way, she would lose Lord Fatel, regardless of if she chose to stay in this alien world with the General or if she turned away and went back to Earth. She rose and started to take care of her morning ablutions, and heard her lady’s maids come in with breakfast. She walked out to the balcony and sat down before the sumptuous meal, but she had little appetite. She picked at her food for a few moments before dropping her head into her hands, feeling lost and alone for the first time in weeks. Lord Fatel walked out into the sun beside her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Are you ready to meet your General, Princess?” She whipped her head around to face him, anger simmering in her eyes, behind the shimmering of tears she had been on the brink of shedding. “Why didn’t you tell me that I would not be allowed to see you after this morning?” “Because after this morning you will have your General and you will not need me anymore. What is the point of continuing?” “I thought you were my friend? I have confided in you while I was here and you pointedly asked me not to push you away weeks ago when I tried to save your worthless hide. I will miss not having you to talk to each day. And you are telling me I mean absolutely nothing to you? Well, then if that’s the case I am glad I won’t have to see you after today.” She hadn’t wanted to sound like an insolent child, but regardless, she did. Fatel sighed heavily trying to hide the beginnings of a grin at her tone and her apparent care for him. It wasn’t missed. “Princess, don’t pout. You are my friend, and I love seeing you each morning in all your splendor. But believe me, once you meet your General, you will not miss me at all. You are just afraid of what is to come” Tears glimmered in her eyes at what he said and she knew he was probably right about her fear of her future. It didn’t mean it made her goodbye to him any easier. After a hug that lasted longer than it should, Lord Fatel pulled her face into his large warm hands and kissed her on her nose, her cheek and kissed the tears away from her eyes. They said their goodbyes and he pulled away to leave her for good. He looked over his shoulder as he walked towards the door and smiled, “You will always be my Princess.” Smiling as a tear rolled down her cheek, Kaya stood there watching, even when he was gone from her sight. He had been right about how she felt this morning, especially about the fear of what was to come. She had never seen Besh’s face, not that looks were the most important thing to her, but what if her dream Besh was much different than the real Besh. What if the dreams had only truly been in her mind and he was a vicious nasty man who would make her life hell? She sat back down to finish her breakfast, but her mind was still too preoccupied to eat a single bite.

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Her mind ran rampant at the thoughts of what if, so she pushed out of the chair as she rose from the table and stalked into the bedroom, where J’Halle and Be’in were laying out one of the more stunning dresses Besh had bought her. It was two pieces of a perfect periwinkle blue sheer silk, the first wrapped around her upper torso like a mummy and the second rode low on her hips and flowed open to her feet. The maids bathed and readied her with much more dramatic touches than she had ever been prepared. Every inch of her was scrubbed and the maids even washed the inside of her sex with a special nozzle on the tub she had never even noticed before. Her flowing auburn locks were piled high on her head and a gold half headdress was placed around her face. Golden beads were braided here and there through the hair and gold dust was spread on her entire body, not just her face, neck and arms like before. She looked into the mirror and was so numb with fear she did not realize how stunning she actually looked. A heavy golden necklace, filled with all types of gemstones was hung around her neck. Gold arm, wrist, and ankle bands were added. Heavy earrings were added. The earrings were not like those on Earth, these were golden wires that curved and curled into a shell-like shape and covered her entire earlobe. Gems were threaded here and there on the shape and those gems matched the heavy necklace she wore. The beautiful silk was wrapped around her body and she was given a pair of gemencrusted panties to step into. These, fortunately, only had gems on the front, to cover her mound, and not on the path between her legs. Thankfully she would be able to walk normally when meeting the General. And her feet were left pleasantly bare. She looked at the finished product in the mirror and even though she was more beautiful then she had ever looked, all she could feel was the pain of losing Lord Fatel and her nervous stomach that felt almost as if she could wretch. J’Halle added one last item after she viewed herself, a sheer veil that attached to the top of the headdress and its bottom rested on her breastbone, covering her face from view. She was so close to tears, but she refused to ruin Be’in and J’Halle’s hard work, so she took several calming breaths and turned to exit her dressing room. When Kaya walked out, a woman dressed almost as exquisitely as she greeted her. “I am the General’s sister, Sigh. I will escort you to his chamber for you to meet him and make your choice known to our family. Whether you will accept him or not.” Kaya stood like a statue, unable to move. The tall beautiful woman standing in front of her began to stare at her with curiosity. “Are you unwell? Or are you afraid?” “Afraid.” Kaya whispered, almost too low for Sigh to hear. The woman stepped closer to her, grasped her hands, and smiled down at her. “How do you Earthlings say? Hmm…He won’t…bite.” Kaya laughed quietly and smiled at the warmth this woman was showing her. Sigh squeezed her hands. “Why don’t we go see the General now?” They left her rooms and entered the open hall, but instead of walking down the stairs towards the street, they turned left into another open hallway, this one open to a courtyard garden in full bloom below them. The riot of color was spectacular and Kaya had wished she had seen this part of the building long before now. They turned right down another hallway and entered a large open space filled with people. Kaya instantly felt self conscious of the audience around her, feeling like she was the morning’s entertainment for these eyes staring at her. She bent her head down shyly, even though

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she wore the veil and was effectively hidden from these people, and let Sigh move her to the front of the room. As she approached the front of the room, she realized there was a man standing at the front as well, also with a sheer veil covering his face. It must be him, she thought to herself. He was not wearing a shirt, but had loose white pants riding low on his hips and gracefully floated to the floor to his bare feet. She noticed the same height and build she remembered from her dreams as well as the muscular arms, chest and stomach. His body was glistening with the same gold dust that covered her body and she noticed he was squeezing his hands closed and open and closed again. It touched her for some reason that he seemed as nervous as she was, and allowed some of her fear to subside. But only some. Her butterflies still whirled around quite effectively. Finally, she was moved beside him, turned to face him, with her side to the crowd beside them. A man that was obviously a religious figure came forward between them, similar to a wedding ceremony. Kaya felt like she was suddenly trapped, about to do something she did not want to do. Besh grabbed her hand as he noticed she had slowly backed away. She heard him huskily whisper, ”He will only bless the meeting, do not worry.” It was the same voice she had heard each night in her dreams. And that calmed her. He dropped her hand, the man between them began speaking in a language that Kaya did not understand, but felt lulled by it at the same time. He then sprinkled both their heads with a glittering substance and smiled at them both. A murmur went through the crowd behind them, the crowd that had been eerily quiet through the short ceremony. Besh moved his hands towards the end of her veil, and slowly he lifted it over her head and removed it from her circlet. An audible sigh left his lips once he stepped back and looked at her. She stood looking at him, not exactly knowing what to do, or if she was even supposed to. Damn Lord Fatel, he had never told her about the meeting ceremony, just the joining ceremony. After a few more moments, Besh evidently realized she was not sure what she should do and grasped her hands and placed them at the hem of his veil. She slowly pulled the veil off his face, instinctively closing her eyes as she was doing it. She stood there with her eyes closed and his veil in her hands. She heard him chuckle quietly under his breath. Realizing she was being silly, she laughed too. She opened her eyes slowly and her knees went out from under her. His strong arms grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him. “I know I told you I would never tire of holding you, but this is getting ridiculous,” he whispered into her ear and winked down at her. “Lord Fatel?” She whispered back to him. “Yes?” “Why? What?” “Remember what I told you Princess. I am a stranger to you. Do not give away our little secret.” She glanced around the room at the questioning faces in the room. She shrugged and faced them, “Stress.” And she pulled away from Besh, having a multitude of questions to ask him. She looked at him, wondering what she was to do next. A loud murmur ran through the crowd, and they moved back to make a path for someone. When Kaya looked across the room, she saw an elegant man and woman

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stalking towards her and her dream lover on the slightly raised dais. Members of the crowd began to bow as they passed and Kaya wondered if this was the Emperor she had heard so much about from Lord Fatel…from Besh. Her head hurt from trying to connect the two men into one body. The couple stopped at the base of the dais. “So, General Besh Et Fatel, this is your Earth woman you choose to Join with?” “Yes, Your Excellency, it is. This is Kaya Turner. She will hopefully choose to become my life partner.” Besh turned to face Kaya with a hopeful look on his face. “Well, woman,” the Emperor turned to Kaya,” will you have this man or not?” Kaya was not prepared to answer yet; she had not had time to think. She loved Besh, but she was angry that he had lied to her as Lord Fatel, but she was afraid if she spurned him now, she might lose the chance forever. “Yes, I will have General Besh Et Fatel as my life partner.” She stressed the last words, with a quirk of her brow to show him that his ruse was not appreciated. He smiled and looked away, trying to ignore her obvious ire. “Well, it is about time that someone had him, he should have been Joined years ago. He is the most obstinate, bullheaded man I have ever met, so expect to have your hands very full.” “I am sure I will have my hands quite full.” “But not too full to not give me the grandchildren I demand.” WHAT? Kaya’s knees almost gave out once more. Besh pulled her close and supported her weight, noticing her stumble once more. “Grandchildren?” She whispered. She was not prepared to be shocked again so soon after finding her life partner was her friend she thought she would have to lose. “What? Didn’t your teacher tell you that you were marrying the heir to the Empire?” “NO. My teacher did NOT tell me I was marrying the heir to the Empire.” Oh, was she going to kill him when they were finally alone, which she hoped was quite soon before she exploded. “Well, my dear, we expect you at dinner sometime this week. We are only here for the week to attend your Joining Ceremony and we will be going back to Hara D’Noll,” the Empress spoke finally, laying her hand on Kaya’s arm and casting a warm smile down at her. Kaya returned the smile just as affectionately, glad that everyone had welcomed her here with such affection. The Emperor and Empress nodded and turned back and stalked towards the doors, the crowd again bowing as the pair passed, and then falling in behind them and leaving the room empty, all but for Kaya and Besh. Once they were completely alone, Kaya turned with venom in her eyes. “I cannot believe you! Why didn’t you tell me instead of carrying on that you were two different people? And if you were not allowed to see me for a month, then how come you were my teacher? Was that some ploy to get me to let my guard down? Dammit man, stop laughing at me and answer my questions!” Kaya stomped her foot on the floor, even more enraged at the wide smile on his face. Besh grabbed her at her upper arms and yanked her into his arms, holding her there tightly as she pushed away in anger. “I told you that you were my Princess. No, I did not tell you that you were actually going to be a Princess or that I was the heir to the Empire. And yes, I broke the law by being your teacher, which is why I made a point of

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asking you to treat me like a stranger, which you did very poorly I might add. And maybe it was a ploy to get you to let your guard down. I hadn’t thought of it in that light. I hoped that by getting to know me that you would say yes when my veil was removed today, given that I knew there was no way you would say yes to a total stranger.” “And the dreams?” “That…I still do not know how that happened. And to be honest, it scares me a little to know you can get into my dreams so easily. What if I am mad at you and want to get away from you? You’ll just pop into my dreams to nag at me in my sleep. Maybe I should have a choice in this Joining decision. Why wasn’t I asked if I would take you?” His smiling face belied his true meaning; he was trying to piss her off even more, laughing the entire time. She slugged him in the arm, but for the huge wall of muscle, it might as well have been her hitting a brick wall. But it did make her feel better, so she did it again. “Your father was right. You are an obstinate, bullheaded man and I believe I need to re-think my answer.” “I won’t let you”, he growled, as he took her mouth with his, plunging his tongue into her mouth, claiming her as his own. He pulled her even closer to his chest, nearly crushing her in his desire to have her. He grabbed her hips and pulled her thighs around his waist, walking towards the nearest wall and slamming her body into it, grinding his groin into her pelvis. His massive erection was painfully rubbing against her mound, and the heat that was rushing through her body had caused her to break out into a sweat that caused a fine sheen on her skin. “Besh…not...here…stop….not here,” she begged between kisses. He looked around and saw no one. “No one is around, no one will see. This is my private chamber, no one should enter without my requiring it. And in the event that someone did come in, let them see our passion. I need to be inside you.” Pulling away slightly, he lifted her skirts, pulling her gem-covered panties down, rubbing his groin against her thigh. “Kaya, I must have you now. If I don’t, I think I will explode.” “We cannot be together until tomorrow.” “I can’t wait that long.” “But the laws? I will not have you harmed.” “I think I have broken enough laws so far that one more will not be a problem. I MUST HAVE YOU NOW.” He opened a flap on his pants, not even bothering to take them off and he pushed the bulbous tip of his cock inside her labia. She felt a stabbing pain she was not prepared for. He had never hurt her before. “Kaya,” he spit out through gritted teeth, “Please tell me you used the b’itakke to stretch yourself.” “With all our nightly lovemaking, I never felt pain, so I assumed I could take you without stretching myself. I haven’t used them in weeks.” “Dammit woman. We have never made love. Not really. Those were dreams, not real. I am going to hurt you.” His whole body vibrated with desire, yet he moved to back away in fear of hurting her. She grabbed him close and rubbed herself against him, wanting to feel him inside her, pushing down on his cock, trying to get him deeper inside. “No, you will not hurt me. I need to feel you rooted deep inside me. Please….”

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He closed his eyes and murmured what sounded almost like a prayer. He then began to slowly push his huge erection inside the walls of her sex. The edge of pleasurable pain rocked through her body and she stiffened. He paused, scared of hurting her more. “No, please…I need you,” she said to him in gasps, trying to breathe and think at the same time, pulling him closer so he would not retreat from her. He pulled out, and she cried out, not wanting to lose his warmth from her body. He lowered her down the wall to her feet, as she tried to climb back up his massive frame, needing him now as much as he needed her. “No, Kaya, I will not hurt you. I need to prepare you for me,” he said as he lowered his body down hers and then rested on his bottom in front of her. He ran one hand over her mound and licked his lips. “I need to taste you and make you wetter for me than you have ever been. I need to relax these muscles so I can enter you with less pain.” He licked his lips once again before he drew them to her sex. Before he moved his mouth, he inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with her scent. A shiver went through Kaya and her nipples beaded even harder than they had been moments prior. Besh then moved his lips, licking her mound, just above her clit, teasing her. He laid kisses along her outer lips, purposely avoiding where she needed him most. She dug her fingers through his hair, trying to guide his head, but his strength was too much and he only chuckled against her skin. She groaned in frustration and he immediately suckled her clit into his mouth. The unexpected move made her knees weaken. Besh grasped her thighs and slid them to his shoulders, resting her weight on him. Floating above him, resting against the wall, riding his wicked mouth, which was dragging her clit deeply into his mouth with her hands tugging his hair…she was in heaven. Her mind centered on one thing, the pleasure he was giving her. Besh raised one hand to her pussy and slid one of his big fingers in, stretching her, matching the rhythm of his suckling mouth. She gasped at the intrusion and felt her own moisture leak down her inner thighs. Besh then added another finger, thrusting deeply into her, making her cry out. She felt the fire building within her rapidly, feeling him stretch her, readying her for his invasion of her body. Finally he added a third massive finger, and the burn it caused made the first wave of orgasm crash through her. She screamed her passion out as wave after wave rolled through her body. Besh continued to nibble her and thrust his fingers inside her, drawing every ounce of pleasure from her body. Once it subsided, she could barely catch her breath, and she felt wetness on her face. Raising her hand to her face, she realized the dampness she felt was her own tears. He had brought her so much satisfaction, she had actually cried in truth from it. Besh looked up at her with love in his eyes, and she knew at that moment he would spend the rest of their lives together giving her everything in his heart. The knowledge melted the last wall in her heart and she slid down the wall, so she could be in his arms. Pushing her back onto the floor, Besh quickly rolled over to pin her under his frame. He pushed himself between her thighs, rubbing his erection against her. He looked down into her face, catching her gaze in his intense one. “I love you, Kaya.” Her heart stopped beating for a moment. Even though she had known he cared deeply for her, even in such a small amount of time, and she knew from the looks in his eyes, that love was growing there. But to actually hear the admission meant the world to

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her. Tears moistened her eyes. He kissed her forehead, and hugged her to him. They lay there like that for some time, until Kaya felt his erection stiffen even more between them. Wanting to feel him in her hand, she lowered her hand between them and began to stroke him. She felt his intake of breath and his whole body stiffened in his desire. “Kaya….I cannot hurt you, yet I can’t seem to pull away from you either. But I will not cause you pain.” “Not making love to me now would hurt me.” Besh rose up on his arms and looked down at her. She used her other hand to rub against his face, his neck, his chest, and then grasped his cock, pulling it towards her channel. She was incredibly wet for him, and with his loving play earlier; she knew she could take him inside her with no pain. Besh centered himself between her legs, and raised one of her legs to his shoulder as he slowly pressed the tip inside her again. It did not burn as it had the first time, and he sensed she was not struggling, so pressed in further. He slid out a fraction and then began to push in a little more. The feeling was so intense; she could not make out a coherent thought. He was stretching her pussy beyond the point of anything she had ever experienced, the pleasure/pain sensation almost more than she could endure. “Are you alright?” “Yes…please, Besh. Give me all of you.” He pushed deeper and after a few moments, he was fully rooted inside her sex. Tears filled her eyes. “I have hurt you.” “No, this is the first time I have truly had you inside me. After all our nights making love, this is the first. This is so much better than any of those, and they were the most intense moments of lovemaking I have ever engaged in. You give me nothing but pleasure, as you are now. It doesn’t hurt; it is pure pleasure slicing through me.” His groan sounded more like a growl at her words and he began moving slowly inside her. The motions almost made her dizzy, and she sensed her orgasm was not far away, as it became difficult for her to breathe. Besh kissed her forehead and the top of her head, his height preventing him from doing more in the position they were in. She wouldn’t want it any other way; the pleasure inside was overwhelming. After a while, he began to pump in and out of her at a faster pace, and sensing his orgasm was coming soon, she began working her hips harder, matching the rough pace he set. Kaya placed her hands above her along the smooth wall, trying to get additional leverage so she could move her body along with his and heighten his sensation. He moaned deep in his throat, evidently finding more pleasure in her motions. They were grinding together at breakneck speed, both speeding towards their own release, aiding in each other’s pleasure. Finally with a howl and a scream, they both came violently together. Besh continued to hold her, breathing heavily, unable to move from the position. Kaya lay limply in his arms, also trying to gain her breath. He rested his forehead on top of hers and pulled her tightly to him. “I so love you Kaya.”

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Chapter Eight Kaya awoke the next morning feeling more rested than she had in a long time. The weeks of lovemaking in her dreams had taken a lot out of her and she almost didn’t want to admit how nice it had been to just get a good night’s sleep. Even on the nights they had not made love in her dreams, they had talked all night, not giving her time to get good sleep. Not that she would have turned Besh away in the night, but after the hard, up-against-the-wall sex they had engaged in the day before, and the fact they would Join today, her worn out body needed the rest. She sat up in bed as J’Halle walked in carrying her breakfast tray, with Be’in traveling close behind, her arms laden with boxes. Kaya rose from bed and walked to the balcony for her meal, sat at the table and stretched in the warming sun. She had not been happier in a long time. She began picking at her breakfast as her maids began preparing her bath and fussing around her rooms. When Kaya was done, she walked back into the bedroom, only to find the most beautiful material she had ever seen lain out on the bed. A material, similar to lace, but extremely more intricate and delicate, and was obviously made of the same silky thread most of her other gowns had been made of. It was white, iridescent and shimmered like light. She realized it was a sheer skirt and looked around for the top for the skirt. Be’in, reading her mind said, “There is no top…the traditional jeweled necklace will cover your neck, shoulders, and most of your breast. Your crown is beautiful as well; it just arrived this morning. In the nick of time, I might add.” So the women bathed and pampered her like never before. They massaged all her muscles, relaxing her and washing every inch of her body, inside and out. They then coated her skin in delicious smelling oil, making her skin shine. They did her hair simply, pulling it back from her face slightly, only to add her crown. It was shaped like an ember of fire, only in a golden metal, with gems incrusted here and there and surrounded her face from below her cheek to below the other cheek. J’Halle let her hair loose and it gathered down her back. They then dusted her again with a translucent glittering powder, all over her body and face. A glittering gem encrusted necklace, if you could call it that, was pulled up to her neck and fastened in the back. It was almost as large as a poncho, and would cover almost half of her upper body. The heavy object came up to her chin, fell across her shoulders and indeed went nearly across her breasts, just barely exposing half of each nipple, ending at a vee in the middle of her abdomen. The necklace was thousands upon thousands of gems, mostly consisting of the diamond and pearl like gems she had seen before, but the smaller pale pink and pale blue gems littered it here and there as well. A large teardrop shaped pearl-like gem dangled from the point of the vee, almost grazing her belly button. The wonderful white skirt was hung low on her slim hips and floated gracefully to the floor, billowing around her bare feet and was completely sheer. Her sex was more visible in this skirt then it had ever been before. Pearl-like cuffs were added to her upper arms, wrists and ankles, and she was

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complete. She stepped in front of the mirror, and wondered if she would ever get used to the face she saw in it. Kaya had never considered herself beautiful, yet here, on this world, she was. She wondered if it was the woman she had become or the love of a strong man. Perhaps, it was a little of both. Sigh walked in, looking stunning in her pale yellow dress. Kaya smiled at her and Sigh grasped her hands. “Are you ready?” “Yes,” she released on the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. **** Besh stood in front of his mirror the same time Kaya stood in front of hers. He stared and thought of how good it would be to be able to claim this woman. She would be his completely this day and forever. He was still unsure of her feelings for him, she had not returned his vows of love to her yesterday, but considering how far his Earthling had come in a month, he was confident he could have her love soon enough. There was a knock on the door and he turned towards it, “Enter.” Dar Jin peeked inside the doorframe as he opened the door ever so slightly. “Sir, are you ready to go to the Great Hall for the ceremony?” “Just about Dar, please come in. I could use the company.” He needed to speak to this man, to find out what he was about. “A case of nerves from the General with ice in his veins?” “No, no nerves. More impatience. I am ready to Join and if I don’t have her soon, I may explode. And ice in my veins? I am not so cold am I?” “Not cold. More unmovable. In all my years of warring with you, I have seen very little that makes you show emotion. And for that, the men call you the Iceman. This woman makes you wear your love on your sleeve. It is a little odd to see you rattled by this little woman.” “Is it that noticeable…how I feel for her? I thought I was reining it in very well.” “Sir, I have seen men go crazy while in Daya N’goul. I have seen them spout poetry, sing horribly, climb walls, and do some of the most foolish acts imaginable. You have not gone over any lines where you should feel ashamed of your actions. But anyone who knows you, the Iceman, knows she has affected you. I spoke to you in the hall yesterday and I am sure you did not even see or hear what I said to you.” Besh turned his head towards his Lieutenant and asked, “When was this?” “Yesterday. After you made love to your woman.” Shock spoke volumes on Besh’s face. He had not thought they would be witnessed in his chambers, but he had not cared if they were because he could not have stopped even if there had been a hundred people still standing in the room. What concerned him now was the fact that his subordinate was telling him he had witnessed it. Why was this man trying to unsettle him? What did it achieve but to anger him and show his contempt, as well as forewarn Besh that he could no longer trust his brother’s best friend. “See, I try to make you blush and I cannot even achieve that. I thought I would get some type of reaction from that.” “Dar, what is on your mind?” “What do you mean General? We were friends before I was your Lieutenant. I thought our friendship would allow me the chance for a little joke. I believe the Earthlings call it “picking on you”. I meant no harm of course.”

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The comment still unsettled Besh, and he stepped away from the man to again look into the mirror. “I suppose it is about time to go.” Could his comments only be a form of a joke in bad taste? He thought not, Dar was up to something. Besh’s lust has been reduced by his concern over his friend’s comments, but he would not allow this man to ruin his Joining Ceremony with the woman he loved. **** Kaya walked into the same hall were she had agreed to be Besh’s life partner. This time, familiar faces filled the room again, all of which were wearing white and gold. This time on the raised dais there was a sheer white curtain that encircled the whole round stage. She could see Besh standing behind the curtain, as well as the same religious figure as well. Besh stood nude and totally erect behind the curtain, his gloriously muscled body held taut, his desire to have her almost a palpable emotion in the air. He was waiting to make her his and everyone in the room knew the height of his passion for her. As she approached the dais, she spied the large round pillow that would act as a bed for the Joining ceremony and for the first time today she wondered if she could go through with the ceremony. She was not the type of woman to have sex in front of a crowd, and even though they would not be there for the entire act she was quite nervous. She hoped the curtain would shield more than she expected it to, but maybe with it, she would not see the faces peering up at them. She noticed that the Emperor and Empress were sitting in the front of the room, just before the dais, which only made her more nervous. Kaya understood that this was an act that all Ishadarians went through at some point in their lives, and that it was considered cultural, but she was having the biggest case of jitters she had ever had in her life. Sigh stepped up the two steps that led to the dais along with Kaya and held open the sheer curtains to help her enter the small space. She instantly locked eyes with Besh and her heart flipped in her chest. His pale blue gaze held her locked and the rest of the world ceased to exist. Being beside him she barely heard the ceremony begin. “Ni hiza e toba…Ge ta nom de hiza. Yobe ne hiza e fuire…” Besh kneeled down on the pillow, sat, and held out his hand to her. “Ni suit e toba..Ge ta nom de suit. Yobe ne suit e fuire...” Besh pulled her down to the pillow with him and pulled her onto his lap, causing her legs to straddle his thighs and the head of his erect penis rested on her stomach. She rested her hands on his shoulders and placed her forehead on his chin. “Ni suit e hiza ge ta nom d’hiza suit. Yobe cooh ta fiure.” Besh lifted Kaya slightly, pulling the skirt that barely covered her sex further apart, allowing him full excess to her mound. He felt her wetness around her sex with one finger, testing if she was ready, and then pushed the head of his penis between the folds of her sex, barely entering her vagina. “Qi sig. Fiure pas, fuire yue. Suit d’ hiza.” Besh drove up inside her passage in one swift slide. He rested, fully planted into her sex. He stopped, pulled her upper body into his chest and held on tight, like he was scared she would pull away. The religious figure began to chant and he lit a small fire in

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a bowl in his left hand, and began swirling the bowl in the air around them, smoke billowing around their bodies. Sweat had begun to cover all of Besh’s body and he was trembling all over, as they were not allowed to move until the blessing was complete and the cleric and the attendees had left the hall. The power and control Besh was displaying was incredible, especially when she looked into his face and saw that he was close to snapping that control. The blessing took almost 20 minutes, where neither could move, and had to stay firmly planted together. Before it was over, Kaya was barely grinding her hips, so turned on by having him deeply seated inside her sex that she found it impossible to not move and create the delicious friction that would bring her body to orgasm, hopefully with his following. Besh, already nearly at his breaking point, growled at her deep in his throat, warning her to stop. She looked him in the eyes and felt it the minute his control snapped. He grabbed her ass with both hands and dove ever so much deeper inside her. She screamed out and she heard a murmur run through the crowd. Besh stopped, growls coming from deep inside his chest. The cleric seemed to understand their need for completion and he seemed to rush his words ever so slightly, even though Kaya had no idea what it was that the man was saying. The cleric placed ashes from the bowl on his thumb and wiped a mark onto Kaya’s forehead from side to side. He smiled warmly at Kaya and intoned, “Kaya e D’Hanna, D’Hanna Et Fatel. Ni suit de D’Hanna,” And then whispered quietly that only she and Besh could hear, “Blessed be Princess D’Hanna, blessed be.” The cleric then turned to the crowd and bellowed to the crowd, “All hail Princess D’Hanna. D’Hanna Et Fatel.” A murmur traveled through the crowd and then in unison they spoke, “All hail Princess D’Hanna Et Fatel.” Finally, now that they both thought they would die from the torture, the ceremony was over. The cleric exited the curtain, spoke a line to the crowd, the crowd cheered and clapped, as they began to exit the room. The Emperor and Empress beamed at the two of them and turned to go. As the last members of the crowd exited the room, Besh grabbed her ass once more and began pumping inside her with a furiosity that had never been matched before in any of their lovemaking. Besh was pumping madly into her passage, licking and biting her neck and ears, and circling his hands over her plump rear, using her backside to push her down harder and allowing him deeper entry. His huge cock stretched her and filled her as no man had before, nor would ever again. She realized at that moment that this man was hers forever, that he loved her and only wanted her pleasure, and those thoughts coupled with the delicious torture to her body pushed her over the brink, waves of her orgasm building from her core and spread through her to her fingers and toes. She screamed out, the intensity of the experience overwhelming her. Besh continued to pump viciously into her channel, until moments later he found release, screaming his love for her, dumping his seed deep into her womb. It was then that protection came to Kaya’s mind. He pulled her across his body and lay down with her in his arms, her on top of him on the narrow pillow. He tucked her head under his chin and held her tightly to him. Once their breathing came back to normal, she spoke the words that had filled her head.

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“We used no protection yesterday or today. It never crossed my mind, mostly because most of our sexual experiences have been in dreams.” “Protection from…?” “Condoms, rubbers? Protection from pregnancy.” “Why would I want to protect you from getting pregnant?” He was completely serious and a frown graced his wonderful features as he gazed down at her. “Do you not want my child?” “We have never discussed children….” He interrupted before she could say more. “Being my life partner means bearing my children, and I will fill you with my seed again and again until I do, hopefully it will be soon. The thought of you ripe with my child, stomach swollen, ahh… you will be the most beautiful creature in all the heavens my Princess. I plan on keeping you swollen with child as many times as you will let me.” “You dolt, you didn’t let me finish. Of course I want children, but I would like to get to know you and your world, or worlds rather, a little better before I have your child. Protection would allow us to enjoy the practice without getting pregnant right away.” “I can’t see a reason to wait. You can travel our Empire filled with my child. You can learn all you want.” “Besh, you are so pig-headed sometimes.” She playfully swatted his shoulder. “And you love me for it too.” His eyes twinkled with his love for her. “Yes, I suppose I do.” Besh paused, not sure if that was the declaration he was hoping for or not. At the same moment, Kaya sucked in a breath, not sure if she had just told him she loved him, which she did not want to follow her telling him he was a pig. She waited to see if he would say anything, but he didn’t. Why was she so scared to tell him what was in her heart? After they lay there for a few more minutes, Besh lifted her in his arms and carried her to his bedchamber, where the doors opened to the open space where they had Joined. There was a short single flight of stairs to reach the room, but it was also open to the space below. Her beautiful, luxurious rooms were poor and drab compared to the opulence of his suite. Light flooded the open rooms from a three-sided balcony, where she saw a riot of color peeking through the curtains that acted as walls. They waved in the breeze that blew into the room. There were only columns placed here and there for support along the wall, making it totally open to the outdoors. In the middle of the main section of the room was a large oval dais with a large oval bed placed in the center of it. The bed was nearly twice the size of her huge bed, and it was canopied as well, curtains of many colors traveled from the vaulted ceilings down over the bed, and they were gathered in two places on each of the two longer sides of the bed, which again was covered in the silklike cloth. Numerous side tables and dressers occupied the space, all covered in amazing artifacts, obviously from Besh’s many travels. When she turned her face to the only wall, which had held the double door into the room, she found a large painted portrait on the wall that took her breath away. On it she saw the two of them, he standing behind her, his pale blue gaze following her around the room. The artist of the work was quite gifted, as they looked like the two could walk right out of the painting.

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Below the painting, there was a low trestle table and a dining table with four chairs. She also noted a door beside the dining area. “Where does that lead?” “The nursery.” She blushed at his words. “Then this is the only room? Is there not a bathroom adjoined?” Besh smiled, “Once you walk to the courtyard you will see doors on either side. To the left are my study, dressing room and bathroom. To the right are your dressing room, study, and bathroom. Across the front is a living area where we can great guests.” “I assumed it was a balcony like mine. Is it the courtyard I spied when walking to the hall? The one with all the beautiful blooms?” “Yes, my Princess, you will eat your breakfast each morning surrounded by beautiful flowers all year. But you, my darling will outshine them all.” He pulled her further into his arms, smiling down into her face. “I have waited so long to hear you say the words ‘you love me’, that now that I have heard them, I feel giddy. And I am not a man who feels giddy, mind you.” She frowned at him. She had not truly said the words that she loved him a moment earlier. He noted her frown. “You don’t remember, do you?” She could not look him in the eye. “No,” she barely whispered. “When you screamed your release just now, you screamed your love for me then. Was it false?” The hurt in his voice broke her heart and she looked up into his face. “NO, it was not false. I love you Besh Et Fatel. I love you with all my heart and soul.” He smiled at her and pulled her close, never getting bored with the feel of his dainty princess in his arms. He moved down to capture her lips. “I love you too, my Princess.” Besh carried her to the bed and they spent the rest of the day and most of the night making love. **** Kaya awoke the following morning to light kisses on her cheeks and lips, and smiled as she opened her eyes and returned the loving embrace she was caught up in. She pulled back slightly, to gaze at her husband. Her husband. She was so overwhelmed with everything that had happened in her life this short month. She still wondered almost daily if it was all a dream of some kind and she would wake up, alone and heartbroken. She smiled into the most handsome, beautiful face she had ever seen in her life and was filled with a happiness few people ever have in their entire lives. “Why did they call me Princess D’Hanna?” She had forgotten the question yesterday but had thought it odd at the ceremony. “That is your Ishadarian name. You are Princess D’Hanna Et Fatel, and whenever you are presented at court or any other function, you will be introduced as such. Our servants and subjects will also call you by that name. But in here, in our bed, you will always be my Kaya.” She smiled, glad she would always have him to keep her rooted in reality. What little there was left in her life at this point. He was truly becoming her rock, anticipating her needs before she even realized she was in need. It was the little things that he had done the past month that had made her love him. Lust would only carry them so far, no

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matter how wonderful a lover he was. Love would make them truly soul mates. Kaya decided then that he deserved a sign of her gratitude and love for him. She needed to show him how much he meant to her. “Besh, lay down flat on your back.” “Why?” “Because you have given me pleasure after pleasure every time we make love, but I have never shown you my passion for you and my desire to please you, besides the dream visits we shared.” “You please me every time you open to me and allow me to give you pleasure.” “But I want to show you how much I love you. I want this to be about your pleasure.” “Kaya, you don’t have to do this to prove your love. I see it in your eyes every night and again every morning when you awake. I see it in the way you have opened your body to me and trusted I would never hurt you. I see it in the fact that you agreed to Join with me and be my partner for life.” “I know I don’t have to. I want to. I want you to feel as good as I have these past few weeks.” “Fine, but know that I don’t need you to prove your love this way. I know you love me. But I can’t think of one male who would deny his wife if that is what she chooses to do. My body is yours.” Besh lay down on the bed, firmly planted flat on his back, and still nude from the night before, his manhood was already ready for her ministrations. It rose high in the air, jutting out powerfully, showing the strength and virility of his body. She ran to the dressing room to get a small bottle of the oil that had been used on her body the day before, just prior to the ceremony. She came back and stood beside the large bed, and noticed that Besh was nearly shaking with desire, the unknown no doubt causing his desire to triple. She kneeled beside his prone body and drizzled a small amount of the oil on his legs and thighs, and another small amount on her fingers. She started at his feet and ankles, rubbing them and relaxing his muscles. He obviously enjoyed the feeling, as he was moaning low in his throat as a stroke here or a stroke there pleased him. Kaya moved up to his calves and lower legs, massaging as she rose up his frame. She reached the knees and then thighs, feeling his body tense as she approached his manhood. His body jumped as her hands neared, but she felt he needed a little torture to heighten his pleasure, so she ignored the mighty cock, and reached instead for the bottle of oil. She drizzled more oil over his arms and shoulders, and starting at his fingers, she slowly massaged each arm, rubbing his tension away. As she finished his shoulders, she asked him to turn over. He growled deep in his throat, wanting her torment to end, but he complied and turned to his stomach with a huff. She sprinkled the oil over the back of his legs and began from the bottom again, moving up. She then covered his back and shoulder blades, and massaged those areas with great attention to detail. She grabbed his shoulders and massaged once more, adding his neck to this stage of the massage. She then massaged his firm ass, truly enjoying his deeper moans of delight from this pleasurable spot, wondering how he would sound if he were on his back and her hands were in the same location.

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“Okay, you growling beast, back over on the other side.” Besh smiled at her from over his shoulder and turned faster than she thought humanly possible. She laughed at the look of childish delight written on his face and started massaging his chest with the sweet smelling oil. “Woman, if you don’t hurry up and move your hands south, I will let loose my control and bury myself deep inside of you and ruin your little tormenting game.” “I knew I should have tied you to the bed.” He laughed, and then stared into her eyes. A he did, his pale blue eyes darkened with unspeakable desire for her. What she saw there brought tears to her own and she had to suppress a small sob. No one in her entire life had ever loved her with the depth this man before her did. And then she chided herself for becoming a crybaby over the last few days. It seemed that every show of love from this man brought her to tears. Her hands wandered down his chest, covered his stomach, and started to tickle through the patch of tight curls that covered the base of his manhood. Those curls were much softer than any other man she had ever seen, and she could rub the silky hairs all day. But if she did he may revolt, so she got back to the task at hand. She used two shaky hands to grasp the base of his penis and thankful for the oils coating her hands and fingers, she began emulating the friction of her sex sliding over his hard cock. He was tighter than a spring, ready to explode even before she barely began. His body was so tense; the relaxing massage seemed to have no effect on his hard, virile body. She bent over to lick the head of his cock and tasted the sweet sticky liquid that had already formed at the tip. She could lick him all night, the only man she knew who tasted like candy. She increased the pace of her hands and licked the head as deep into her mouth as she could, the size preventing her from taking much, as she sensed his release was coming soon. His cries of pleasure and growls from his chest warned her to be ready. She kept her tongue locked against the opening in the head of his penis, ready to lap up his spent passion, pulling the orgasm from his body. “K-A-Y-A-A….” he screamed his release, holding her head tight to his sex with one hand. And he dropped back into the bed, spent, sated and on the border of sleep. Kaya cleaned his sex off with her mouth, loving the taste of him, until he slid his hands under hers and dragged her on top of his muscled frame. “You will be the death of me. Do you know that? I never knew that sex with my soul mate would cause me to die from untamed passion.” “We are only getting started, buck-o. You had better hope you can endure me and my needs.” Just then the doors to the suite were thrown open and soldiers came rushing into the room, with Dar Jin fast on their heels. Besh jumped up, shielding a naked Kaya from the room. “Lieutenant, what is the meaning of all this?” “You sir, are under arrest.” “Arrest? For what charge?” “For breaking the laws of Daya N’goul and seeing your mate before the period of Si’ ni mon was over.” Besh stood openmouthed looking at his second in command. Two of the soldiers grabbed Besh and tried to handcuff him. Besh fought the men off, throwing one across

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the room. “General, we do not wish to harm you or your Princess, but we will take you both by force if we must.” Besh turned a murderous glance at Dar Jin, never expecting his friend and fellow warrior to treat him with such disrespect, especially in front of his woman. But he looked at Kaya, and not wanting her to be harmed, he allowed himself to be handcuffed. “Go to my parent’s rooms and stay with them until I can be cleared of this.” “Your parents already left for Hara D’Noll this morning, Besh dear boy. You will be returning this afternoon on the next frigate to your home world.” “A frigate? It will take a month to return on a frigate. Why are you holding me for so long before allowing me to have my day in court?” “I think you need some time to reflect on your crimes. Come guards, let us get the General ready for transport.” Kaya, sat silent through this, shocked into inaction. Then the words of Meet Sook Nu ran through her mind like a slap to the head. “Et Fatel will get himself into great trouble if he abuses your body. He knows the law. If he is caught inside you he could be killed.” Did Dar know of the nighttime dream rendezvous they had both played a role in? Could he just being her teacher cause him to break the law, enough for him to die over? All this was racing through her head, and just as suddenly she realized as they began dragging Besh out of the rooms that this might be the last time she ever set eyes on him alive. She screamed and dove for his body, wrapping herself around him. “Please, noooo, let him go. He has done nothing wrong….you can’t take my husband away, we have just Joined. There must be some other way...NOOOOOOOO!” “Kaya, my Princess. Do not cry, we will sort this all out in due time. Do not worry yourself so, it will be fine,” Besh continued to soothe her with his words, but it was not enough, she was overwrought with emotion. She had just found the love of her life to then have him stripped from her arms, stripped from their bed, taken into custody over a stupid rule? “Kaya, gather your things. Find Sigh and get a transport to Hara D’Noll. Promise me you will find my parents and stay with them where you will be safe.” “I promise.” She whispered to him through her tears. She watched him walk out the door as Dar grabbed her by the arms and held her back, preventing her from following him up the stairs and into the hall. “I will arrange the transport for you, My Princess. Pack some belongings and you can leave within the hour.” “Like hell. Leave me be,” she screamed as she threw the huge man off of her. Her body fueled with adrenaline, she pushed him halfway across the room, allowing her to grab a robe and race from the room. As she was running down a hallway she threw her robe over her body, searching down each long hallway for a familiar face. Just as she turned another corner, a firm hand grasped her wrist and pulled her into an alcove in the wall. She tried to scream, but a hand clamped down over her open mouth preventing the alert.

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Chapter Nine Familiar brown eyes stared deep into Kaya’s. J’Halle held her tightly to her, with her hand over her mouth. Behind her stood a fearful looking Be’in. “My lady, do not scream, I am here to help you,” she whispered. “I am going to remove my hand, and I need you to listen to me.” Kaya nodded, thankful to see her lady’s maid. “The Bel Tak landed here this morning, along with the Hi Ni Shin, and they have abducted every member of the Emperor’s family, including the Emperor and Empress. Lady Sigh was here, as was both of the General’s younger brothers. Word has it that the other sisters have been captured as well as the Regent.” “I am not sure why they did not capture you as well, maybe they do not consider you a threat to their plans. I have seen Dar Jin conversing with the Bel Tak. Also the Great Olum Naucht of the Ha Ni Shin is here, with some of his warriors. The Ha Ni Shin were once allied with the Bel Tak, and evidently their inclusion in the Empire was a fallacy.” “From the looks of it, the Ha Ni Shin are still allied with the Bel Tak, and Dar Jin is their inside informant. With all of the ruling family incarcerated, they will take over the Empire easily. The only chance we have is to reach Hara D’Noll before they do and warn the Senate and get them to raise an army. The only way we can get to them before the transport is to use Brox Catha.” “Then let’s do it, let’s go. Point out the way.” Kaya was more scared at this moment then she had ever been in her life, but she would do anything for Besh. “It is not that simple my lady. Brox Catha is a device that many train for years to be able to use before they even take their first jump. It changes your body into separate molecules and you travel to where you need to go in the blink of an eye, after focusing on your destination, and there you rematerialize. You have never even been to the home world, so you cannot visualize it. You are untrained. Even trained men have been hurt, and a few have even lost their lives. But I don’t know of another way to reach the home world and not raise notice by trying to send a communication.” “Can you travel through Brox Catha?” “Being artificial, no we cannot. Our molecules would be unstable and we could never rematerialize and leave you in the middle of Hara D’Noll alone. And I am unsure if there is anyone in the village besides the General who can even do the jump.” “So, we need to either free Besh or I need to make the jump and pray I make it in one piece. Some decision…do I choose the rock or the hard place?” “What?” “Nothing, sorry, old Earth saying. Anyway, is there anyway we can free Besh before they load him on the transport?” “He is probably being loaded as we speak, my lady, so besides taking a cruiser and gunning the ship down and hoping he survives the crash, I don’t know of a way.” “Damn.” Double damn. Kaya was definitely in between the rock and the hard

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place. Suddenly another issue came to mind. “J’Halle, how does a quiet lady’s maid suddenly become so knowledgeable about the inner politics of the Empire?” J’Halle only smiled at her words. “My lady, there is a small faction of the Empire that has been very vocal about being anti-human. Don’t you think that one of the most important men in the Empire would think to protect his mate with a bodyguard?” “You have been my bodyguard all along?” “Of course. Lord Fatel understood you would bristle at having a bodyguard, so I was to assume the role of lady’s maid.” “He was right. But at this point, I can say I am glad he did it. You may be saving our collective asses.” Kaya needed more information on the Brox Catha and how she could prepare for this jump. Information, where would she find information? Aha! “J’Halle, take me to the library.” J’Halle looked at her curiously, but went along with her instructions. “At once, my lady.” **** The streets were quiet as J’Halle grasped her lady’s hand and navigated the streets to the library. The beautiful houses and gardens did not even register in Kaya’s sensory system. She was on a mission and she had to save her love. They reached the door to the library, and with a deep breath and a crossing of the fingers, Kaya pushed open the heavy door and the musty smell hit her face like a wave. She could find out what to do here, she just knew it. After walking into the main hall, she saw her friend Eetu; the librarian had been helping her over the past few weeks learn about the Ishadarian culture. He beamed once he saw her and raced over to embrace her. Eetu sensed her worry and frowned into her face. “What can I do for you today Princess D’Hanna?” “The entire ruling family has been abducted, and the Bel Tak and Olum Naucht are planning to overthrow the Empire. I need to use Brox Catha to get to Hara D’Noll before they do and try and notify the Senate.” Eetu’s eyes enlarged, but he stayed calm, thought over the words she said and after a pause, “And you do not even know how to use Brox Catha, yet you are willing to possibly die to save our worlds?” “Not just our worlds, to save my love. Maybe I am being foolish, but if he dies, I can’t imagine living without him.” Eetu smiled down at her. “Then I think you need a Ga Hall warrior to help you save the day, my dear.” “What is a Ga Hall warrior?” J’Halle interrupted, her face covered with awe. “The Ga Hall were a small sect of mystic warriors who the Emperor employed for millions of years. The Bel Tak attacked their village nearly 100 years ago, coming in the night, somehow slipping through their defenses and killing the entire village. Two warriors escaped that night. Dar Jin’s father was one. The other disappeared, never to be heard from again.” “Dak Jin was a traitor. He was in league with the Bel Tak, and that is how they slipped past the defenses. I claimed it then, but because Dak was such a popular warrior, no one believed me, and I was exiled.” Kaya’s eyes grew wide. “You are the other warrior?”

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“Yes, Princess. I made an oath over a hundred years ago to serve the Empire. I wasn’t able to save my people, but maybe I can help you save your love and the Empire as well.” “Plan?” “I am well trained in Brox Catha, I use it almost weekly to gain more information for this library. You are not, but I think I can give you a way to come with me and survive the journey.” “How is that?” “We go through together. Instead of you focusing on your destination, focus on me and you will follow me until I stop at Hara D’Noll. I did this many years ago with a pupil who was frightened of the Brox Catha, and I did this to show him how simple it was. My pupil had said it took little effort, and was the easiest trip he had ever been on.” “Then let’s do it.” “I have my own Brox Catha in the back room. Let’s go Princess!” **** Kaya stepped into the coffin shaped box, which was standing on its end. She then realized that it felt like a telephone booth and started thinking of that silly movie she had watched when she was a teen. Realizing the hilarity of the situation, she mumbled under her breath, “Something is amiss at the Circle K.” “What was that, Princess?” “Nothing. Nothing. I think that the weight of the situation has got my nerves jumpy and I am laughing to ease my anxiety.” “Laughing I can deal with, crying I can’t. So laugh away.” “I agree, Eetu. Are we ready?” Eetu had been working on a few dials and knobs and had turned around to face her. “Princess, you need to look directly into my face. Remember my face throughout the entire journey. Focus on it and do not allow the memory of my face to leave you until you rematerialize on Hara D’Noll.” “Yes. I understand.” She faced the older man and stared at his face for what seemed like an eternity. “Have you got it, Princess? Are you ready?” “As ready as I will ever be. Let’s go.” Eetu closed the door to the box and flipped a switch. Kaya could no longer see anything, except the face of the kind elderly man who had become her friend as well over the past few weeks. She held onto that vision, as it seemed her body was whisked away. She felt lighter than air and like a wind was blowing through her whole body, like she was made of nothing at all. And through it all, she saw Eetu’s face. Around her planets loomed, galaxies shone brightly and comets soared, but Kaya ignored it all, scared she would lose the image she held fast to, afraid she would be left scattered to the heavens for infinity without saving Besh. She hoped to be able to witness the beauty of space sometime in the future, because it took all her control not to gaze around her at the colors that swirled into her line of vision. Finally after what seemed like eternity, Kaya felt whole again. She blinked several times and realized she was weighed down again, not floating, no winds billowing through her. It was dark, like the moment they had stepped into the box, and then Eetu’s face, not just the image she had held onto, was visible in front of her face.

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“Well, Princess, you seem to be a natural at this.” “You told me it was easy, and it was.” “I lied. Thankfully you believed me. Come on, let’s find the Senate.” Eetu pulled the bemused Kaya through the door to the ending Brox Catha box that was evidently on Hara D’Noll. This would be the first time she would see Besh’s home planet, and she had no time at all to look around her at the sites. They had opened the door to a busy city street. At least, that was all Kaya could call it. Skyscrapers lined the street, towering so high above that Kaya could not even see the sky above them. Darkness reigned, although she could not tell if it was night or day. Flood lights were placed here and there, flooding areas and leaving others in total darkness. There were vehicles zipping past them at enormous speed on the ground, as well as hovering vehicles zipping by in the air. There were 3 levels of vehicles in the air, and the winds that whipped by them were almost ear shattering. Kaya clasped her hands over her ears and ran to keep up with Eetu. For an older man, he sure was spry. In the darkness of the night, if she lost him, she would be in serious trouble. Eetu zigged and zagged around the city, so she could not even return to the point they arrived. After running through street after street, he stopped in front of a building that was totally flooded with light and had many, many people milling about in front of it and the stairs leading to the doors. Eetu paused to look up at the building, and then looked over to Kaya. She looked into his eyes, where she could see the wariness already building there. “Are you ready for the fight of your life?” “They aren’t going to believe me?” “No, Princess, they probably won’t.” “But I am Besh’s wife, and that has to count for something?” “You have not been formally introduced to the Senate, so in their eyes, you are not married yet. If there was a member of Senate present at your Joining and they have made it back by now, they may stand up for you. If not, you may be in for a huge battle just to be heard by the collective group.” Kaya stared again at the building. She realized that if she did not succeed, Besh and his family might die. She loved this man too much, craved a future with him more than anything she could imagine. She had to succeed; there was no other alternative. “I’m ready. They will listen to me, and they will help me save them.” Eetu looked surprised for a moment, and then smiled deeply at her. “That’s right, Princess. They will listen, we will make them.” They began the long stairs leading up to the doors. Once they reached the large double doors, Eetu stepped in front of her and pushed them open, grabbing the guard at the door by the throat, and evidently pinching a nerve or something of that sort, as the soldier dropped his weapons and held stone straight in Eetu’s frail hands. “Bow to your Princess. This is General Besh Et Fatel’s newly Joined partner. You will allow her entry.” The soldier slightly nodded his head, as a roll of sweat stretched down his temple. Eetu released his hand and the soldier recovered his weapons, scaring Kaya. She assumed he was about to take them into custody when he rubbed his throat, bowing at her feet and told them to pass. Kaya was able to breathe again, and the pair rushed past the

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guard down a long hallway that was lined with tall doors. She prayed that Eetu knew where he was going, because he certainly seemed to. Eetu nimbly led her through hallway after hallway, rushing at breakneck speed. Weaving through the throngs of people who wandered the halls was not easy, especially since many were not humanoid. She had no time to gawk at the odd species of creatures she saw at every turn. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get used to this world if she had a chance to stay with Besh and the Empire was saved. All of a sudden they reached a solid wall that seemed to have no way through. They both paused, Kaya because she was unsure of even where she was, awaiting Eetu’s direction. He banged on the wall in three places and unexpectedly the wall separated and began to open as a door. Kaya walked through the wall with her Ga Hall warrior at her side. “How dare you interrupt our Senate!” A mass of grumbling and arguing went through the cavernous space. Kaya could barely fathom what she was seeing, she likened it to what the old Roman Senate meetings may have looked like, but exponentially larger. There were at least three dozen rows of benches along the oval wall of the space, and the space was at least as large around as two football fields. Football field was a good analogy, because it was like a set of bleachers surrounding a space for the Senate leader. Again Kaya was shocked in seeing creatures she could never have imagined in her dreams, a couple creatures could have graced her nightmares. Creatures of every color, shape, and size were held inside this auditorium. She stood staring openmouthed at the sights before her. There was even a delegate who looked to be made entirely of light. The Senate leader was standing on a podium in the middle of the floor, glaring at the two of them with disgust and contempt in his eyes. “Princess D’Hanna Et Fatel requests an audience with the Senate.” **** Dar Jin stepped in front of the cell that held Besh contained on the transport to Hara D’Noll. The plan to capture his little human and send her back to Earth where she belonged had failed, and thus, Dar had been brought along on the frigate that carried Besh back to Hara D’Noll, as he had not fulfilled his duty, thus losing his freedom. “Good morning, General.” “Keep your sarcasm to yourself, traitor.” “There was no sarcasm, General. I know what you think of me, but know this. I wish things could be much different.” “Keep your lies to yourself, too.” Besh watched as an older man stepped into the holding area and stood beside Dar. Dar’s obvious distaste for the man showed on his face, Besh noted this before addressing the man. “I should have known you were involved in this Dak Jin. I never trusted you, as many don’t with your reputation of dishonor. But Dar,” Besh turned to the man he considered friend, “I thought you had overcome the family trait. The years, in which you had stood by our family, earning our respect to only betray us now? You dishonor my brother’s memory.” Dar paled and looked visibly shaken. “Besh…there is so much I want you to know….” Dak turned and shook his son. “Torment unlike anything you have ever known,

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boy. Keep your mouth shut.” Dar turned his misery filled face towards his father, “You know as well as I do that my days have been filled with torment for over five years. I realize now I have nothing left. With this family in your hands, the only family that has ever treated me with love and affection, something you as my father never gave me, you have taken everything away from me. The “everything” that I thought the truth would strip from me. The trust, honor, and respect I spent years earning, trying to overcome the label I grew up with because of your traitorous soul, was only important to me through their eyes. They are the only people who mattered to me.” “And now you have aligned yourself with the Bel Tak again, and you plan on taking over the Empire. And you used me to help hand over the family that treated me with more love than you ever did. And do you think that I am stupid enough to think you are just going to remove this family peacefully? I know you will probably murder them all. And by helping you, I will have their blood on my hands. And I have enough blood on my hands.” “Boy, you are one man. It is too little, too late at this point for you to save them. But that is just like you, weak of body and mind. Since you seem so intent on giving the General a hint of our plans, even though it is too late for anything to stop it, I think we need to fully clear the air.” Dar’s eyes widened and Besh noted he looked ill. But just as suddenly, Dar straightened, and seemed to accept his fate. He then turned towards Besh, “I loved your brother like he was my own brother. He was the only one in school who stood by me, due to my father’s reputation. Your mother and father treated me with respect, with love, almost as one of their own. I have called you friend for many years.” “Dar, you have helped cause the ruin of the Empire, why should I believe you care for our family at all at this point?” “Because I was forced into helping them.” “And just what do they hold over you to force your hand in such a way?” The air was thick between the two men. Dar struggled to look Besh into the eyes. “I accidentally hurt someone I loved five years ago and my father found out. He threatened to tell the family I had purposefully done the act out of envy unless I aided him in small acts to further his cause.” Besh felt his stomach turn, and he asked the question he already thought he knew the answer to. “And this person you hurt five years ago was?” Tears shimmered in the warrior’s eyes. “Your brother. I killed your brother.” Rage flew through Besh and he rushed the bars of his cell, grasping for Dar’s body, only thinking to hurt the man as much as he had hurt his entire family. Getting a hold of the front of his shirt, he slammed Dar towards him, hitting Dar on the metal bars of his cell. Rage had turned Besh into an animal and he continued dragging Dar’s now limp body towards the bars, until he finally broke through the red haze and realized Dar’s face was bloody, and his body slack. He dropped him immediately, and watched the light rise and fall of the other man’s chest. Part of him thankful the man still breathed, as he could not be the cause of his death, the other part of him wanting him dead, dead like his brother. Then he remembered he was not alone in the room and looked up into the smiling face of Dak Jin. Besh could not believe that the man stood by and watched his son be

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brutalized without lifting a finger. At that point he wondered if the man had a soul. “I see you are just as much animal as those dirty humans on Earth. No wonder your mate was found there. You must truly be a perfect match. How the Emperor all those hundreds of thousands of years ago allowed the blood of true Ishadarians to be dirtied with the genetic code of primates, I will never know. And then, for the current Emperor to include these people into the Empire and further soiling the history of a once great people was beyond the pale. And then you compounded the situation by actually Joining with the modern day monkeys. Dar visited a zoo on his trip to Earth when he had scouted the planet and saw just what these beings had come from and it sickened me when he showed me vids of the beasts. The thought of you sleeping with it in your arms and now you have even filled its body with your seed. It is vile, thinking of what kind of beast would be borne of such a mating.” “I realized years ago that your father was going to destroy the Empire, giving slaves rights and giving more education and health care to the lower and middle classes. I met with the Great Olum Naucht and the Bel Tak High Chancellor, Om Saluu, and they showed me that the only way to save the Empire was to cleanse it of the Et Fatel Dynasty and restore the classes. The first step was to cleanse the Empire of its greatest warriors, the Ga Hall, and blame it on the old man Eetu. But unfortunately, I became suspect and we needed to carefully plot the next step. But once the presence of the humans became known, we knew that the filthy race could not be allowed to mix into pure Ishadarian blood and taint it. So we needed to destroy Earth and all its inhabitants.” “Our new plan? Neutralize the ruling family, invade Hara D’Noll and take the Senate hostage, incriminate and execute every member of the Et Fatel line and take over. The Bel Tak-Jin Dynasty is within reach.” Looking into the cage the mighty general was incarcerated in; Dak knew his dream was soon to become a reality. After Dar had abducted him from the bed of his filthy lover, Dak and his loyal warriors paraded him shackled and nude through the entire village, listing his crimes loudly for all to hear, leading the people to believe the Earth bitch was to blame for Besh’s fall from grace. He wondered where the slut had gone. He had planned on shipping her back to Earth and making sure she was on the planet when it exploded. But somehow, she had gotten away and he did not even read her life signs on the planet at all. Silly girl, she was too naive and too new to this world to ever hinder his plans. She would die soon enough. She could not get far, and eventually, she would surface. He just hoped he would be there to end her life himself. It had been too long since he had killed, and the thought of breaking her slim neck sent pleasurable sensations throughout his body. Oh, yes, he would squash her like the bug that she was.

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Chapter Ten “Ga Eetu, you know that until she is presented at court and in the senate, she will not be formally recognized by this group. Take her away.” “If you do not let me speak there will be no court and no senate to present me to.” The speaker turned incredulous eyes to her and stared at her brazen stance. Something changed in his face, as he began to realize that perhaps she needed a moment of their time. He shook his head, closing his eyes, “I am crazy for allowing this.” He turned and presented Princess D’Hanna Et Fatel to the Senate. Kaya approached the podium, still clad in the sheer robe she had grabbed on the way out of her and Besh’s room. Hair wildly flung, unbound, she was a sight. She gave no care. “Senators. I am not well versed in your customs or your protocol. But I was Joined with Besh Et Fatel yesterday. This morning, he was charged with breaking the law of Si’ ni mon, and abducted by Dar Jin and a group of soldiers. The Emperor and Empress, as well as the rest of their family have been taken into custody. Bel Tak ships have landed on the Inoc planet we have been staying on.” Murmurs abounded through the cavernous room. “And why should we believe you?” Came from somewhere in the huge crowd. “What reason would I have to lie? I am asking you to defend the Empire and save the man I love and his family. What do I have to gain from lying?” “It’s a trap. She is trying to save her planet from further invasion,” came from one end of the room. “She is an Earthling, she cannot tell us what to do,” came from another. “If you don’t believe me, check for yourselves. Contact the Inoc planet. Find out what is going on there yourselves. You may not care for me because I am human, you may consider me less than you, and I don’t care. I do care about the man I love and I will do whatever I need to in order to save him and his family. So don’t believe me, but check the planet. And do it quickly, before you have the blood of this family on your hands.” A quiet hush fell over the room. “Take her from the room so we can discuss this issue, Ga Eetu.” Kaya and Eetu were ushered out of the room by two large bodyguards. Kaya fell into Eetu’s arms and wept, scared for her future, scared for Besh and his family. She had come this far on instinct; she did not know where to go next. “Your fight was not as difficult as I expected it to be.” “What are you saying?” “Only a handful of senators commented negatively. Others remained quiet. If they were quiet their ears were open.” “So you think they may have believed me?” “Hopefully. I have friends on this planet; one may be able to help us further. Come on Princess.” ****

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Eetu led her through the city again, and Kaya was brought to an area of the city that was not as hectic, where the buildings were not quite as tall, and she could see the sky. It was daytime, or so she thought, as the sky was a pale periwinkle and she saw two objects glowing in the sky, what looked like two small suns. As they rounded another corner, a lush green space emerged and the riots of color she had seen on the Inoc world were here as well. She stopped walking and looked around, trying to take in every small detail she could see. “Princess, we have little time.” “I’m sorry Eetu. I just realized that if we do fail, this might be the only opportunity I have to see this place. It is so beautiful here, and only a few blocks from that craziness we stepped into.” “The older part of the city is quite hectic, but it is where most of the senate offices are, so we had to go there. The majority of the world is like this, open and green.” “Eetu, I want to thank you now for all you have done so far.” “Don’t thank me yet, little one, we still have a battle ahead of us. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and rushed through the mazes of gardens and greenery to a small building on the other side of the open park. He knocked on the door and a wizened old face looked through the open crack at Eetu. “Welcome, Eetu!” The old woman grabbed Eetu about the waist and hugged him until Kaya thought she would crush him. Eetu just smiled down at the woman and then looked across to Kaya. “Is Mente home?” “Of course, of course, come in, come in. Eetu, who is this little creature you have brought with you? Be a gentleman and introduce her.” “Escra, I would like you to meet Princess D’Hanna Et Fatel.” The wizened woman’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. She walked over to Kaya and grasped both of her hands in her own gnarled fingers and looked down into Kaya’s face. Tears formed in her eyes, and she looked over Kaya and then back into Eetu’s eyes. “So it has happened?” “Yes, Bel Tak ships have landed on Inoc 1. Dar Jin has captured all of the Et Fatel line, it looks like the Empire is in danger.” “Let me get Mente and you can tell us both what has happened thus far.” **** Mente was an enormous man, who barely even fit through the higher doorframes she had noticed throughout the two worlds she had visited. Mente had to visibly duck to enter the room, and Kaya could only guess how tall he was. If the upper side of normal was seven and a half feet, this man could easily be close to 8 feet tall. Kaya felt like a child standing close to this giant, and felt quite uncomfortable when his gaze landed on her. She decided she would not show him her fear and turned to gaze directly at him. Then she looked into his face and she saw the most beautifully warm green eyes she had ever seen. His face was wizened with age, like his wife’s, and when he smiled at her, she understood that this giant would not harm her. Eetu went about greeting the giant and then explained what he had already told Escra. “Have you gone to the Senate?” the giant boomed, his voice coming from deep in

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his throat. “Yes, they did not have a call to action, but few arguments were raised. I think they were listening, at least, that is what I hope.” “There is no time to waste. I will put up the call to the Ishadarian West and put them on high alert, maybe Aataar can begin to send troops to cover this planet and the Outer Rim. The west has been a calm place recently, with no Bel Tak attacks. I knew it was the calm before the storm.” “And can you contact the North and South to put them on alert?” “I will ask Aataar to do it.” “Good, good. Well, Princess,” Eetu turned to look at Kaya, “that is all I can do until the Senate takes action.” Escra stood up. “I am sure you both could use food and drink, and Princess, I think you might like some clothing. I think I have some of my granddaughter’s dresses downstairs. They may be small enough for you to fit.” Kaya looked up at the kind woman. “Please call me Kaya. I feel odd being called Princess.” Escra smiled down at her, “I will call you Kaya if it pleases you. You had better get used to being called Princess, though. For what you are doing right now makes you earn that title more than if you had been born to it.” Escra squeezed her hand and her shoulder in an embrace. Since coming to the Empire, she had been given nothing but kindness from nearly every person she encountered and she realized that if she had to return to Earth, if this was unsuccessful, she would miss this place, these people, almost as much as she would her love. Escra set up a delicious platter of meats and cheeses for the two of them to eat and then went to hunt some clothing for Kaya. A little while later, Escra brought her a plain muslin-like dress, which when Kaya held it up, it looked like it would just about fit. Escra led her to an empty room for her to change. She used a water pitcher and basin to wash her face and quickly washed her body, and pulled the soft dress over her head. Amazing how the simple act of cleansing yourself could impact your whole attitude. Kaya walked back into the main rooms of the house, ready to do whatever needed to be done. “Princ….Kaya, Mente has left to contact his son, Aataar, who is a lieutenant in the Ishadarian West. We should have word soon. For now, why don’t you rest in one of the upper rooms. You may need your strength.” “There is no way I can sleep.” Escra led her back to the room she had washed in and closed the door behind her. Kaya lay back on the large pillow in a corner of the room and closed her eyes. Sleep was impossible. She tossed, wondering what Besh was enduring right now. She kept tossing on the pillow, unable to sleep. The last thing she saw before she drifted off to sleep were the suns beginning to set, and Besh’s face in her mind’s eye. **** Besh lay on his bunk inside the cramped cell, imagining what he would do to Dak Jin if he could just get his hands around the traitor’s neck. He hoped and prayed that Kaya had reached his parents and was safe. Dak and the rest of the soldiers refused to tell him anything, and he was afraid he would go insane with worry over the month long

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journey. A food plate was dropped through the etron bars of the cell, filled with the slop they fed the cattle on Ditruis 4. Besh would rather starve than eat that. Unfortunately, he would have to eat something; he could not survive the month without some sustenance. He grasped the plate and pulled out what foods he thought he could recognize and downed those pieces, trying not to gag on his food. He must survive this for Kaya, he must survive to see her again, to hold her in his arms again, to see her filled with his child. After a few more bites, he set the plate aside and climbed onto the mat laid out on the floor that was intended to be his bed for the month. Hard and dirty, he did his best to get comfortable. There was nothing else to do in this hell except sleep, eat and worry about Kaya. He had already done the latter two, so maybe sleep was due. He was exhausted from struggling with the guards, so he allowed his body to relax some and drifted off to sleep. **** “Besh?” Besh turned his head when he heard Kaya’s voice ahead of him. He looked around and noticed he was back in her rooms on the Inoc planet. He was lying in her bed, and she was standing at the foot, naked and beautiful as ever. “KAYA!” He jumped from the bed, grabbed her by the arms and hauled her into his body with force, almost taking her breath away. “I thought I might never see you again. My love, are you alright? Are you safe? Please ease my mind.” “Unfortunately, the situation is worse than you probably think.” “Have they hurt you?” His hackles raised, Kaya rubbed her hands on his chest to calm him some. “No, I am not hurt. But Dar Jin and his soldiers have captured your whole family. And Bel Tak ships are on the Inoc home world. It looks like they are trying to destroy the Empire.” “Where…are…you?” Besh ground out through gritted teeth. “I am on Hara D’Noll with Eetu.” “The librarian? On our home world? How did you get there so quickly?” “He was a Ga Hall warrior and saved me. He helped me to use Brox Catha to get here before you and Dar.” “Brox Catha is for experienced warriors, you could have been killed!” “I wasn’t, Eetu helped me. And then we went to the Senate to warn them, and Eetu thinks they actually listened. After that we went to a friend of his, the father of Aataar, in the Ishadarian West. He has warned the troops throughout the Empire.” “Aataar is a good man, as is his father Mente. They will help us. But there is even more. It was not Dar Jin leading this, but his father Dak Jin. He has aligned himself with the Bel Tak and plans on blaming our family for the death of the Senators. They plan on taking over the entire Empire, and destroying Earth.” “My God, what are we to do?” “At this point, there is little we can do but hope your trip to the Senate worked and they will aid us. If they do not, promise me you will allow Aataar to smuggle you to Qu’ Trey. There, you can stay with Ta Hall. He was a warrior who served with my brother and has recently walked away from his military service, he is a good man, and he

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would find a way to keep you safe. If I die, I want to know you will be all right. Are you safe now?” “I am. I am staying in Mente and Escra’s home, sleeping while we wait for word if the Senate will raise the army.” “Damn. I cannot believe I am stuck here while the entire Empire is in danger. I have spent most of the day trying to find a weakness in the cell they have me in, but so far I have no plan for escape.” “Then use this night as escape. We will succeed, and we will be in each other’s arms again, and soon. But just in case…make love to me one more time Besh. I need you.” Besh growled and took possession of her lips with his succulent mouth. He looked down at her glorious body and smiled when he recalled all the un-innocent things he planned to do to her. But looking at her face, it reminded him of his feelings for her and he decided then she would know the height of those feelings by night's end. He cuddled close to her naked body, her creamy soft skin, wanting to cover every inch of her with his body. He enveloped her with his warmth, his heat, his heat for her...only her. She stirred slightly and moved even closer to him, if that was possible. She craved his warmth and his body and a little moan escaped her lips. He slowly began to caress her. Innocent little touches, on the face, the neck, the ear...feeling the incredible silkiness of her flesh. He followed the spots his hands had just caressed with his tongue, tasting the sweetness he knew lay beneath. Then he grazed her hip, the curve of her waist, and slid his hand along the smoothness of her back and around to her backside, pulling her already damp core closer to his hot hard self. The feeling of her soft body beside him was almost too much for him to bear. He had tried to make this slow, but his patience was losing the battle, and he grasped her body to him, as close as two people can be without being joined and his lips sought hers out again. He started slowly, swallowing her quiet moan of pleasure, and soon he was ravaging her mouth, plundering it, giving a hint of the passion that was building inside him. Her eyes fluttered closed once his kisses started to become needy, deep penetrating kisses full of his ardor. She was his drug and he was highly addicted and he had a wealth of emotion to share with her. "I need you, I love you," was all he could say before he grabbed her and started his plundering kisses all over again. While his lips performed magic with her mouth, his hands again roamed all over her body. Sliding over her ass, her thighs, her hips, her back...all the while she wanted, she needed, she demanded him to touch her breasts and her wet, hot core, but he avoided those two areas, driving her insane with the need for his touch there. She grasped his hand and moved it to her center, but he freed his hand from her grasp. He wanted to raise her desire to the pitch where his had already formed. He needed her to want him as much as he wanted her. He hoped he could keep his sanity and not rush himself before he fanned the flames of her desire. It is difficult with this hot, needy, wanton woman in his arms. She moaned a pleading moan that begged for him to go further, to touch her where she needed it most. He felt the wetness that was her against his hardness. She was so excited and so needy...she was where he was...finally. So he grasped one breast in his hand, feeling its weight, pulling on the tight, hard nipples...never pulling his mouth from

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hers, until the last second when he dipped down to pull the pink bud into his mouth. She moaned loudly at the wet heat that enveloped her breast. His mouth pulled at her breast, suckling her deep and desire arced from her nipple down to her pussy. After minutes that felt like hours, he released one beautiful breast and moved to its twin, suckling the pink rosebud. If only he would touch her wet pussy...please....oh God.....touch me there, she pleaded to herself. And finally he did, with her pink bud firmly in his mouth, he slid his fingers into the damp curls of her core. She moaned as he slipped a finger into her vagina to test her wetness, and then moved her onto her back and glided down her body, releasing her nipple with a pop. He opened her legs wide, not touching, not tasting...just looking at the beautiful woman she was. How wanton and wet...how ready for his touch, his taste. He slowly inserted a finger in her between her nether lips, and the feeling caused her to arc her back in pleasure. He kept the finger in, not moving, just allowing her to get used to the feel of him invading her body. Then he bent and covered her clit with his mouth and suckled it like he suckled her nipple...hard, licking, nipping...making her thrash on the bed. He then began to move his once still finger, simulating the movement his cock would soon make. The fiery heat of his mouth and the motion of his fingers built her towards her climax. She felt the pressure building in her body. Three fingers, in, out, in, out. He lapped up the hot wetness flowing from her body then covered her clitoris again. The pressure builds more, four fingers, in, out, in, out, suckling heat. The pressure builds, she is almost there...in, out, in, out...she felt her body stiffen. She screamed her pleasure, arching her body, crashing on the rock that was him. He continued to suckle her, riding out her body's pleasure. She laid slack against the pillows, trying to regain her sanity, trying to capture her breath, all the while, he went about his business, suckling her clitoris, fingering her wet, hot pussy, not giving her the time to gain the breath into her body before the pressure builds again. She climaxed not a minute before, but her body is ready again, his ministrations not allowing her a moment’s respite. He continued the motions he used to bring her to her first climax, and within minutes she is screaming her passion for the pleasure he has wrought in her body. And again, he gives her no time for respite. Continuing his assault on her vagina, with his tongue, teeth, fingers...he tortured her core, in an experiment of sexuality. How many orgasms can he render from her body using his mouth and fingers? Continuing his oral exploration of her sex, licking the folds, lapping up her wet desire, he penetrated her slit with four of his long, thick, strong fingers. After two mind shattering orgasms, her body is open, wet and flowing, so he eased his hand deeper inside her, adding his thumb to the fingers already deep in her wet sex. He slowly eased his hand in deeper still, feeling her body stiffen and resist, but she wanted the pressure and the mild pain his hand would rend. She moaned and breathed yes, giving him his leave ... to do what she wants him so desperately to do. She wanted him to press on, so he does and slips his whole hand inside her body. Arching her back, Kaya screamed out again with her pleasure. He slipped his hand out and brought the hand to her face. She held his wrist while she cleaned his hand with her lips and tongue, tasting the sweet passion he has rent from her body. As she cleaned him, the suckling of his fingers causes electric shocks that travel straight to his cock, making it swell and become impossibly harder. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, and his stiff cock throbbed with that same heartbeat. If he did not gain

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entry soon, he would die. His experiment would have to wait; he cannot taste her with his lips again until he released his come deep inside her body. He snatched his hand away, sliding her ass on a pillow and raising her feet high into the air. He then plunged into her wet heat in one swift motion. She was so wet and ready from his earlier ministrations that he glides in without protest. They both moaned loudly at the joining of their two bodies. He stilled, just enjoying the feeling of being rooted deep inside her. She instinctually moved her hips, begging for the motion that will give them both pleasure, but he waited, while the clinging wetness of her body wrapped around his organ almost too much for him to bear. Once ready, he slipped his cock from her and pounded back into her willing flesh. He started a hard slapping rhythm, pounding her sex, shaking the bed, making her scream. Moving his body to be closer, he felt her womb at the end of his cock. Besh felt the familiar pressure building in her again, as he did in himself. His cock was in heaven, delighted by the heat of her molten channel. He knew it would not take long for him to crash over the edge; so he slowed his speed, and caressed her pussy with his cock. Slowly in and out, reveling in her body and how good it made him feel. She begged for him to speed up again, to harshly take her, but he cannot, he must enjoy this as long as he can....he never wants to exit her body. To stay in her arms, in her pussy forever would be his version of the afterlife. But his own body betrayed him and he had to have his climax and he began ravaging her beautiful pussy with his hot, hard dick. He pounded against her, the slapping sound echoed in the room, as he plundered her body. The pressure in his body heightened even more, as he sensed it build higher in hers. She was so close. He was close. Bodies pounding together, pressure building even higher... is it possible to feel better than this? Both scream out their pleasure, both cresting on each other. They drop to the bed, spent, limp, heavy. Before sleep overtook them, Besh pulled Kaya into the circle of his arms. “I love you my Princess. No matter what happens, know I love you with all my heart for the rest of my life.” Kaya kissed the underside of his strong jaw. “I love you my General. We will be together again.” The pair, holding on desperately to each other, finally drifted off to sleep. Hopefully it would not be for the last time.

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Chapter Eleven Besh awoke with a snap as he felt someone putting pressure on his chest and arms. He opened his eyes to see Dak Jin standing over him. “I thought you would never awaken. You sleep like the dead.” Here is my opportunity. Besh grabbed the man by the neck and slowly began strangling, refusing to allow the traitor to gain another breath. Dak lashed out against him, scratching, punching, kicking, but the grip Besh had on the man’s throat was immovable. Because he could not get air, Dak could not scream for help, so he began to kick the walls, the mat, anything to get their attention before losing consciousness. Besh pulled Dak to the center of the small cell, in hopes the man could not be able to reach the walls to gain help. Unfortunately, it was no good, as Besh heard heavy footsteps racing down the outside corridor. Dak was close to losing consciousness, so Besh hoped he could knock him out and then hopefully battle the soldiers before he was again caged like a beast. Luck was on his side that moment, and he felt Dak go limp in his arms. He held on to his neck for a few more seconds, to make sure that he truly was unconscious, and threw him into the floor just as the first soldier entered the cell. Besh attacked with the ferocity of a wild beast, the only thing on his mind was saving Kaya, and returning her to where she belonged, by his side. Besh easily disabled the first soldier, stealing his weapon as the next three gained the door. He had only seconds before one of these men would raise the alarm and Besh’s attempt at escape would be foiled. He blindsided the second, aiming his weapon at the last man in the pack, hoping to prevent any of them from escaping to warn the rest of the ship. He blasted twice, just as one of the warriors grabbed him by the hand and three bodies landed on top of each other in a heap, unmoving. **** Kaya awoke to the sounds of busy activity in the outer rooms. She gathered herself, washed her face and hands quickly and went to join the rest of the group. When she walked into the room, she saw warriors swarming the rooms, all dressed in the battle gear she had first seen in her café. She stifled a scream, and started thinking of the best way to exit unnoticed, when she saw Eetu. He was standing in the middle of the group of soldiers smiling across the room at her. “Princess, I believe your American Westerners would say, ‘The cavalry has come’”, he beamed at Kaya, still standing stunned on the fringes of the room. “The Senate believed you! They are collecting the troops, and they are here to protect you. We need to hurry to the palace. Come!” Kaya stood still, unsure if she were still dreaming or if she had heard correctly. The cavalry most certainly is here, she thought to herself as she saw the dozen warriors around the room. Mente was also there, speaking to one of the soldiers with his helmet off. The man looked just like Mente, younger, and actually a couple of inches taller, making him the giant of giants. When he turned to look in her direction, she knew this

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was definitely Aataar, as he had the same warm green eyes she had first seen on Mente. She pushed away from the wall she had been holding on to for dear life, and walked towards Eetu. Her friend grasped her hand and led her out the door with a full accompaniment of soldiers guarding her from every angle. She was whisked into one of the vehicles she had seen flying through the air at unnatural speeds. The vehicles were huge, able to fit herself, Eetu, Mente and all the armed guards attending her comfortably, with room for more. Soon they were on their way to the palace at breakneck speed. They reached the palace gates in no time and were quickly ushered inside. The vehicle stopped in front of a large set of intricate doors, with fine details that reminded her of the lace skirt she wore for her Joining ceremony. Two soldiers opened the doors for her to walk through and she entered the most luxurious place she could ever behold. Sights she did not even know existed were held in just the entryway alone. The cavernous space that consisted of the entry was made of a translucent glasslike material. Stairs floated out of nowhere, leading to higher floors, where she could only imagine what kind of wonders they held. The ceiling looked like the heavens she had barely caught in the corners of her eyes as she traveled the Brox Catha, and was so realistic, she thought it really was the heavens above her. Stars shot here and there above her. Servants were lined along one wall in beautiful uniforms, and all were beautiful in every shade of the rainbow and beyond. The group was led to the back of the house, and into a room with a large table and chairs surrounding it. And it brought to Kaya’s mind an executive boardroom on Earth, but different, something out of a science fiction movie. The table, made of the same translucent glass, levitated in the center of the room, as did the seats around it. The Speaker of the Senate as well as a few other faces she thought she remembered seeing there that day and two warriors were already seated. The Speaker motioned for her and Eetu to be seated in the two empty seats in front of them. Eetu sat instantly, but Kaya stared at her seat for a moment, scared of possibly doing it wrong and landing on her butt in front of these men and women. Eetu noticing her pause, grasped her hand and whispered for her to just sit down. She did and the meeting began. “Princess D’Hanna, we owe you a debt of gratitude for what you have done thus far. We scanned the Inoc world and found several Bel Tak ships. We also located more Bel Tak scattered around the Empire, all in seats of power, readying for a surprise attack. We have sent our fleets to destroy them. I just got word that we just liberated the Emperor and Empress, as well as most of the ruling family.” “Besh?” “We have sent a ship to intercept the transport and free your husband, your majesty.” “What about his charges?” “Princess, we have not enforced that rule in eons,” the speaker said with a chuckle. “Couples through the galaxy break Si’ ni Mon daily, I even did as a lad. It is an old law that should have been dissolved millennia ago, but we tend to hold our ruling class to a higher standard, so General Et Fatel was trying to do the right thing. As long as he only met with you, and you both never participated in intercourse before the Joining ceremony, then you have done nothing wrong. He will not stand trial, and he will be freed.” Kaya bit her tongue, hoping they would not outright ask her if they had

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participated in pre-Joining coupling, because she was a terrible liar. But again, that was a silly rule in her eyes as well. They were consenting adults, soul mates about to Join, what did it matter? So she stayed blessedly silent and listened to the plans the men were covering with her for finalizing the battles, when a soldier entered the room and went down to the end of the table to confer with the speaker. As Kaya watched the warrior converse with the speaker, she saw the frown deepen on his face. The Speaker met her eyes with a sense of dread that gave Kaya goose bumps all over her body. He then closed his eyes tightly and shook his head before placing it in both hands. After a pause, he looked up, right into Kaya’s horrified face. She sensed the news before she was told. “A ship intercepted the transport your husband was on. It was destroyed. There is no one left alive.” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!” Her world spinning in front of her eyes was the last thing Kaya remembered seeing. **** Kaya awoke in a soft bed in a beautiful room filled with mementos of a lifetime. She wasn’t sure where she was at all and still feeling groggy, she sat up to survey the room she was in closer. Once she was seated, she saw a form across the room stand up and walk towards her. As it came closer, her blurred vision recognized it was the Empress. The Empress sat down on the corner of the bed and gazed down lovingly at Kaya. “I wondered when you would awaken. You have been asleep for two days, my dear. How do you feel?” Kaya looked up and thought, two days, why have I been asleep for two days and her mind reached out for the last thing she remembered before that moment. Suddenly, the truth hit her like a train and she began sobbing uncontrollably. The Empress pulled her into her arms and rocked her like she was a child, rubbing her back and whispering words of love and sympathy. They sat locked like that for nearly an hour, Kaya unable to move from the comfort of the woman’s arms, afraid of what would happen next, and sure she could not handle any more to come. Finally, once Kaya’s sobs had subsided some, the Empress sat back and looked down into her face. Wet marks scarred her beautiful face, as she had wept along with Kaya. “My dear, I hurt as much as you. He was such a beautiful child who grew into a strong man, a man who deserved to finally have the love he had waited so long to have.” “You saved our Empire, and most of our lives, and for that we can never repay you. But know as Besh’s partner and the savior of our worlds, we will care for you for the rest of your life. You are welcome here, or on any planet in the system, for as long as you want, and we will supply your every need and have guards protecting you. And from this point on, you are in every way my cherished daughter and will be treated as such.” Kaya gazed up into the Queen’s warm face. “Thank you,” she whispered and hugged the Empress again, her sobs returning. After a few more moments, Kaya pulled away, “I am sorry, I should let you go. I am sure you have better things to do than to sit here playing nursemaid to me.” “My dear, all of our hearts are breaking, but yours the most. I can’t think of a better way to spend my day than to care for the broken heart of my son’s wife.” The

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Empress smiled down at her and caressed her cheek. “You cry now until your heart cannot cry anymore, and when you have tears tomorrow or the next day, you come and find me again and I will be there to help you shed them.” So she did, she cried until her body could not cry any longer. The Empress had lain down beside her in the large bed and had held her for hours, letting her get every tear out. Kaya sat up, needing to stand and walk, to stretch the muscles that were screaming from being so overwrought. The Empress continued to lounge on the bed, watching Kaya investigate the items that decorated the room. “Whose room is this?” “It is mine.” “Oh, I am sorry. I will stop peeking through your things.” “You aren’t peeking. If there was something I did not want you to see, I would have told you so.” Kaya smiled and continued to investigate the objects surely collected over a lifetime. She gazed at clear golden orbs suspended in midair, beautiful flowers sculpted out of some sort of clay, and lovely gems uncut in pure form. Then she found something that caught her eye…a box that had a screen of some sort. “Family pictures…like your photographs, but all the images are stored inside.” Kaya nearly dropped the box, knowing the face of her love was inside, not knowing if she could stand to see it just now. The Empress had come to move behind her and took it from her hands. “Maybe it would be good for you to know him more, to see how he grew.” “So I can love him more and it can hurt more?” “No, sweetheart, so you can mourn him for the man he was.” The Empress pulled her back onto the bed, and they lay back against the pillows together, as the elder woman turned the machine on and holographic images started to appear above it, lit up and in full three dimensions so it almost looked like you could reach out and touch the person in front. She went through random images of people Kaya had never known, and then finally one rested on a little boy with familiar eyes. The Empress had been right; he had been a beautiful child. Kaya got to see Besh grow up before her eyes, his firsts, his wins, all his special moments he had shared with his family. Then she saw something that unnerved her. “Empress, who is that man with Besh in the last photo?” “First of all, sweet, please call me Mata. This whole Empress business is too formal for my daughter, hmmm?” She smiled down at Kaya. And then sighed when she turned back to the last image. “That is my eldest son, Taroth. He died five years ago on Earth.” “On Earth?” “When we sent the Scouting party to Earth to investigate the experiment, and to see if it still continued, Taroth was a curious warrior, always at the ready to charge into the next battle front. Which his father hated, as Taroth was expected to be the heir to the throne. We constantly worried about his safety. But Fatel hoped that the trip would appease him some. Little did we know he would never come back.” Kaya knew that the face looked familiar, but could not remember where she had seen it, or if she really had. She could not voice her thoughts, as it would be unfair to

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bring up such a hurt when she was also struggling with a newfound heartbreak. Adding insult to injury was not Kaya’s style, especially since this woman had shown her nothing but kindness, so she dropped the subject. They continued to look at image after image, Mata explaining this one and that, especially when there was no familiar face in a particular shot, effectively introducing her to many of the family members she had not been able to yet. She saw the look of love on Mata’s face as she reviewed the pictures of all her children and it made her think of the children she would not have with Besh. No, she cannot keep dredging up what ifs, or she could not survive. “Mata?” “Yes?” “I think I want to remain in the Empire. I have met the most wonderfully warm people on both planets I have traveled to, and I can’t imagine not staying here. But I would like some time on Earth soon. Collect my life and some of my prized possessions, spend a little time with my few friends, and tell them my goodbyes, so they will not worry about me. Would that be possible?” “I don’t see why not, but I am sure the Emperor would want you to wait until the Bel Tak have all been rounded up, and we have secured the Empire before you left. But I am sure you can go immediately once they are sure it is safe to.” “That reminds me. What happened to Dak and Dar Jin? Were they among the dead on board?” “No one has told me either way. I’m sure when I find out, you will as well.” Mata looked troubled, as if she was hiding something. “You know, maybe I will accompany you to your Earth, so I can see the place you grew up in, get to know my daughter a little more? Of course, only if you would want the company. I would understand if you needed time alone, but then again, this may not be the best time for you to be alone too long.” “I think it would be wonderful to have you come along and see my world. To be honest, maybe we can take the time to see places even I have not seen before!” Mata smiled, “It’s...how do you say…a date!” **** Mata left Kaya soon after suns setting, knowing she was exhausted from the grieving she had done. Kaya had already fallen asleep some time before that, so Mata felt okay leaving her to rest. She had one of her lady’s maids sleep in the adjoining room, to listen in if Kaya needed anything through the night. Kaya slept fitfully, tossing and turning all night, hearing Besh calling her name over and over. She awoke several times throughout the night, thinking she was hearing him there in her room. But whenever she opened her eyes, she saw nothing but herself sitting in the empty room. She awoke the following morning, more exhausted than ever. Her stomach was tied into knots and she felt nearly dizzy, even lying still in her bed. She jumped from the bed and ran to the dressing room where she wretched the contents of her stomach, what little she had on her stomach, that is. She was miserable and she sunk to the floor and wept, even though she had no more tears to shed. **** Kaya spent the next few weeks waiting to hear if she was free to return to Earth. She was ready to see her home again, to ground her in reality again, because her life was

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starting to sound like a really bad romance novel. She wandered the palace and the parks outside, looking at the beautiful spaces, but not really registering anything. She continued to feel unwell, the grief taking a physical toll on her body. Besh’s voice still plagued her sleepless nights, making her weaker and weaker. Mata had voiced her concern for Kaya’s weight loss and pale appearance, urging her to eat at every turn. Mata finally won out and had her checked by the palace wi’ mia. Wi’ mia Donnel came to her room the morning before she had planned her vacation to Earth. Mata had been worried that the trip would be too much for Kaya’s weakened state. The news the wi’ mia gave her was welcome yet unwelcome at the same time. She was carrying Besh’s child.

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Chapter Twelve Mata swirled around in Kaya’s living room two weeks later, looking at all of Kaya’s various mementos. Her diploma from cooking school, her family photos, her trophies from her various cooking contests she loved to enter…her home was filled with a life that seemed unreal to her now. It was almost as if she did not exist before she met Besh and it scared her how stereotypical that sounded. A woman can stand on her own two feet, but the love of a good man, the right man, a man who will stand behind a strong woman, can make that woman ten feet tall and bulletproof. “Kaya, what is this?” Mata was staring at the television remote, so Kaya walked over and used it to turn the television on. Mata squealed with delight as she pressed all the buttons to see what they would do. Smiling brightly when she saw something that interested her on the screen. Kaya smiled, seeing the television through Mata’s eyes, and realizing it was pretty cool. Mata slid down to the sofa and got comfortable, not taking her eyes away from the screen. Hopefully she would not make her mother-in-law into a couch potato. Kaya walked through her house like she was looking through the life of a stranger. She stopped here and there to collect a photo, a memento, anything that reminded her of her family or friends that she would like to keep with her. After about an hour of sifting through her memorabilia, she gathered the items she decided she could not live without into two small boxes and stepped back into the living room. There, Mata and the two guards who had accompanied them to her old house were sitting glued in front of the television. So Kaya walked into her kitchen to say goodbye. She had handpicked her beautiful kitchen and loved the convenience of the equipment and storage. She walked through; gliding her hand over the hand-cut countertops, loving the feel of the cold marble under fingers. She had spent countless hours designing this kitchen and it was her favorite room in the house. She stopped at the end of the countertop where she saw a large stack of mail and her answering machine. “Who had been bringing in all her mail?” she wondered. Her machine was full, so she pressed the button to listen in as she began opening her mail. First three were telemarketers, which she quickly deleted. You would think that once your planet was invaded that the telemarketers would leave you alone, but instead they found new things to sell the masses. She sifted through most of the mail, disposing of the junk mail first, and separating the rest into bills and correspondence. She heard four messages from her friend Katie, and three from her friend and head waitress, Heather, all worried about where she was. She had forgotten about her few employees in her small café, when she was abducted. Hopefully they had fared all right. She would call them immediately after she went through the mail and messages. A large package caught her attention, so she paused her messages and opened it. It was from a local attorney’s office, one she was unfamiliar with. She pulled a large stack of papers from inside and started reading them with interest.

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She nearly fell over when she realized what she was reading. Besh had paid off her home and business, paid every debt she had, started a large savings account in her name only, started a fund that the dividends would pay for each of her monthly expenses and retained an accountant to pay those expenses, and paid her four employees each six months severance in order for them to find new jobs or to wait out her choice. He had created a safety net larger than she could ever want or need. She burst into tears and slid to the floor because she loved him more at this moment than the moment she Joined with him. For considering her needs, not that she expected him to pay all these things, but that he cared enough about her. He had truly been determined to allow her to come home if she had chosen to. **** Mata came looking for Kaya when she realized she had not seen her for a few moments and found her on the floor of the kitchen, a recent cry still damp on her cheeks. She slid down to the floor beside her and pulled Kaya’s head onto her shoulder. “What’s going on here?” Kaya handed her the documents and let them speak for themselves. After a few moments of perusing them, Mata whistled, “I never thought him serious when he said you could go home if you chose to, but evidently he was. He made sure you would never suffer financially in your world.” “He always seemed to expect my needs before I even thought about them. And if I had chosen to come home and not Join with him, reading this would have made me want to turn around and come back to him. For caring enough to consider my needs so completely.” “Maybe he hoped that it would make you change your mind?” “Perhaps. But either way, he did it, and I love him more for it.” Kaya stood up and finished her mail and messages, while Mata returned to her couch potato status for a while longer. Kaya called her friends and employees to let them know she was alright and both wanted all the juicy gossip, so she spent nearly two hours recounting most of the tale to them over the phone. She felt better knowing they had been taken care of and bad because she had not been the one who had thought to do it. But at least they were covered. She finished arranging her belongings and readying herself to leave this house for quite some time. She did not know when she would be back again. She walked back into the living room to see the three still sitting in the position she had left them in hours ago, eyes still glued to the images on the screen and had to laugh at the sight before her. She left them in the living room and walked to her bedroom. Kaya had not adjusted to the fact she would be sleeping alone and how strange the level of comfort she had had with Besh in such a short time to already miss sleeping beside him or in his arms. She crawled into her big empty bed and sighed, pulling a large pillow into her arms and hugging it to her body. She always seemed to feel tired in the last few weeks, so she surrendered to her body’s need, she had more than herself to worry about now. The baby she carried would fill part of the void left behind by Besh. **** “Kaya?” Kaya bolted upright in her bed when she clearly heard his voice. As her eyes

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cleared through the fog of sleep, she saw a shadow at the end of her bed. “Besh?” The figure slid into the bed beside her and pulled her into his warm arms. Was she dreaming this time or was this like the times before? “Oh, my dear Princess, you thought I was dead, didn’t you?” The figure whispered into her ear. “Yes”, she whimpered, and sobbed as she pushed her face into his broad chest. “Well, you little bitch, you have ruined everything for me, so now I will show you my brand of retribution.” Dak clamped his hand over her mouth before she could scream and alert the others. He put a chemical laden cloth to her nose and almost instantly she went limp in his arms. **** Kaya awoke, her hands bound behind her back, sitting on the floor inside a small spacecraft. She looked up into the dirty, bloodied face of Dak Jin. “I was beginning to worry you would never wake up, not that that would necessarily be a bad thing, Princess.” “What are you going to do with me?” “You, my dear, are a filthy half-breed ape and I am aghast I even had to dirty my hands and touch you. How Besh sleeps at night by your side without being ill is beyond me. I think I will do what we do with our trash in this galaxy, jettison you out into space and let your lungs and heart explode into your body.” Kaya looked around the craft, looking for a way out, anything that could aid in an escape. As in most mothers, she thought of the safety of her child, her child must be saved. She scanned, but saw nothing that would help her. “What will you do after you dispose of me?” “Oh, Princess, you don’t have to worry yourself about that now. I will survive. I always do.” Dak held tighter on the helm of the ship, proving Kaya could easily get under his skin, so she stood up to look into his face and pressed further. “You have nowhere to go, you can’t return to the home world. Everyone in the galaxy will be hunting you down. The ruling family, except for Besh, is intact, and now that they know you are a traitor, I’m sure they will put a price on your head. What happens to you, Dak Jin?” Dak jumped to his feet and stalked her around the space until he cornered her into the console he was using to navigate the ship. “TRAITOR? I am not a traitor. The Et Fatel line is the traitorous ones in this Empire. They have slowly destroyed the principles we have held close to our bosom for eons. They seem to think that all are equal, and we are not all equal. The upper classes are better than all the races we have conquered throughout millennia. If they were better, they would have won or not begged us to join the Empire. I wanted to return the Empire to where it belonged. So, bitch, do not call me the traitor, for I am not one.” While Dak had been screaming into her face, Kaya hit several of the buttons, hoping that one would damage the ship enough to prevent it from getting any further. Luckily, it seemed she had done just that as several of the alarms all went off at once. He grabbed her shoulder and threw her across the room and slammed her into a wall. She slid down the wall and curled up on the floor. “You bitch! What have you done?” He furiously worked to control the ship and

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repair whatever she had done. All around him, systems seemed to shut down, as displays went dark all around him. “Damn it, you have destroyed the quantum engines.” Kaya’s eyes lit up, knowing they would float around in space, and when he sent a call for help, she had a chance of escape. If he did not kill her first. Dak continued to work on the ship, moving frantically around the space, desperate to repair the damage she had wrought. Finally, Dak sat down in the pilot’s seat, put his head into his hands, and then whipped his head to look at her. “What is it about you? What power do you have to always ruin my plans?” A crazy look filled Dak’s eyes, and she realized maybe she had pushed this man too far. **** The two floated aimlessly in space for what seemed like hours. Dak had not said anything to her, and she nothing to him. He had not done anything to her, which she was grateful for. But the silence was about to kill her, she had to know what was going through his mind, find out what plans he was hatching, in order for her to survive this. “Why haven’t you thrown me out into space already? Why have we just sat here?” “Because Princess, since you have shut down all systems on the ship, there is no more air being produced to breathe. If I open the hatches to push you out, then I will lose some of the air in the cabin.” “So, we are just going to sit here and float, use up all the oxygen and die?” “I sent out a distress call before the last of the systems went down, hopefully a ship will pass and hear it. As it approaches, I can kill you, leave your body here and leave in peace, knowing you will never cause me grief again. I can go lick my wounds and plan for the second assault. Without you to get in my way, I won’t have to worry about you sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong.” Just as Dak finished, a light flashed through the front windows of the craft, blinding the pair. Before Kaya had enough time to think about what she was about to do, she rushed over to where Dak had been sitting on the floor, hoping he was still on the floor, and she lay down on her back and started kicking madly at the level she had thought his head might be. She kept kicking, hoping to connect with flesh, in hopes of disabling him so he would not kill her before the ship outside saved him and left her to die. Finally she connected with a large, soft object, and hoped it was a head. She heard a sound uttered from his lips and then a soft thud to the floor. She rushed to the windows of the ship and tried to make sure whoever was inside the other ship was friendly and not Bel Tak. The large beam turned off, and began to turn away. Nooooo! Kaya screamed in her head, how could she have gotten this far and then to have salvation so close at hand, and that salvation turn away and leave her and her baby here to die. Slowly, her ship seemed to move towards the larger ship outside, as if it was being pulled towards it. A large door began to open at the back of the ship and her ship floated into the spacious bay inside. Kaya stared around the bay, hoping to get a hint about who owned it, and whether they were friendly. She sees no beings, just a dark, empty bay filled with several smaller ships and cargo. The hatch they had entered into the large ship closed, and a rush of air hit the

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ship. Kaya hoped that was the oxygen coming back into the bay, and decided to get out of this ship and try to find someone, anyone, before Dak tried to hurt her. She pushed open the small hatch she found on the back of her vessel and couldn’t find any stairs to exit. Even as small as this craft was, she would have to drop at least 15 feet to the floor, and she risked hurting herself and the baby. But if she did not, then she may risk dealing with a very pissed off Dak. So she sat on the floor and wiggled her bound hands to the edge of her bottom, pulling them under her and over her legs, bringing her hands to the front of her body. She then slipped her feet over the edge, dangling her feet as far down as possible, turns and grasped the edge of the frame with her hands, dangling, in hopes she could get closer to the floor before letting go of the edge. Whispering a short prayer for her and the child, she let go, hit the floor and instinctively curled into a ball and rolled several feet on the floor. She lay still for a moment, trying to figure out if she was hurt, and realized besides a few possible bumps and bruises, she seemed to be fine. As she pulled herself up to her feet, difficult as it was with bound wrists, a doorway opened, and a brightly lit hallway was visible as she gained her footing. A humanoid male figure stood in the door, and she began racing towards it, begging the powers in the universe for it to be someone who would save her from sure death. The figure just stood in the doorframe, waiting for her to reach the door. She stopped just in front of the door, the individual standing there shadowed because of the brightness of the hallway he stood in front of. Kaya, exhausted, began to beg the man to protect her from Dar. “Please, I have been abducted by a horrible man bent on killing me, I think I have disabled him in the ship over there, but he could come round at any moment. Please, please…you must help me.” The man grasped her by the top of her arms; hands still bound and hauled her up into his arms. She screamed, terrified of a worse fate than what awaited her in the ship behind her. He began to kiss her face and neck as she pulled away from him, and pushed him away with her whole body, being totally ineffectual without the full use of her hands. He meant to rape her? “Noooooo! You can’t rape me. I am with child, please, I beg of you, release me!” The man’s arms went limp and she kicked out of his arms and fell to the floor. He stood above her, apparently staring down at her. She began to sob, as she realized there was no escape. She went from one hell to another and she had no more strength to fight, and slumped in a heap on the floor, unconscious. The man reached down and started untying her wrists, tenderly rubbing his fingers around her wrists, feeling for injuries over her body. He then gathered her limp form into his arms, one arm under her knees, the other under her back, and carried her out of the bay. He summoned three guards to go check on the man inside the ship they had captured, and carried the fragile woman into a room on an upper floor of the ship. **** Kaya awoke in a small room in a soft bed with a figure sitting to the edge, holding her hand. As her vision cleared, she realized it was the Empress. “Mata, I am so happy to see you! Where are we? How did I get here?” She sat up and grasped the woman into a warm hug, glad to be safe and alive. “Darling, our ship is the one that found you. How smart you were to disable the

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ship, we may not have caught up to you in time if you hadn’t.” “Dak Jin?” “He is in shackles and restraints, in a cage, within a cell, surrounded by a force field. He will not escape, and will stand trial for his treachery.” “Does your planet have the death penalty? I have been against it in the past, but for that man, I will make the exception.” Mata smiled down at her, unshed tears in her eyes. “I am so glad you are alright. I could never have forgiven myself if you had been hurt after being stolen from right under my nose. Kaya, can you forgive me?” “There is nothing to forgive you for. And I am okay, so you have nothing to worry about.” “The baby?” Kaya blushed, she had not told the Empress about the baby yet, afraid to get anyone’s hopes up before passing the fragile first few months. “The baby is fine?” “Yes, but why did you not tell me sooner?” “The first few months are so delicate, I was waiting to be sure of the baby’s health before I told you. You didn’t need another tragedy.” Mata smiled at her. “So strong. You stand up to my son, you battle a foe and win with your hands behind your back, and you save an Empire. What more can one tiny woman do to amaze me any more than she already has?” Kaya smiled. “I only fought him so hard to save the baby. It is the only thing I have left of Besh. I wouldn’t let Dak Jin take that away from me.” Mata smiled deeply and beamed down at her. “Dear Kaya, I must tell you something that may surprise you. I had not told you a secret as well, afraid I would give you too much hope. If it was not true, then you would have been devastated.” “When Besh’s ship was found with no one alive, three bodies were missing. Dar and Dak Jin’s bodies were not there.” Mata paused, then added, “Nor was Besh’s.” Kaya felt her world spinning. She felt sick and slid to the vase to her left and wretched. Mata smoothed her back and hair, trying to calm her. “Have they found him?” she barely finished. “Yes. He made it to an escape shuttle and fled the ship. He was badly injured, shot in the chest and leg, unconscious, but alive. Somehow, he had floated in the shuttle for nearly a week, mostly unconscious, before a Yeg H’dar merchant ship found him and brought him to wi’ mia in the nearest outpost. The wi’ mia recognized who he was and brought him to Hara D’Noll to heal.” Tears began to openly flow down both women’s faces. “Once he regained consciousness, he found that you had traveled to Earth, and he used Brox Catha to come find you. He arrived at your home and we went to your room, only to find you had been abducted. Besh deduced that Dak had probably taken you, and we began to scan your Milky Way for recent quantum travel.” “We found the ship’s quantum wake, heard the distress call, and hoped it was you. And it was. Besh came to save the day and you had already saved yourself.” Kaya sat on the bed, tears flowing, trying to register all that she had heard. She was numb. “Where is he?” “In the next room.”

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“Why wasn’t he here when I awoke?” “He was afraid that the shock of seeing him would harm you or the baby. You have been through so much Kaya.” “I need him.” Kaya wailed. “BESH!” She screamed with every fiber of her being, her pain and the mourning she had endured audible in every sound uttered out of her mouth. The door to her room was slammed open, and he stood in her doorway. They both looked into each other’s eyes and stared, unmoving for a few seconds. And then Kaya crawled to the end of the bed and Besh ran to the end of the bed and they met, slamming into each other’s arms, kissing and holding tightly onto each other, knowing letting go would cause physical pain in each other’s body. The Empress sidled out of the room to give them their privacy, looking back for a moment at her beautiful children in love before closing the door so they could hold their reunion in private. Besh pulled back a fraction, pulled her lovely face into his hands and looked deeply into her chocolate brown eyes, “Kaya, My Princess, I thought I would never see you again. I cannot live without you my love.” Fresh tears streamed down Kaya’s face. “You won’t have to, as I refuse to leave your side anytime soon.” She smiled and then buried her face into his chest, smelling his warm, virile body, hugging him close to her, not willing to let go. “The baby?” “Yes?” she looked up into his face. “I told you I wanted you plump with my child. I work fast.” He smiled and winked at her. “Don’t make me punch you when I am so happy to see you again,” she warned with a smile. “Oh, my strong little warrior, you have fought enough these past few weeks. Why not let me fight your battles for a while, so you can be strong for our child.” She smiled at him, “Besh, I never thought I could love someone this much, this fast. You make me happier than I have ever thought I could be. Thank you for abducting me and keeping me prisoner. It was for my own good.” He laughed at that. “Well, men are superior in intellect than our female counterparts,” he said with a hint of humor. She punched him. Hard. And then grabbed his head and pulled it down for her to kiss him. Hard. They locked each other in an embrace, deeper than they had ever felt before. Kaya then understood the true depth of her feeling for this man, after thinking he was lost to her forever. She wanted her kiss to be able to show him exactly how she felt. “Besh, I think the last time we saw each other, we were interrupted.” “Oh, now were we? I don’t think I can remember. Remind me where we were.” She smiled up at him. “I believe you were flat on your back, immersed in pleasure beyond your dreams.” “Oh, was I now? I think you are going to have to show me.” “I think that can be arranged.” Besh pushed her down on the bed, covering her with his body. “But, this time I get to show you how much I love you, too.” “You don’t have to prove anything. I know.” “I want to prove my desire to pleasure you. I know you know the depth of my

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love for you.” She looked into his eyes and he stole her lips with his own and started to build the fire that had already been stoked in them both. He pulled his tongue past her teeth and began a plundering attack on her mouth, tasting her very depths. She returned the passion and desire he poured into her body with her mouth, running her hands down his chest and arms, rubbing her body against his heat. Too crazed with the desire that coursed through his body, Besh pulled and tore the fine cloth covering her body, throwing it into a matted ball onto the floor beside the soft bed. She pushed and pulled at his clothing, hearing them rent with fine tears as they could not control the passion they felt. “I think we should both be nude all the time, it would save a lot of money on clothing.” “But don’t we have to leave our rooms eventually?” “After what we just endured, staying in bed for the next year sounds wonderful.” She laughed at that, and then took his mouth again, stealing her breath from him, becoming one spiraling mass of limbs and bodies. Finally, he slid down her body and locked his mouth to her wet sex, suckled her, and wrought orgasm after orgasm from her, until her body was limp and lying still in the bed. Needing to join his body with hers, Besh pulled her on top of his aching form and slid deeply into her sex, and both cried out in the joy of finally having this, finally being one again.

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Epilogue Besh walked down the wide sidewalk with his pregnant wife. Kaya had wanted to come back to Earth, and sell her home and café, as she realized she had no plans to return. She also wanted to spend some time with her friends while there. She stopped in front of the café, unlocked the doors and opened them. The potential buyer would be there soon. As they stood waiting for the meeting, a familiar looking woman stopped as she was passing the three of them on the sidewalk. “Kaya?” “Hi, how are you?” The woman embraced her, looked at the man beside her and unexpectedly frowned. Kaya wondered what that frown was about. “This is my husband, Besh. I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name, but I know your face. It has been a while.” “Corrine. Corrine Phillips. My boyfriend and I used to frequent your café at least once a week.” She glanced at Besh, “It is very nice to meet you.” She shook Besh’s hand, still with a slight frown on her face, and then turned to Kaya. “So are you reopening? We sure miss coming here. Our Saturday night dinners here were always so delicious, and a special night for us.” “No, I am afraid not. I have moved, so I am selling the building. We are waiting for the potential buyer as we speak. But I appreciate the kind words. It is nice to know that you enjoyed my restaurant so much.” “That’s a shame. We both enjoyed it so much, but from the looks of things, a little one soon on the way, you have your hands full. I was always so jealous of you; I can’t cook to save my life. Hold on, there is my boyfriend now.” She stepped away from the trio and yelled down the street at a form that just stepped out of one of the other local shops that lined Main Street. “John! John, I am down here.” The man began walking towards them as Kaya looked back at the woman in front of her. “Well, I am certainly glad you enjoyed….” Kaya could not finish her sentence as she saw the face approaching her over Corrine’s shoulder. It was a younger version of the Emperor, and also bore a striking resemblance to Besh. She turned to look at Besh, to see if he had noticed it as well. He had. His face was ashen, and he stood as still as a statue. As he reached them, Corrine added, “This is my boyfriend, John.” John stuck his hand out to them, but they both just stared at his face. Besh, clearly pained, looked the man up and down. “Taroth?”

The End