Lycan's Surrender

LYCAN’S SURRENDER An Ellora’s Cave Publication, May 2004 Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc. PO Box 787 Hudson, OH 44236-0787 ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-84360-868-5 Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned): Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML LYCAN’S SURRENDER © 2004 JACI BURTON Edited by Briana St. James. Cover art by Syneca.

LYCAN’S SURRENDER

Jaci Burton

Dedication

For all those who have fought for freedom, I thank you and dedicate this book to you.

And for Charlie, who is my warrior, my king and my love.

Chapter One The Planet Czeralion

Lycan, King of Raynar, stood over the carnage. Bodies littered the arid, desert landscape. The battle had been fierce, moreso because they’d run into two different clans. Some of those that lay dead on the hard, unforgiving ground were female. That could not be helped. He whirled at the sound of a moan, realizing a woman at his feet still breathed. He remembered this one. He thought he had killed her, even though he had not sliced through her, merely bashed her helmeted head with his sword “Is she dead?” Lycan shrugged in response to Tor’s question. He knelt and bent over the unconscious woman, placing two fingers on the side of her neck. “She has a pulse.” “Too bad.” Lycan frowned at his best friend. “We’re taking her back with us. Check the others. See if anyone else is alive.” Tor frowned, his expression filled with anger. “She tried to kill you. Why don’t you just finish her off?” Why, indeed? If she were any other warrior, she’d already be dead. But women were protected in the kingdom of Raynar. Though she wasn’t of Raynar, she was still female and would not be intentionally harmed. Besides, it was his blow that sent her to the ground. While perfectly acceptable to defend himself against an attacking female, there was nothing noble about running her through while she lay helpless on the ground. “I’m taking her back.” With a sigh of disgust, Tor turned on his heel and mounted his balon, giving orders to the other warriors to search the bodies for signs of life. Tor’s furry beast let out a howling cry, its blue horn pointing toward the sky. Tor pulled on the reins and galloped away, leaving Lycan alone with the woman. He pulled off her helmet and checked her head for other injuries. She was a mess, her hair tied back in some kind of braid and filthy with the dirt of battle. Her leggings and arm braces were torn and she stunk to high heaven.

With hands more gentle than he should use on an enemy, he lifted her and climbed easily onto his black balon, positioning the female in front of him so he could hold her in place. Her head dropped against his chest and he wound his arms around her. The animal let out the same piercing wail as Tor’s, then took off at a fast run at Lycan’s command. The ride back to Raynar was long, and yet the woman had not regained consciousness by the time they arrived at the gates. He lifted her off the balon, ordering his aide to dispatch the physician to the chambers next to his bedroom. The woman was feather light, her slight frame like a child’s. But her body was that of a woman. Her breasts were plump and full, as evidenced by the peek of cleavage displayed through the tattered laces of her thin shirt. Lycan kicked the door open to his chamber and walked through to the second bedroom. He deposited the woman in the center of the silken coverlet. Still no response from her. He reached for her throat again and found her pulse still beating steady. “You called for me?” Lycan turned at the question from Dar, the royal physician. “Yes. This Dognelle woman has been injured and has not regained consciousness. Look her over. I’ll be back shortly.” Dar nodded and bent over the woman, quickly untying the laces of her shirt. Lycan tilted his head to the side and watched, enjoying the exposure of one side of a creamy breast. Lingering was unnecessary and yet he couldn’t seem to turn his eyes away from the slow unveiling. Dar would report his findings when he finished examining the woman. Besides, Lycan needed a bath and a change of clothes. Seven days out in the heat and dirt and he probably reeked worse than the woman. He entered the dark, paneled bath chamber, waving off the concubines who came to greet him. The smell of cedar filled the air, reminding him of swimming in the lakes as a young boy. Stripping off his clothes, he sighed deeply at the welcoming sight of the steaming water. The turquoise pool was large enough to fit a dozen, but right now he was in no mood for female company. Sliding into the warmth, he laid his head back and studied the skylights, open today to let the warm sun inside.

Tor joined him, cursing his way into the room. “Damn women,” Tor muttered, stripping quickly and sliding into the water. “You need to have them serviced by the guards or some of the other staff members while we’re gone. I can no more step foot in the palace than ten of them are on me.” Lycan laughed. “And you’re complaining? You love them all and you know it.” A half smile curled Tor’s lips. “Maybe. Right now I’m just tired. I want to sleep until morning. Alone.” Lycan knew how Tor felt. His muscles were sore from hard riding and equally taxing battles. They had already spent three days fighting warriors from the Centuri Kingdom when they ran into the Dognelle on their way back home. Dognelle, while female, were well-trained warriors. Killing women went against everything Lycan believed in, yet he had no choice when they’d come upon them. Warring with the Dognelle was no different than with any of the other clans. Raynar was one of the richest kingdoms, sitting on top of prime land that any one of a hundred clans wanted to possess. The Dognelle had chances to merge with the Raynar kingdom, and had steadfastly refused to join them. Instead, they made war on Raynar just as Centuri did. “Sometimes it seems like we’ve been at war since the day I was born,” Lycan murmured, staring into the rippling blue water. “We have been. Since we were old enough to wield a sword and mount a balon, we’ve been warriors. Before that, we played war, then trained for it. It’s our life, Lycan. We have to defend what’s ours.” Heaviness weighed on Lycan’s soul. “I realize that. I just wish we could have peace.” Tor snorted. “Peace? With who? The Dognelle? I’d just as soon slice off my own dick than lie down with those heathens.” “They’re just women,” Lycan muttered. “They’re barbarians. Probably cut our throats, or even worse, while we slept.” And one lay unconscious in the chamber next to his. Maybe he should sleep with his sword tonight. After he bathed, he dressed in buff leather pants. When he returned to the secondary

chamber, Dar had finished his exam. “She has a lump on the head, which is why she is sleeping. I don’t find any of her bones to be broken, or any internal injuries. She’ll most likely wake in the middle of the night. Give her water and nothing more until morning.” Lycan nodded and stared at the woman. She looked so small in the middle of the giant bed. He stepped closer, wrinkling his nose as he drew near. “Damn, woman. You really need a bath,” he said, scowling at her as if she could hear him. He turned and stalked away, determined to ignore the presence of the smelly creature in the room He had more pressing details to attend to than watch over someone who should be sleeping with the balons, not in a silken bedchamber.

***** Starr woke to an unfamiliar sensation beneath her. Soft, sweetly scented silk bunched under her fingers. Where the hell was she? She bolted to a sitting position, wincing when a sharp pain knifed inside her head. It was pitch black, but no stars overhead. No blistering hot dirt under her body. She was inside, but inside where? The last thing she remembered was fighting the Raynar, clods of dirt spraying from the hooves of the balons and mixing with the spit of flying steel as sword hit sword. She remembered a dark presence blocking the sun from her eyes. A Raynar warrior had come at her wielding his sword over his head. Then her world went black. Until now. She shifted to the side, feeling her way to the edge of what she assumed was a bed. She couldn’t be in the Dognelle kingdom as her people didn’t own fabrics like this. Rough, scratchy wools and linens made up their stiff-boarded sleeping beds, not silk as soft as rainwater. Raynar. She was in the Raynar kingdom, she’d bet her last dracol on it. But how, and more importantly, why? By rights she should be dead now. If she’d been struck by the Raynar warrior, he’d have run her through. She’d seen many of her warriors lying lifeless on the ground, something she’d mourn the rest of her days. Why could there be no peace? Why should Raynar have everything when her people had

nothing? Where was the equality in that? Because of that monster, Lycan of Raynar, her people were dying. His refusal to share the kingdom’s goods resulted in many of the surrounding clan going to war to eke out what little resources were available on this godforsaken planet. And yet Raynar’s people lived the life of luxury, judging from the soft, silken bed she’d just slipped out of. Oh, he’d offered to open up the gates of Raynar and take in the Dognelle. But no woman in Raynar was free, and no Dognelle woman would agree to become a slave just to wear fine clothes and have plentiful food. They’d rather starve in the desert than live under any man’s rule. Her eyes adjusting to the darkness, she could make out faint shapes in the room. Why was she in this room, not even chained, instead of their prison? None of this made sense, but she wasn’t going to stay here long enough to find the answers. She’d kill whoever got in her way, but she’d make her way back to Dognelle tonight. Starr spied a tall vase sitting on a pedestal, and shuffled slowly toward it, her toes sinking into the thick rug in front of the bed. Her fingers closed over the bottom of the vase and she lifted it. Heavy. Perfect to clout a hulking Raynar over the head. She froze at the sound of creaking floorboards in the next room. A light shone through the crack in the door. Starr hurried into position next to the door, hoping that whoever came through didn’t see her lurking there before she had the chance to split their skull. The light brightened as the door opened, and she hefted the object, prepared to strike. Suddenly the vase was pulled from her hands and a pair of strong arms circled her waist, squeezing the breath out of her. The stranger pulled her against his massive chest and she was roughly pulled through the doorway. She squinted in the bright lights, trying to fight off whoever had a death grip around her middle. “Let go of me, you fucking barbarian! I can’t breathe!” He whipped her around so her back rested against his chest. “Good. Now listen to me,” he whispered, his breath warm against her cheek. “You have nothing to say that I’d be interested in hearing.” She leaned as far forward as possible, giving her leverage to kick her foot up to smash against his balls. But he countered by

shoving one strong thigh between her legs. She struggled, and she was by no means physically weak. But her strength was no match for the Raynar warrior. Finally, she gave up, sucking in a huge gulp of air when he relaxed his grip. He turned her around and held on to her shoulders. She glanced up and finally got a good look at the beast who held her. Only he was no beast. Broad shoulders were centered by a wide chest covered in a dusting of dark hair. His narrow waist and slender hips rested on well-muscled thighs encased in very tight leather breeches. He was so tall she had to tilt her head back to see his face. Brilliant blue eyes shone from sun-darkened skin. Raven black hair surrounded his face. By Lal’s halos, he was gorgeous. While she was filthy and smelled like balon shit. And why the hell did she care? She never noticed men, didn’t care for them, had never had a man and had no intention of lying down with this one. Clearly, she’d suffered a head injury of sorts. What else would make her react this way to the heathen in front of her? “Are you quite though ogling me?” he asked, amusement dancing in his wicked smile. “I never ogle,” she said. Not until just now, anyway. He let go of her arms and walked over to a table against the wall. She eyed him warily while plotting her escape through the double doors on the other side of the room. “Don’t bother,” he said nonchalantly, his back still turned to her. “There are guards on the other side of the door.” “Do you read minds?” “No. You’re just obvious.” Bastard. He turned and approached her, holding out a cup. “Drink this.” “Fuck you.” “Not for a Kingdom’s jewels. You stink.” Heat rose from her neck to her cheeks and she was thankful for the dirt covering her face. She couldn’t even tell him he smelled just as bad because he’d obviously bathed. “Sorry, I haven’t had time to primp in advance of our meeting,” was all she could manage.

One corner of his mouth lifted. “Drink this. It’s water. The physician said you suffered a head injury and you were to drink water when you woke.” She eyed the glass suspiciously. No way was she going to drink some liquid that could be poison. Until he took a sip, then held it out to her. She licked her lips, barely able to swallow from the grit scratching her throat. The urge to take the glass from his hands and gulp down its contents was nearly overwhelming, but she’d be damned if she’d accept anything from him. “I don’t want any.” He shrugged and set the glass on a table next to them. “Suit yourself.” She was dying for a drink, nearly ready to pass out from the thirst, but she’d never show weakness to this barbarian. “I’ve also ordered a bath for you.” He walked toward the door and opened it, whispering something to the guard standing there. While his back was turned she grabbed the glass, gulping the liquid so quickly some of it dribbled down her chin. A bath. She’d give her right arm for a bath right now. “I don’t need a bath.” He closed the door, then walked toward her again, stopping inches away from her. Arching a brow, he sniffed loudly. “Oh, hell yes you do.” Well aware of how she smelled, she crossed her arms, defiantly lifting her chin. “You can’t force me to bathe.” His height towered over hers. She’d never considered herself small. But next to this warrior, she felt like a child. “I can force you to do whatever I want you to, and you will obey.” She sneered at him. “Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for one of your concubines. I am a free woman, not a slave.” “Not any longer. You are in the Raynar kingdom now, and as a female that puts you under our protection. Whatever freedoms you enjoyed before are gone.” She pushed aside the fear that knifed through her at the thought of her freedom being taken away. “Then run me through now. I’d rather be dead than be a slave to any man.” He tipped her chin with his finger. She refused to pull away, daring him to treat her like

one of the many concubines known to exist in this kingdom. “What is your name, woman?” he asked. “My name is Starr, and I am Queen of Dognelle. You will return me at once to my people.” His eyes widened for a moment, and then he laughed. “You are no queen. No leader of people could be a slight little girl with more dirt than weight on her.” This lower than scum warrior would definitely have to die. And soon. “Bring me before your king. I want to discuss terms of my release.” The tall warrior’s eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms, widening his stance. The position made him appear all the more imposing. “I am Lycan, King of Raynar, and there will be no discussion of your release. You are my captive, my slave, and I’ll do whatever I wish with you.” Starr let her eyes drift shut for a second, praying to the gods that this wasn’t true. This man, this savage, lived a comfortable life behind his opulent walls while the people of Dognelle went hungry. Ending his life would be her greatest wish. “I’ll battle you for my freedom,” she offered. “Give me a sword.” She was confident enough that her skills would outmatch whatever strength he possessed. He may be taller and more muscular than her, but he was no match for her speed and agility. “I’m not battling with you again. Look what happened the first time.” Her eyes widened as his words sunk in. He was the one who’d struck the blow to her head. And yet, he hadn’t killed her. Why? The question burned inside her, but she refused to ask. “Besides,” he added, “you’re nothing more than a child.” A child, indeed. Who did he think he was dealing with? “You think I’m a child?” Her bravado returned in a rush of anger. She circled him, eyeing his body as she would prime balon flesh. “You’re just intimidated at the thought of battling with a woman. Afraid you might lose?” He laughed heartily, the sound booming off the walls of the chamber. “You can’t be serious. I ‘d drop you instantly.” Hands on hips, she challenged him. “Shall we give it a try?” His eyes gleamed at something over her shoulder. “Later. I’m afraid the smell of you

might kill me.” Before she could object to his insult, two Raynar warriors stepped into the room. Lycan pointed to her and said, “Take her away and give her a bath. Return her to me when she’s clean.” The men grabbed her by the arms. She fought, kicking and clawing, but it was of no use. She couldn’t match their physical strength. At least not until she’d lulled them into thinking she was cooperating. Then she’d strike. As they dragged her down a darkened hallway, Starr swore she’d exact revenge on Lycan of Raynar. When she escaped, she’d leave with his blood on her sword.

Chapter Two “Begging your pardon, my king, but there’s a disturbance in the bathing chamber.” Lycan noted Mag’s worried expression. “What’s wrong?” The slight woman wrung her hands and frowned, tiny bells jangling around her wrists. “The new slave is refusing to be bathed.” “There are two guards there, Mag. Why are you bringing this news to me?” “She…she bit one and…injured the other one’s manhood.” “By the gods of Lal, I swear. Two huge warriors can’t subdue a small sprite of a woman?” He threw the documents onto his desk and stood. Mag turned and fled from the room. Barely dawn, he hadn’t slept last night, and already there were problems to deal with. Lycan stepped into the bathing room to find at least a half dozen concubines cowering in the corner. One bleeding guard barely held on to the spitting and wet wildcat. The other guard lay crumpled on the floor, cradling his balls and moaning pitifully. This was a disaster. It wasn’t possible for one woman to have created such havoc in less than an hour. She was still fully clothed and looked even worse now than she had when he’d brought her to Raynar. “Touch my breasts again, you sonofabitch, and you’ll be joining your friend there on the floor,” Starr screamed, her face twisted in rage as she spit at the guard and lifted her knee between his legs. Before Lycan could shout a warning, the guard went down howling. One of the concubines ran to his aid as he curled up on the floor. Starr made a run for the doorway, but skidded to a halt when she came face to face with Lycan. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her easily off the ground. Her hair flew in wild, wet tangles, slapping his chest and arms. She scratched at his arms and when she tried to bite, he cuffed her wrists together with one of his hands and grabbed her chin with the other. With a vise-like grip on her, he stepped into the bath fully clothed. “Strip her down and bathe her—now!” The concubines ran from their hiding places and nearly leaped into the bath. “If you come near me you’ll die, stupid women,” Starr growled.

The concubines froze, looking to Lycan for assistance. “I can control this little thing,” he assured them. “Just bathe her quickly before I lose my patience and drown her.” She wriggled against him but it did her no good. When the women approached, Lycan fit her legs between his and held her in place so she couldn’t kick. He pinned her arms at her sides, rendering her helpless. In short order they had stripped the ragged clothes off her, scrubbing her filthy hair and body. Lycan could hardly stand the stench of her and looked up at the dawn shining through the skylight above the bath, wishing he were enjoying a warm day in the sun instead of in here with a creature who smelled like a wet animal. And not once had she stopped struggling. For a small woman, she certainly was strong. But still, the guards should have been able to restrain her. He made a mental note to replace the concubine guards immediately. The two crawling off to nurse their injured balls could spend the next few days cleaning out the drainage ditches around the gates. Finally, the women finished. Lycan hauled Starr out of the bath and held her while the concubines wrapped a large towel around her body. After she was dried they combed her hair. “We need to remove her body hair, my king,” Mag said, directing Lycan to a flat table. He brought her over and placed her on top. “You aren’t removing a damn thing from my body!” she yelled, her scream reverberating in his ear. Weary of her struggling, Lycan grabbed two straps and tied her legs to each side of the table, then pulled her arms above her head and fastened them, too. He sat behind her head and held it in place. The women worked quickly, laying steaming towels over her body and then removing her hair with warm wax. She screamed as if they poured molten lava on her body. Lycan yawned, tiring of the entire process, knowing there was much work to be done. He’d rather be cleaning the drainage ditches himself than suffering the titters and giggles of the concubines. Mixed with the squalling invectives flung by his prisoner, a raging headache had formed at his temples. Fortunately, the women finished their task quickly, despite her screaming howls. Lycan prayed for a quick end to the process. He had many more important things to do.

“We are finished, my king,” Mag announced, then held out a multicolored skirt and golden halter for Starr to wear. “You are not putting me in that thing,” she growled. Mag hesitated until Lycan nodded. “Proceed and ignore the captive’s remarks.” With quick movements they removed the towel, his body becoming aware of the clean smelling female squirming in front of him. She pushed her buttocks against his cock in her efforts to escape the garment Mag held before her. Lycan hardened instantly, reminding him it had been way too long since he’d felt the heat of a woman’s pussy. He must be desperate for a good fuck, because the screaming hellcat in his arms would be his last choice of sex mates. Nevertheless, his shaft persisted in its quest to inch closer to Starr’s hot buttocks. She must have felt it too, because she stilled. For the first time since he’d walked in the room, her body froze like a statue. He smiled, wondering what she was thinking. Did she desire a man? Despite her hatred for him and his people, would she willingly welcome his arousal inside her heated depths? Ridiculous. She hated him, and he didn’t have the slightest interest in her. Despite the fact her skin was smooth, well toned, her breasts full and ripe with dusky nipples that begged for a man’s mouth to lick the buds to life. He sucked in a breath as Starr moved to get away, her buttocks again coming in contact with his aching hard-on. Unable to resist, he reached for her hips, his fingers digging into her tender flesh. He brushed his aroused cock against her full ass, then wrapped one arm around her upper chest and pulled her against him. She gasped, her nipples hardening. Lycan breathed in her fresh scent which ever so subtly mixed with her arousal. She might feign disinterest and try to fight him off, but she was primed for sex. “Leave us,” Lycan commanded. The clothing meant for Starr dropped to the floor. The concubines bowed and scurried from the room, leaving him alone with his still-naked prisoner. He turned her in his arms, surprised when she went willingly. Her luminous eyes sparkled like the green gems found in the caves outside the kingdom walls. Her lips were full and tempting and her hair, which he initially thought was a mud-brown, now streamed in

burnished gold waves down her arms, curling at the ends. He threaded his fingers through the silken strands and palmed her neck, drawing her mouth to his. She seemed as if in a trance, the former wildcat now a nearly tamed kitten. He brushed his lips against hers, taking in her shocked gasp when he teased the tip of her tongue with his. When she would have pulled back, he held her head still, gently probing the heated recesses of her mouth with his tongue before fitting his lips fully over hers. His body ached for release. He wanted this woman in his bed, legs spread to reveal her honeyed treasure. What secrets did she hold that mesmerized him so? Would she be as wild in his bedchamber as she was on the battlefield? She sighed into his mouth, her body relaxing. Her pebbled nipples rubbed against his chest and he reached for one full breast, letting it rest in his open hand before lightly flicking the extended bud with his thumb. Her whimper of surrender was all he needed. He picked her up and walked swiftly toward his bedchamber. The Queen of Dognelle would be his very shortly.

***** Starr lay mesmerized in Lycan of Raynar’s arms, her body exhausted from fighting so hard for freedom. Despite her voiced objections, she had secretly reveled in the cleansing bath, the dirt of battle washed from her skin and hair. How long had it been since she’d had a hot bath, since she’d felt clean? Too long to remember, and she’d thoroughly enjoyed the guilty pleasure. Not that she’d ever reveal that to Lycan. Lycan of Raynar, the man who held her in his arms. When she’d felt the brush of his cock hardening against her buttocks, she had nearly melted into a pool of unfamiliar, yet delicious, sensations Never before had a man been so close to her. Untouched, the feelings he evoked were new and not at all as unpleasant as she had been led to believe. Her body had come alive at his touch. His mouth wove a magic spell—her lips burned and she whimpered with delight when his tongue twined with hers. Damp desire settled between her legs, urging her to take what he offered. She’d like to think it was the shock of his touch that made her pause, because normally she

would fight off any physical advances, especially from a Raynar warrior. The last thing she wanted was to lie down with this barbarian. And yet, her curiosity over her body’s response to him overrode her normal sensibilities. She was, after all, still a virgin. Did she want to die as the virgin queen of Dognelle? No. The opportunities to have men were few and far between, and as queen she was required to mate to produce an heir. None of the men in Dognelle had the fire, strength and intelligence she needed in a mate. She wouldn’t settle for less than a man of her equal. Bedding down with the ruler of an opposing kingdom had never been an option. Until now. Had she known what she was missing she might have attempted to mate sooner. Now she could. She could allow him sex, then if she was lucky she’d end up pregnant with a royal heir. An heir who would hopefully be female. After she made her escape from this prison of silk and finery, she could give birth back in Dognelle and Lycan would never know of the child he gave her. But what if the child were male? A man to run the Dognelle kingdom? Not bloody likely. She sighed, her mind unable to plot and plan how she could get a female heir from Lycan of Raynar. The virile bastard would probably only breed sons. In no time at all, they were back in his chamber. Daybreak shone through the half closed shutters, bathing the room in soft light. Instead of the rainbow of colors present in the concubine’s quarters, this room showed the dark colors of the earth, pleasing to the eye yet very masculine. He laid her on the soft coverlet of his bed and stood before her, one brow arched. Her nakedness became all too apparent under Lycan’s scrutiny. The urge to grab the blanket and cover her body was almost irresistible. Except in some small corner of her mind she knew that covering herself would admit weakness, and she refused to do that. Instead, she scanned his body from head to toe, taking in his wet breeches that clung to his strong, muscular legs and outlined his erection perfectly. She swallowed hard at the size of him. Long and thick and more than her virgin body could handle, she was certain. But what did she know of fucking? Her mother died when she was a child and she grew up among the warrior women of Dognelle. They were soldiers, not practiced in the art of

seduction or lovemaking techniques. She knew coupling occurred and how it happened, but other than that the opposite sex remained a mystery to her. With steady hands he popped open the buttons on his breeches. Fine, dark hair peeked from the shadows where cloth separated to reveal skin. Starr’s body heated, her natural curiosity piqued. Despite her loathing for the man and what he stood for, she couldn’t prevent her female response to one very sexy male. Hell, men had used women for their own pleasures for centuries. Wasn’t it time for a woman to turn the tables? “You look thoughtful,” Lycan said, pulling her away from her thoughts. “Is that unusual around here?” she shot back without thinking. He frowned. “Is what unusual?” “A woman actually thinking.” His lips curled in a wicked smile that turned her insides to liquid. “I can see you’re not like most women I know.” “Most women you know have no brain. You’ll find I am quite different.” “Is that so? Explain how.” She didn’t want to talk. She wanted him to fall on top of her and fuck her until the aching need between her legs went away. “I have been educated. I can think for myself, take care of myself, and I am free.” “That is, indeed, different than our women here.” “Because you keep them as slaves for your own sexual pleasure.” His blues eyes darkened like the sky before a storm. “It’s not like that. Our females are protected, revered, and well taken care of.” “Do you educate them?” “They learn.” “I’m not talking about sexual education, I’m talking about the same learning the men have available.” “Then, no.” “Do you allow them the same freedoms as men?” “No.”

“Then they’re slaves.” “They’re happy.” “Because they don’t know any better.” The passion she’d felt earlier began to dissipate, replaced instead by a cold anger. She fought back the disappointment, realizing she should have just kept her mouth shut and let him fuck her. He waved his hand and sat on the edge of the bed. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll get used to it.” Starr scooted away. The warmth she’d felt earlier turned to ice. “I will never be a slave. To you or to any man. I am a free woman and ruler of my kingdom. Why don’t you just let me go?” He shook his head, his smile gone. “There will be no release for you. You have come under the protection of the Raynar Kingdom, and you’ll remain here.” “Why would you keep me here?” “You were captured during battle. Because you are a female you will not be killed. I have no choice but to arrange for your training to be a concubine.” Her eyes widened as his words sunk in. “You can’t be serious.” “I’m very serious. But I won’t make you available to others. If you’d prefer, I’ll keep you to myself.” The audacity of the man! As if either choice was appealing? “I will be no slave, Lycan of Raynar. I’ll die by my own hand before I give up my freedom of choice.” “Then I’ll have to watch you closely so that no harm comes to you.” She shuddered at the thought of how close she had come to lying down with this savage. What had she been thinking? She slipped from the bed, refusing again to cover herself. “No matter what you say or do to me, I will never submit willingly as a concubine.” When he stood and approached her, she struggled to hold her ground. He could easily snap her in two if he wanted to, and yet she knew instinctively that he wouldn’t harm her. At least not physically. He’d had plenty of opportunity to do that on the battlefield while she was unconscious. “Make no mistake, Starr of Dognelle. I am the King of Raynar, and my word is law. Disobey me and you’ll be punished the same as any other female. You may have been Queen

of Dognelle, but you no longer retain that title. You will live as a concubine, and you will be mine.” The challenge had been issued. She placed her hands on her hips and said, “We’ll see who comes out of this battle the victor, Lycan. But as long as I live I will never be yours.”

Chapter Three Lycan stared at Starr, unable to believe the woman’s challenge. She fired his blood like no other woman had done before. “You will obey me.” Her eyes narrowed, her chin lifting. “I don’t obey men. The men in my kingdom take orders from the women.” He could easily take her as she was no physical match for him. But for some reason that thought held no appeal. He wanted her willing and pliant in his arms. There were over a dozen concubines who would gladly surrender to him, and yet she was the one he wanted. “We’ll start with clothing.” Dragging her along beside him, he entered the concubine chambers and found Mag. “This is Mag, and she is the mistress of concubines. She will see that you are clothed and that you learn your lessons on how to please me.” Mag nodded and eyed Starr warily. “My king, surely you’re not going to leave her alone with us?” “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. But first I’ll make sure she causes you no trouble. Bring me her clothes.” Mag brought the clothing that Starr refused to put on earlier. Lycan picked up the long skirt and rib-skimming top and forced them over Starr’s head. “Damn woman, cooperate! It’s like you have six arms and legs! Go fetch the guard and tell him to bring me some shackles,” he ordered one of the concubines. In no time at all, Starr was ensconced in the concubine’s quarters, metal shackles around her wrists and ankles and a length of chain that allowed her only a six-foot swath in which to walk. Lycan fastened her to the sturdy column centering the room. “Feed her and teach her from there,” he commanded. “Don’t let her loose unless I tell you.” Mag nodded and Lycan stormed off, tired of dealing with the female who both tried his patience and fired his libido. They were at war and he was babysitting a woman half his size who couldn’t be more than

in her mid-twentieth year. At thirty and five, he was past the point of dealing with pouting children. But by Lal’s stars, she was beautiful. Her golden hair was like silken water flowing over his fingers, and her body was ripe and full. His cock hardened as he thought of her underneath him, writhing in ecstasy and calling his name as she reached her peak. He wanted that, and by Lal, he’d have it. He’d tamed wilder animals than Starr of Dognelle. It was only a matter of time until he bent her to his will, too. But now he had duties to concentrate on. He slipped through the doors of his offices. Tor was there waiting for him, the usual scowl on his face as he looked up from the maps on the table. “Where have you been?” Tor asked. “Dealing with our new prisoner.” Tor laughed. “I’m surprised you haven’t killed her yet. I heard she gave two of the guards quite a beating.” “She has fire, and she’s just lost her freedom. How would you feel if that happened to you?” Tor raised a brow. “You’re defending her?” “No. I just understand her.” “Our kingdom has denied freedom to women for centuries, Lycan.” “I’m aware of that. But maybe it’s time for change.” Tor pushed back from the long wood table and stood, frowning. “You can’t mean you’re seriously considering changing our laws, our very way of life.” Lycan shrugged, unconcerned with Tor’s challenge. They’d been friends since they were children and Tor knew he could speak his mind. “We would be stronger against the Centuri if we considered taking in the Dognelle.” “They’re mostly women and useless to our cause against the Centuri.” Lycan arched a brow. “Useless? Weren’t you there when we fought with them yesterday? Those weak women managed to topple many of our fiercest warriors.” “Pure luck,” Tor mumbled. “Anyway, the people of Raynar won’t stand for such a drastic change. You’d have an uproar on your hands and we can’t afford that right now. You know

the tensions have been building with the Centuri for months. Now is not the time for change.” “You’re probably right.” Lycan sighed. It was a stupid idea, anyway. Give women their freedom in Raynar? What was he thinking? He knew. He’d been thinking with his cock, visions of a golden-haired goddess in his bed. Time to start thinking with his head, before he caused the ruin of his entire kingdom.

***** “The first rule of a concubine is to always please her man. His pleasure comes before yours. It is not necessary for you to be fulfilled. Your fulfillment will come from your man’s release.” Starr rolled her eyes at Mag’s speech, unable to believe the drivel she’d been forced to endure for the past hour. All about grooming and making herself beautiful for the king. Now she had to hear about how a concubine pleasured their king. She might just throw up. The astronomical ego of the men in this kingdom was something to behold. If she ever…no, when she returned to Dognelle, she’d have her warriors laughing until they cried with stories of the Raynar men. The colorful dress worn by Mag was a near rainbow blur as she paced back in forth in front of Starr. “Lycan of Raynar is a virile man with many sexual appetites. We are very fortunate that he also loves to pleasure his women, and all of our concubines reach fulfillment in his arms. Sometimes more than once.” Mag explained Lycan’s sexual preferences as matter of factly as if she were describing the dinner menu. Was there no end to the folklore about Lycan of Raynar’s prowess? More likely he fell on a woman, fucked her for two minutes, left her with his seed and was off on the next battle. Just like most men she’d heard about. Finesse, prowess. Bah! “It is a true honor to be one of his concubines. Lycan treats his women quite well and we have many freedoms.” When she let out a disbelieving snort, Mag turned to her, eyes widening. Starr shrugged and said, “Freedoms? What freedoms? Can you come and go as you please?” “Within the palace, yes, as long as we are escorted.” “But outside the palace?”

“No.” “Are you educated? Taught to read, write, handle weaponry?” “Of course not. Those things are for the men.” Starr resisted the sudden urge to scream out her frustrations. “Why do you think women shouldn’t be educated?” “We know all we need to know.” One of the concubines stepped forward. She was roughly the same age as Starr. Gorgeous red hair hung past her waist in soft curls. Her curvaceous hips swayed seductively as she approached, but icy blue eyes showed her irritation. “My name is Chalon, and I am the king’s favorite. You would do well to listen to what Mag says. Although you will never capture his interest like I have.” Where was her sword when she really needed it? Although she could well imagine pummeling the smartass smirk off Chalon’s face without need for a weapon. “I’ll give it all the attention it deserves.” “You’d be wise to heed my words, Dognelle slave. Or you might find your head separated from your body.” “And who’s going to do that? You?” Starr laughed at the woman. Chalon’s eyes turned dark and murderous. She started to approach Starr, but a warning cough from Mag stopped her. With a huff of air, she turned and sauntered out. Another concubine approached hesitantly. She was very young and had long, dark hair and beautiful midnight eyes. She wore the same dress as the other women and had the same curvy body. Lycan must really enjoy women with huge breasts and ample hips. Taking a quick glance at her own body, Starr wondered how she’d measure up. Ridiculous. As if she even cared. “I am Ariana,” the girl said. “I welcome you to our home and hope you will try to be happy here.” Her infectious smile was hard to resist, and despite her vow to remain indifferent to the concubines, Starr couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you. But you know I don’t want to be here.” Ariana sat next to Starr despite Mag’s objections. “Don’t be afraid. It’s really not bad.

Lycan treats us all very well.” Surprised the girl would chance getting so close to her, Starr said, “I’m not afraid. I just want to be free.” “What is freedom like?” Ariana asked. “Ariana!” Mag warned. Starr watched the young girl’s chin lift defiantly for a second, then she bowed and stepped away. So, maybe all the women weren’t as cowed and happy to be slaves as Lycan thought. That could work well in her favor. Mag continued her lessons despite Starr’s obvious disinterest. “Some day, Lycan will choose his queen from among the Raynar women. All the concubines are hopeful one of them will be chosen.” “Will they be free when they become his queen?” Starr asked. Mag shook her head. “No.” “Will he give up his concubines when he chooses a queen?” “Of course not.” “Then what’s the point of having a queen?” “The children of the King and Queen of Raynar will become the heirs to Lycan’s throne.” Wouldn’t it be a coup to become his queen and bear a child to rule over both the Dognelle and the Raynar? The possibilities were endless. Too bad the queen didn’t have any more freedom than a regular concubine. And sharing her man with other women? She’d never allow that to happen. When she chose a man as her mate, that man would be hers and hers alone. There would be no sharing. And she would have to lie with the savage. No, really bad idea. Better to escape. Somewhere she’d find her own man to mate with and insure the survival of her people. Then she wouldn’t have to endure Lycan’s touch. She pondered the thought, her musings drowning out the droning of Mag’s voice. His touch hadn’t been as repulsive as she’d imagined. Her nipples hardened as she recalled the way his hands glided over her skin, his gentle touch as he skimmed her breasts, awakening the female part of her that had never been touched before. Her breasts swelled against the snug blouse she wore, and a throb began between her legs.

Moisture pooled there and she longed to slip her hands under the skirt and ease the ache. But she wouldn’t. A warrior was disciplined and never allowed feelings to get in the way of strategy. Right now she needed an escape plan more than she needed sexual relief, because she sure as hell wasn’t going to remain here and become one of Lycan’s sex slaves. She listened to Mag until the woman finished and left the room. Motioning to Ariana, she smiled when the girl shyly sidled over to her. “Do you ever think about being free?” she asked Ariana. The girl glanced around the room, then whispered, “Sometimes. What’s it like?” “I don’t know of any other way of life. I make my own decisions, come and go as I please. I’m actually the Queen of the Dognelle kingdom.” Ariana’s eyes widened. “Really? I should bow to you then.” Starr reached for Ariana’s wrist, staying her attempt to rise and bow. “Don’t bow to me. We don’t require those kind of formalities in my kingdom. I’m queen by virtue of my birthright, but that doesn’t make me any better than any of the other people who live in my kingdom.” “That is admirable.” “You can become one of us, you know.” Ariana shook her head. “I couldn’t. My destiny is as one of Lycan’s concubines.” Trying to keep the frustration out of her voice, Starr said, “You don’t have to be. You should be free to make your own choices. Come with me, and I’ll make you a free woman.” “You could do that?” “Of course. And any of the other women in the kingdom who want freedom to choose the kind of life they’ll live. Do you think there are others?” “I…I don’t know.” She chewed her lower lip, uncertainty evident in her frowning features. But Starr knew that Ariana was intrigued. “You would be free. You could even become a warrior.” Ariana’s eyes widened. “Then, maybe there are others who would want to be free, also.” “Good. We’ll start with the concubines and see how many we can get to come with us. I’ll need your help to formulate an escape plan.” “I don’t want to hurt Lycan,” Ariana said, her eyebrows knitting in a frown. “He’s been

very good to me.” Shit. Starr could just imagine how “good” Lycan had been to her. Ignoring the direction her thoughts took, she said, “I understand, but you also have to think about yourself and what you want out of life. Wouldn’t you love to learn how to read and write? Can you imagine wandering around an entire city without someone escorting you or telling you what to do?” Ariana sighed. “Yes, I can imagine that. It would be like a dream.” “I’ll make it a reality for you.” The excited gleam in Ariana’s eyes sent a triumphant thrill through Starr. She’d show Lycan of Raynar that not all of his concubines were happy to be slaves. Maybe she could convince them all to escape. Wouldn’t the high and mighty king be surprised, then?

Chapter Four Starr settled in on her small cot, confident that she had the beginnings of a plan for escape. Ariana had promised she would speak with some of the other women. The lure of freedom had to be great in this land. She was certain that before long she’d amass a small army of her own. Tomorrow, she would put her plans in motion. But she had no more closed her eyes than the lights flew on in the chambers. She sat up as two guards entered and headed straight for her. They pulled her upright, unlocked the chains securing her to the wall and dragged her out of the room. As she was propelled through the doorway, Chalon stood at the other side of the door, a smug smile on her face. In short order she found herself back in Lycan’s chambers. “Leave us,” he commanded. The guards closed the door behind them, leaving her alone with Lycan. She refused to speculate on what brought her to his chambers, but from the satisfied look she’d seen on Chalon’s face, it couldn’t be good. He bent down and picked up the chains, holding them loosely in his hand. “You think to cause insurrection among my concubines?” Lifting her chin, she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Spare me your lies. Chalon told me you coerced Ariana to speak to the others about escaping.” That conniving bitch. Chalon would make a good Centuri woman, since they frequently stabbed their enemies in the back. “I was merely telling them about my life in Dognelle.” Lycan sighed. “I do not have time to deal with you, woman. And yet I cannot have you poisoning the minds of my concubines. You will remain here with me.” He fastened the end of the chains to his bed. This was not good. It would be much more difficult to plan an escape if she was constantly under Lycan’s watchful eye. Somehow she would make Chalon pay. Refusing to budge, she stood where she’d been since the guards brought her in. Lycan moved around his chambers, shuffling papers, pouring drink, then finally approaching his

bed. With a yawn, he pulled off his shirt, his muscles bunching hard in the soft light of the room. Starr turned her head and regarded the wall. When she heard the rustle of clothing, she couldn’t help but peek as he dropped his breeches. Her pulse skittered nervously as she took in his body. Tall and muscular, with wide shoulders, a narrow waist and sturdy thighs. And his cock, more impressive now that she could see it than she had imagined when she’d felt it press against her. Her cunt moistened, imagining his firm flesh buried deep inside her. She licked her lips and once again contemplated the bare wall to the other side of the room. The lights went out and Starr heard movement on the bed in front of her. “Where am I to sleep?” “The carpeting on the floor is comfortable enough.” She crossed her arms, irritation replacing her earlier arousal. “Could you not ask the guards to bring in my cot?” “I could, but I won’t. You had the chance to sleep in comfort. Now you can sleep on the floor. Besides, I’m sure a great warrior like you is used to sleeping on hard, bare ground. The carpet should be a luxury.” He went silent, which was fortunate since she was currently plotting his demise. “Unless you wish to share my bed.” She laughed. “I’d rather sleep with the balon in the stables.” Lycan yawned, then murmured, “I can arrange that.” Apparently he wasn’t going to offer her even a blanket for warmth, because before long his deep, even breathing indicated he was asleep. Starr fumed for awhile, hoping the chains rattling around her ankles as she paced back and forth would wake him up. Unfortunately, the sound didn’t bother him. Maybe he was a heavy sleeper, which could work to her advantage. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she looked around for anything she could clout him over the head with. And where did he put the keys to the ankle restraints? He had moved all heavy objects out of her reach, so unless she could pick up the bed and turn it over, she was out of luck. Nothing to use as a weapon except the chains, and they didn’t

stretch long enough for her to wrap them around his thick throat. Too bad. She’d enjoy watching his eyes bug out of his head when he woke to find her strangling him. Maybe she could climb on top of him and choke him with her thighs. But that thought had her mind moving in other directions, namely the image of her pussy being so close to his sexy mouth. That line of thinking would get her nowhere but more frustrated than she was now. She’d plot killing him later. Right now she might as well sleep. But she’d be damned if she’d lay on the cold floor like an animal, despite the fact she’d be more than comfortable on the thick rug. Despite his insufferable manner, Lycan had been right. She had slept on the hard ground in the cold desert without so much as a light blanket to cover her more nights than she cared to remember. The rug was fine. But since Lycan wanted her to sleep there, she’d sleep at the foot of the bed. It was certainly big enough to contain her body and not touch his at all. She crawled up and settled in, comforted by the huge, satiny blanket caressing her skin. Thoughts of stripping down and rubbing her naked skin against the silken softness occurred to her Remembering that Lycan shared this bed with her, she decided that wasn’t a wise choice. She tried to keep her mind sharp and focused on any potential movements at the other end of the bed, but before long exhaustion overtook her and she felt herself drifting into unconsciousness, her last thoughts of the freedom she missed already.

***** Lycan woke with a start, a strange sound permeating the haze of sleep. It sounded horrible, like the growling of a gomai in distress. He sat up in bed, his eyes adjusting to the hazy light of early morning. The sound continued, coming from the area at the end of his bed. A lump formed under the blankets. Blankets that had not, he just realized, been covering him when he woke. It wasn’t a wailing gomai, after all. It was Starr. She snored! Quite loudly, in fact. Wrinkling his nose at the awful sound, he rose and stood next to the bed, watching the sleeping woman. She had pulled his blankets over herself and lay huddled underneath them so that only her head was visible.

He considered rolling her off the end of the bed and letting her wake up by falling on the floor, but then thought better of it. She was a woman, after all, and despite the ruckus she’d caused with his concubines, he understood her unwillingness to change her way of life simply because she found herself a captive. If his freedom had been taken away, he was certain he’d be acting in much the same way. Worse, probably. And, yet, what could he do? He could not let her roam free. First, because she’d likely cut his throat the minute his back was turned, and second, because she was female and therefore must be protected as all their women were. He could not treat her any differently than any of the other women. Before the wars, when Raynar was still a free land, women came and went as they pleased, even venturing into other towns. But then the kidnappings and rapes started. Women were taken by rival kingdoms, sometimes assimilated by the Centuri or other clans, sometimes beaten, raped and left for dead in the middle of the desert. That was when his ancestors built the wall around the kingdom and offered protection to all their women. And the laws had remained for centuries. To make the women more agreeable to living in near captivity, Lycan’s forefathers had stopped educating them in anything but the rudimentary understanding of keeping a household and pleasing their men. Was it so wrong, then? The women of Raynar were revered, and well cared for. Bah! He threw up his hands, feeling foolish at even thinking that the way things were should be changed. He pulled the covers back from the slumbering Starr. “Get up. It is near dawn.” She mumbled and drew her knees to her chest. Her hair had fallen over her face like a golden blanket. Lycan curled his fingers into his palms, refusing to sweep the tendrils away. “I said get up. You must bathe and eat.” She yawned and stretched, then scooted to the end of the bed, regarding him with half-closed eyes. “What do I need to get up for? There’s nothing for me to do around here.” “There is plenty you can do.” “Like what? I’m chained and I have only a few feet of freedom in either direction.” She did have a point. There was nothing for her to do. “You have refused to accept the lessons that Mag was instructing you in.”

Swiping her hair from her face, she scrunched her nose and glared at him. “Which lessons? How to lick a man’s balls, how to suck his cock until he explodes down her throat, or how to make sure he gets release as quickly as possible so he doesn’t waste too much of his time on top of his woman?” He meant to silence her, but the visions her words conjured had him hard and aching. Since he hadn’t bothered to dress yet, her eyes drifted between his legs and widened before she managed to mask her emotions with an indifferent look. But she did notice. Her breasts swelled against the tight confines of her top, her cheeks flushed and he scented her arousal. Oh yes, she had definitely noticed. She may feign indifference and hatred for him, but she was a passionate woman. A woman that he would guess had needs that no man had taken care of in quite some time. And he swore to Lal that he would be the man to take care of those needs. Since his erection wasn’t going to relax any time soon, he took a step forward. Starr thrust her hand in front of her, halting his progress. “Don’t even think for one second that I’m going to practice on you.” Anger mixed with interest in her emerald eyes. Her pupils dilated, whether from anger or excitement he could not tell. “You would not find my attentions unpleasant,” he said, trying a softer voice. “You would not find my attentions pleasant at all,” she warned. “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” He approached her again, this time reaching for her arms and pinning them at her sides while pulling her into a standing position. He bent to kiss her, but she turned her head away. He tried again, and she turned the other way. “Are you going to rape me? Because I swear by all that is holy I do not give you permission to violate me.” Lycan stopped, releasing her arms as if she were a flaming fire. “Of course I would not rape you. I have never taken a woman who did not wish to be taken.” She arched a brow and crossed her arms. “Are you certain of that? Perhaps your concubines fear you so much they lie underneath you and hold their screams of outrage deep inside them.” “No!” He stormed off and grabbed his breeches, jamming his legs inside them and

fastening them up. His erection, throbbing mere seconds ago, had left him, replaced instead by a rage that threatened to make him explode. He turned to Starr. “Understand this. The concubines in the palace are favored. They come here willingly…gladly, and with no reservation. We do not buy slaves, and we never force our women. We do not have to.” A smirk creased her lips into a half smile. “I’m sure that’s what all you men think. But it’s not like they have any other choice.” “Women in Raynar have many choices.” She paced the confines of her chains, turning to him and pointing a finger. “Choices? Are they educated? Can they become teachers, or even warriors?” “No. The laws are very clear.” “Your laws are worth no more than the shit that falls from a balon’s ass. Women in Raynar are slaves, pure and simple. You can call it whatever you like, but I see with my own eyes.” Why was he even having this conversation? He’d explained it once before to her hard-headed-highness. “And you are any different? You treat the men of Dognelle as if they were lowly animals. None can hold positions of power, none are allowed to hold offices or run any of your cities. What makes your society any different than mine?” She laughed. “Our men hold many positions. They are educated, treated exactly the same as the women of Dognelle, with the exception that they cannot be warriors. Something in the genetics of Dognelle males precludes them from having the strength and wit to fight. They cannot hold offices and they cannot fight in our battles. But they can do anything else.” “Ah, so they are kept inside the walls of Dognelle as mere wet nurses for your children.” “And teachers, many of them exceptionally intelligent scholars.” “You have no need for scholars in a barbarian society.” “You know nothing of my people!” Color rose to her face and she held her hands at her sides, balled into fists. He knew if he came at her now he’d have a fight on his hands. Maybe he wanted that. Some kind of physical reaction from her. No, this wasn’t what he wanted at all. “Let us just say then that neither of us understand the other, and leave it at that.” He turned to leave, tiring of an argument that neither of them could win.

“Lycan, wait!” He turned, watching her walk toward him and stop as the chains halted her progress. He waited. “Let me go. You have no use for me here.” “I have not yet determined what your usefulness will be.” “I will find a way to escape. You will never be able to turn your back on me. I will never submit to you willingly. To you or to any other man. Let me go and I will not make war upon your castle. As it is, my people are already looking for me, no doubt amassing an attack against Raynar.” He had already thought of that. “Your people are no match for us.” “Not alone. But with help, we will be.” “You would merge with the Centuri to fight us?” Knowing the Dognelle hated the Centuri more than they hated Raynar, it was a concept that Lycan had never considered. “I am their queen. They will do whatever it takes to get me back.” “Perhaps they think you are dead.” She paled, and he knew that was what she thought, too. “Your people will not come looking for you. Kings and queens are sometimes killed during the course of battle. Another will take your place and lead your people.” He turned and walked out of the room. As he headed toward the eating hall, he felt a twinge of guilt. He had hurt her with his words, unnecessarily so. Then again, she had done the same to him, making him doubt the validity of their laws that had stood for centuries. It would be better if he didn’t spend time with Starr at all. She was not a good influence on his thoughts, and he needed to concentrate on protecting Raynar from the Centuri, not verbally sparring with the vixen held prisoner in his bed chambers. He yelled instructions to Mag as he passed her in the hall. “Get a couple guards, bathe and dress Starr, and make sure she is fed. Have her returned to my chambers afterward.” Mag opened her mouth to speak, then closed it quickly and bowed her head, scurrying off. His temper flared hot. He needed to ease himself inside a willing concubine and release some of the frustration and stress of the past day. The only difficulty with that concept was that his thoughts were occupied with a certain

golden-haired, emerald-eyed temptress who swore she would rather die than lie with him. The day started out in hell, and he had a feeling it was only going to get worse.

Chapter Five These people bathed entirely too often. Starr was certain if she was forced to bathe every day, her skin would soon fall off. In the desert region, water was scarce and bathing a luxury the Dognelle could not afford. Despite her protests, the bath was like a slice of heaven. She doubted she could ever tire of sitting in the warm, scented water and relaxing. Yet, even as she enjoyed the luxury, she felt a slice of guilt, knowing her people worried over her fate. She had to escape, had to get back to them. Arguing with Lycan was getting her nowhere. Perhaps she needed to change her tactics. She bathed without squawking, even ate the meal that Mag brought to her. It was delightful, meat, cheese and bread along with plenty of drink. If she continued to eat like this without daily exercise, she would soon be slow and fat. After she was bathed and dressed, she was returned to Lycan’s chamber and re-chained, no doubt to await her “master”, as Mag had referred to him. “Master, my ass,” she grumbled, sitting on the edge of the bed with her knees drawn to her chest. She laid her chin on top of her knees and contemplated her next move. “No man will ever be master of me.” “And do you have desires to master a man?” Starr jumped at the sound of Lycan’s voice. He stood in the doorway, his raven hair billowing in the light breeze from the open windows. Truly, he was a warrior any woman would be happy to claim as her mate. Strong, arrogant features along with the body of a warrior lent him a potent masculinity not found in the men of Dognelle. Her heart picked up a frantic pace and she mentally tried to calm herself. She stood and looked him over from head to toe, as if she were surveying prime animal flesh. “As queen I have the right to choose my mate, yes.” “And do you wish to mate with a man that you can master in every way?” “What are you getting at, Lycan?” He stepped into the room and sat at the desk near the window. The sunlight filtered in and glinted off his hair, creating a halo around his body, so bright it highlighted even the dark hairs on his forearms. The day was warm and he wore a sleeveless tunic that showed off his muscular biceps. She wondered how those arms would feel under her palms, then

immediately shook off the thought. “I’m just curious as to how you like your men. Weak and compliant?” “How I like my men?” He made no sense. Perhaps he’d had ale with his breakfast this morning. He rolled his eyes. “In bed, Starr. Do you like to control them, dictate your needs to them, make them do your bidding?” She gulped loudly. In bed? How should she know? She’d never bedded anyone before. And he knew it. The devil’s hell, he knew it. The smile on his face died and he looked at her with a very strange expression. When he stood and approached her, she instinctively pulled her legs tighter against her chest. But he stopped in front of her and knelt, his blue eyes mesmerizing her with their unexpected tenderness. “You’re a virgin.” Her first thought was to vehemently deny his claim, but for what reason? “Yes, I am.” “Why?” She laughed at the question. “Why not?” Furrows creased his brow when he frowned. She wanted to trace the lines with her fingers. “I would think a queen would take many lovers. Try them out, so you could find the right one for a mate.” Dare she tell him that none of the Dognelle men had ever appealed to her? That none of them had ever stirred an ounce of emotion in her? Not like…not like he did. It was as if the woman in her awoke the moment she set eyes on him. A realization that was not the least bit pleasing. “I was not ready. I am a warrior, a queen of my people. I do not have time for sexual pleasures.” He laughed then, and stood. “I am a warrior, too, and a king of my people. Believe me, there is always time for sexual pleasures.” “Perhaps you have nothing better to do than while away the days fucking your slaves. Those of us who live in hardship have more pressing duties.” Ignoring her insult, he asked, “What do you do to release the tensions from battle?” When he held out his hand to help her up, she hesitated before slipping her hand in his.

He was so much taller than her, and she was not slight. But her head barely reached his chest when he pulled her upright. “I do not release tensions from battle. There is only war with my people.” He pulled a chair over from his desk and motioned for her to sit. She did, and he paced back and forth in front of her. “Do you never relax?” “You stood upon the thresholds of our lands, Lycan. Our lives are a never-ending battle to maintain our kingdom. If we are not constantly on guard, the Centuri would invade and take over. If not them, then the mountain clans or those who make their homes over the mountains.” “Why would anyone want the Dognelle’s lands?” She stood, ready to defend her kingdom, but his hand on her wrist stayed her. “No, don’t interpret my question as an insult to your lands. I mean your lands are no different than Centuri. You are desert dwellers, with no more food or water than they have. Why is your land important?” “You would have to ask Golan that question.” The mere mention of the Centuri King’s name had revulsion threatening to upset the morning meal in her stomach. Apparently, Lycan felt the same way. “Golan is a barbarian. His tactics are unfathomable to most. That’s what makes him so dangerous—his unpredictability.” Starr nodded. “My people, especially, are aware of this. He makes raids of our lands all times of the day and night, despite the heat, the drought or the desert cold. It’s like he and his people are impervious to any of the harsher weather elements that keep my people inside.” “We have often thought that the Centuri possess powers we aren’t aware of. But none have ever been captured alive. And the dead offer up no secrets. Their bodies are the same as ours, as far as we can see.” “I think they simply don’t care about themselves or their people. Golan drives them to the point of breaking, that much we know. Perhaps it’s his bitterness that makes him seem so much stronger.” She may disagree with everything this Raynar king believed in, yet it was somehow comforting to have another warrior to discuss their common enemy with. “He’s a jealous man. My father told me stories of Golan’s ancestors. The Centuri have always wanted Raynar. They are conquerors and will not live in peace with any other clans. Their goal is domination.”

“With the Dognelle as their first prize.” She hated to admit they were fighting a losing battle with the Centuri, but her forces were weakening. Months upon months of constant skirmishes had begun to wear on her warriors. That twinge of guilt forced its way into her belly again, and she renewed her vow to make her escape as quickly as she could so she could get back to her people. But how? She needed a strategy, and she knew Lycan was the key. She simply had to find his vulnerability, and tap into it. “You could bring your people into Raynar, you know.” She looked up at him, met the sincerity in his gaze, then shook her head. “I could not subject my women to living as the females here, do. We are free and would never willingly live as slaves.” “Women are not slaves here. They are merely protected.” “If we do not have the freedom to come and go as we please, it is the same thing. We are warriors, Lycan. My people are meant to be free.” “It is the only thing I can offer you. I cannot spare troops to guard Dognelle as they are needed here. If we cut our strength here, it leaves Raynar vulnerable.” In many ways she admired the fact he even thought of offering aid to Dognelle, since they had been at war as long as she could remember. “We have survived without Raynar’s help before. We will continue to do so.” “Attacking Raynar at every opportunity only weakens your warriors and decreases your force.” “Are you afraid of Dognelle attacks?” He laughed then, a deep, rich sound. “I think you either underestimate my warriors, or overestimate your own.” “I neither under nor overestimate anything, or anyone.” “Still, you would be wise to reconsider my offer of protection.” “I would rather starve in the desert as a free woman than thrive as a well-fed, protected slave.” He stood and walked to the doorway, then turned to her. “Eventually you will grow tired of living in chains and will come around to my way of thinking.” She watched him walk out, the door shutting behind him like a prison cell.

She had already grown tired of living in chains, yet she could never be what he expected her to be. There had to be some other way.

***** Tor jumped back as Lycan’s sword made a wide arc across his middle. “Are you deliberately trying to kill me or is something else causing your foul mood today?” Lycan dropped his sword on the ground, muttering an oath of disgust. “Sorry. My mind is elsewhere.” “Probably on the heathen Dognelle bitch sharing your chambers.” Tor picked up Lycan’s sword and handed it to him. They walked toward the main hall together, both of them wiping the sweat from their faces. The day was hot, his mood hotter, and Tor was right. He could have killed Tor because he wasn’t focusing on technique, only on his frustration with Starr. He’d brought her here and couldn’t very well let her go, yet every time he spoke with her he could see the worry in her eyes. She was afraid for her people. True leaders worried more about their people than about themselves. “I’m thinking of letting her go.” Tor stopped and stared at Lycan as if he’d lost his mind. “Are you insane? She knows too much, she’s seen the inside of Raynar. Limited, yes, but she knows where your chambers are. No doubt, she has already assessed the strength and weaknesses of your warriors. If she joins with the Centuri, it could mean our downfall.” Lycan sighed and cast the cloth onto a nearby chair, then reached for a drink. He swallowed it greedily, the hot sun and swordplay making his throat feel like the arid desert. With a sigh, he nodded. “You’re right, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.” “You need to get her out of your chambers. She’s a distraction. And you need to release some of that tension inside you. Have you been with any of the concubines since we returned?” “No.”

“Why not?” Why not, indeed? He usually never went without a female to warm his bed, and yet since he’d brought Starr into the castle, he hadn’t desired any of his concubines. “I don’t know.” “Then your time spent with Starr has had even a worse effect than I thought,” Tor said. They walked through the hall and into a private room where they could eat and talk uninterrupted. “I’ve been busy.” “You’re never too busy to fuck a woman.” “Starr is in my bedchambers.” “So what? Let her watch. Maybe she’ll learn something. Or take her and give her to the guards. They’ll teach her the proper way to behave.” The thought of another man laying his hands on Starr had his irritation growing again. “No.” “Well, you need to do something. You’re distracted and it shows. What is it about this woman that compels you to put up with her?” “To be honest, Tor, I admire her. I’ve never met a woman with so much intelligence, so much strength. She has a warrior’s heart and a queen’s love for her people.” Tor arched a brow. “She is Dognelle, and our enemy.” Lycan took another long swallow of his drink. “Maybe. Maybe not. If I can convince her to join with us, we would be that much stronger against the Centuri.” “Raynar women do not fight wars.” “They are not Raynar.” “And if they come here, we will not allow them to be warriors. I can’t see the Dognelle females agreeing to live according to our laws.” Another maybe and maybe not. Lycan had quite a bit of influence over women, especially women who were enamored of him. He had seen the way Starr looked at him. He was aware of her body’s response even if she wasn’t. And she was still a virgin, something he found more enticing than he should. Perhaps he’d simply let her have too much control over her destiny. He’d allowed her time with him, time alone, instead of showing her what her life was going to be like in Raynar.

Because Tor was right. He couldn’t let her go. She was too dangerous to his kingdom. She simply needed training in the ways of the women of Raynar. Once she realized what a pleasurable life she could have, she would change her mind. “I might have a way to convince her.” Tor shook his head. “I’ll leave that up to you. As for me, I don’t ever want to have anything to do with a Dognelle female.” “A woman is a woman, my friend,” he explained as they finished their meal and set about their duties. He had a plan now, one he was eagerly anticipating. Tonight, he would initiate Starr of Dognelle into the ways of pleasure. Then, after she was satiated and happy, she would be more than willing to invite her women to live in his kingdom. He’d be much happier once the women were protected and out of harm’s way. And he would bet his last dracol that Starr would come around to his way of thinking.

Chapter Six “You’re going to do what?” Starr stared at Lycan in open-mouthed disbelief, but truly, she could not believe what he’d just said. “I am going to initiate you in the art of sexual pleasure.” He really had said that. Unbelievable. “I don’t think so.” She stood in the center of the room, finally unchained after a long day of pacing back and forth. “You have no choice in the matter. Actually, you should feel honored. I rarely do the training myself.” Was there no limit to this man’s insufferable ego? “I told you once before that I will not give myself willingly to you. So is it your intent to rape me?” His lips curled in an arrogant smile that she longed to slap off his face. “I have no intention of taking anything you are unwilling to give.” “Then how do you intend to “initiate” me, as you call it?” He reached for her arm and pulled her toward him. “You will agree to it.” “I think you’re delusional. Perhaps you spent too much time in the heated sun today and it affected your mind, because I will do nothing with you willingly.” “I love a challenge. We shall see. Come, I have something to show you.” His vise-like grip on her wrist offered her no chance to escape. Besides, she had a feeling she would need to conserve her strength to fight him off. Agree with it, indeed. As if she would willingly give her virginity to this ogre, this beast, this heathen of a man. She’d waited all day and well into the night hours for his return. Even arguing with Lycan was better than pacing within the minimal allowances of her bonds. She would go mad if she had to spend another day chained up like an animal. Hoping he would find something for her to occupy her time, this was not quite what she had in mind. They walked down the hallway towards the concubines’ chambers, but instead of going through the main doors he went past, stopping at a smaller doorway. He unlocked the door, then pulled her inside and closed it. It was dark, but he held tight to her hand as he led her

down a narrow passageway. Where were they going? And more importantly, what did this have to do with sex? Surprisingly she felt no fear, even though she was mentally preparing herself for some kind of battle with him. If Lycan thought she would go willingly into his bed, he was mistaken. Then again, they were no longer in his chambers. He finally stopped and pulled her in front of him so that her back rested against his chest. She still couldn’t see a thing, but she heard his breathing, felt his heart beating rhythmically against her back. “I hope you find this enlightening,” he whispered into her ear. His breath sailed across the back of her neck and she shivered at its warmth. The sweet, tangy scent of ale and some kind of tobacco was quite pleasant. Suddenly a curtain was drawn open in front of her, and she found herself staring into a full length mirror of sorts. Only the mirror took up almost the entire wall. They were looking into a bedchamber, one she had seen as part of the main concubines’ quarters. The chamber wasn’t empty. A man stood near the round bath, with two women on either side of him. She recognized the women as two of the concubines, one a voluptuous redhead, the other a raven haired beauty. The man was quite handsome, nearly as tall as Lycan, his body lean and muscular. He wore no shirt, his breeches were half undone, and he had a very impressive erection pressing against the leather at his groin. “That is Tor, the captain of my warriors. The two women are concubines. The redhead is Lenora and the raven-haired beauty is Celine.” “Why are we here?” “To watch.” “Does this Tor know you watch him?” “Yes. As do the concubines. Oh, they don’t know whether someone is behind the wall or not, but it doesn’t bother them to know that we could be watching.” “You are a voyeur!” she said, shocked at the thought of watching couples engaging in sex play. His low chuckle reverberated against her back. “Sometimes. Watching can be very erotic.” She did not want to watch. She did not want to be in this room with Lycan, her body

pressed intimately against his, feeling his movements, his breath on her, his hands resting on her shoulders. And yet she found herself transfixed by what was happening in the bedchamber. The women caressed the bare skin of Tor’s chest and back, their hands slow and sinuous like the slithering movements of a snake in the desert. He kissed Lenora, his lips devouring hers, while Celine moved behind him and ran her hands over his back, moving downward and cupping his buttocks in her hands. Lenora dropped to her knees in front of him and unlaced his breeches. Tor’s gaze stayed focused on the redhead, watching her every movement intently as she pulled his thick cock out of his pants and palmed him with both hands. When she began to stroke the shaft, he closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Celine pulled his breeches down over his thighs, then moved to her knees alongside Lenore. She cupped Tor’s balls and held his cock in front of Lenore’s lips. Lenore licked the engorged head, then fit her mouth around it and sucked the length of him. Starr forgot how to breathe. Yes, she knew of sex, was aware of what happened between a man and a woman, but she had never seen people engaged in the act. Her heart pounded against her breast. A part of her wanted to turn away, did not want to watch what was happening. The other part of her was too curious, and that was the part that won out. “See how much Tor enjoys their mouths on him?” Lycan said. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, his erection nestling against her buttocks. He was hard and hot, his rigid cock burning through the material of her skirt. She shifted in an effort to pull away, but in doing so brushed her buttocks harder against his erection. Lycan groaned. She’d never heard a more intensely arousing sound in her life. Not knowing which was worse, watching the scene in front of her or focusing on Lycan’s movements and body behind her, she blinked, then focused on Lenore and Celine. They fit their mouths on either side of Tor’s cock, sliding their lips along his shaft in unison. Starr’s cunt dampened, tremors of excitement causing spasms deep within her core. A warmth spread out from her belly to her limbs. She felt heated, as if every nerve ending in her body was standing on edge, just waiting for the slightest touch to send her into a frenzy. “Does watching them excite you?” She would not give in to Lycan. “No.”

He chuckled lightly and grazed his fingers along her cheek, then rested them at her throat. “Your body betrays you. Your skin feels warm, damp with perspiration. Your pulse races against my fingers.” “It’s hot in here.” “No, it’s not. Watching Tor and the women arouses you. Tell me, Starr, does it make you want to reach down and touch your pussy? Do you want to caress the nub of your clit hidden in the folds and ease the ache inside you?” Yes, she desperately wanted to touch herself. “No. The scene I’m watching revolts me. I want nothing to do with it.” Lycan didn’t respond. “Can we go now?” “No. I’m sorry you’re not enjoying it, but I am. We will stay and continue to watch.” Perhaps she could simply close her eyes until they left the room. Then she wouldn’t be stimulated by what she saw. She tried it. The problem was, she was too curious about what was happening on the other side of the mirror to keep her eyes shut. And with her eyes shut, her other senses took over and she focused on Lycan’s crisp, male scent, the way his breath labored, the feel of his body against hers. Definitely worse with her eyes closed. She opened them again, determined not to react to the blatant sexuality before her. Tor had stepped out of his breeches and led the women to the bath. He entered first, then watched as the women began to undress each other, removing first their snug tops and then their skirts. The women were gorgeous. Petite, voluptuous, with large breasts and protruding nipples. Her breath caught when the women began to touch each other, their slender fingers skimming over each other’s breasts. “Do men enjoy watching this?” she asked. Lycan caressed her hair and she shivered. “Yes. Many of our concubines enjoy pleasuring each other, especially when the warriors are not available. They do this willingly and are never forced or coerced into doing so.” She’d never before seen women touching each other. Although there were Dognelle

females who preferred the same sex, she had never witnessed their love play. She had no sexual feelings for another woman, and yet she found her nipples beading against the thin cloth of her top as Celine took one of Lenore’s large, breasts into her mouth and gently suckled it. Tor seemed to be enjoying it too as he sat on the stairs of the large bath, his cock in his own hands. He stroked it slowly from base to tip as his gaze remained focused on the two women enjoying each other. Lycan rocked gently against her backside, his cock rigid and more inviting than she cared to admit. She was finding it difficult to keep from panting out loud, and her body screamed for his touch. As if Lycan could read her thoughts, he whispered, “You know I will not enter you if you do not wish it. You have my word.” She knew what he asked of her. The warrior in her refused to be used as a slave, as a toy for Lycan’s sexual urges. The female in her was desperate for release. “The scent of your desire fills the air in this room, Starr. It excites me greatly. Musky, sweet, like the vanilla buds that grow outside the windows. I would be honored if you would let me touch you, to bring you the release you crave. I will do no more than what you are willing to allow, nor will I ask you to do anything for me that you do not wish to do.” Tor pulled the women into the bath and kissed them both, his hands roaming over their flushed bodies. He laid Celine on the edge, her legs dangling in the water, and climbed between her thighs. When he buried his head between her legs and licked at her slit, Starr shuddered. Celine closed her eyes, her mouth opened, her head slowly moving from side to side. Clearly she enjoyed what Tor was doing to her. Starr placed her hand between her own legs as if it had a will of its own. Lycan grasped her wrist. “No. Let me. You are not giving up any of your freedom to let me pleasure you.” The throbbing between her legs was incessant, building with every passing second. She would go mad without release. “Then touch me.” With a low, husky growl, he lifted her skirt, pressing his fingers against the swell of her hip. The touch of his skin against hers made her jump. “Shhh, relax, little one. Just watch the three of them and let me bring you pleasure.”

He kept her back against his chest and moved his hand over her thighs, then ever so slowly inched toward her sex. When his fingers brushed her hairless mound, she let out a whimper of need. When he slid them down over her cleft, she arched her hips, propelling her sex against his hand. “By Lal you have the softest pussy I have ever touched. You are so wet, little one. The heat from your cunt burns my fingers. It would be so easy to slide my cock inside you.” She wanted nothing more at that moment than to feel Lycan’s shaft embedded deep within her. But that she was not ready for. Not yet, maybe not ever. “I…I can’t, Lycan. No.” “It’s all right. I told you I wouldn’t force you. I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you what I wanted.” She started to object, but he slid one finger inside her and she cried out, grasping his wrist as if she would pull it away. But instead, she pushed his hand against her and rocked against his palm. Her swollen clit brushed his skin and sparks of pleasure struck her womb. “Feel how your pussy grabs onto my finger, Starr? I can imagine having my cock squeezed tight and hard by the muscles inside you. You would have me coming in torrents before we were through.” Between what Tor was doing with the women and the hot words Lycan whispered to her, she couldn’t hold back. Watching Tor plunge his thick shaft inside Lenore’s pussy had Starr crying out with the need for release. Lycan quickened the strokes of his fingers and caressed her clit until she splintered and came, her orgasm shattering the control she’d fought so hard to maintain. She bucked against his hand, nearly in tears as the overwhelming climax took hold of her. Lycan gently thrust his finger in and out as wave after wave of spasms pummeled her. When she was finally spent, she relaxed against his chest, thinking they were finished. She may have been, but Lycan wasn’t. Instead of releasing her, he stroked her swollen slit with light, soft pressure until desire began to build again. Her juices poured down her thighs, her nipples swollen and tender as they brushed against the material of her top. She clenched her jaw shut to keep from begging Lycan to lift her top and suck on her aching nipples. Which is exactly what Tor was doing right now. Lenore was spread out on an inclining bench above the water, Tor’s cock buried deep inside her. Celine stood over Lenore and bent toward Tor so that he could take her nipple into his mouth. She watched his teeth close over one of the distended buds, saw Lenore reach for his head

and bring his mouth closer to her breast, and knew she could not hold back. “Lycan, please, I need…” But the words would not come. She could not, would not beg him. But it seemed as if Lycan knew exactly what she needed. He pulled the rib-skimming top up and over her breasts, his hands reaching for the twin globes and flicking the nipples until she cried out in ecstasy. She dropped her head against his shoulder, too overcome by the sensation of his hands upon her breasts to even speak. Like a sorcerer, Lycan weaved a spell over her body. He caressed her nipples until they budded hard and tight against his palms, then gently flicked them with his fingers until they stood up and practically screamed for his mouth. He turned her roughly so that she faced him, then bent and took one crest between his lips, licking at the bud with his tongue until flames shot between her legs. Her limbs trembled and if Lycan had not been holding her upright she would have collapsed. First he pleasured one nipple, then the other, moving rapidly back and forth over both. Truly, she might lose consciousness. As it was, she panted like an animal. The scent of her sex became familiar and all encompassing, and without even thinking what she was doing she reached for his cock, pressing her palm against his rigid length. A curse tore from his lips. He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. The light from the other room encased his face in a glow. His eyes were glazed, half-closed and his expression so fierce if she didn’t know better she would swear he was furious with her. He had given her so much pleasure, a frenzied delight she had never experienced before. Already she was nearly begging for another release, but this time she wouldn’t go alone. No, having him completely in control of her body put her at a disadvantage, and that was unacceptable in any battle. And what was happening right now was surely the biggest battle of her life so far. “Drop those breeches, Lycan. It’s my turn to touch you now.” Lycan couldn’t believe the words that Starr uttered. He had hoped only to coax her into letting him pet her, figuring her seduction would be a very slow process with many battles. But the Queen of Dognelle surprised him. She was a woman of very heated passions. Never before had he met a female so willing, so arousing, so amazingly sexual he was afraid he would let loose his seed before she ever laid a hand on him. And couched within her primal

sexuality was a sweet, curious innocence that compelled him in ways he didn’t understand. And now she wanted to touch him. Without speaking, he unlaced his breeches, allowing her access to his throbbing cock. He gritted his teeth as she smiled and pulled his breeches to his knees, encircling his shaft with her hand. Surely he had enough self-discipline not to explode within seconds, but Starr made it damned difficult. She squeezed his length and began to stroke. Her movements, though not practiced and refined like the concubines, made his breath catch. Her innocent explorations were more arousing than any touch he’d ever had from a more experienced female. “Your cock is soft, the skin like a rose petal, and yet inside this soft skin you are as hard as my sword. Does it hurt you when I squeeze it?” “Not at all. The harder your squeeze it, the more pleasurable it is for me.” He focused on her in the half-light. Her top lifted above her breasts, her rosy nipples pebbled from his hands and his mouth. Lal, she tasted sweet, her skin scented from her vanilla bath. Her scent mixed with her arousal intoxicated him more than any ale ever could. If he was not careful, he could get lost within this woman. Better to keep his motives pure, otherwise he might get caught in a trap of his own making. Focusing on the physical sensations rather than this strange emotional connection he felt with her, he nodded and thrust his hips forward, propelling his rod into her hand. “Yes, Starr, like that. Vary your speed. Fast, then slow, hard, then gentle.” He had to touch her, too. Lifting her skirt again, he found her swollen nub and caressed it softly, slowly, until she moaned and laid her head on his shoulder. He was as relentless in pleasuring her as she was with him. She was a very quick learner, an adept student who soon had his balls tightening like hard stones. She looked up at him, her eyes widening as he moved his fingers more quickly over her swollen clit. The determined look on her face, coupled with her expressive eyes and tongue flickering over her lips as if she wanted to devour his cock had him rearing back and tensing. Then she would pause, waiting for him to say something. He moved against her, propelling his shaft through her hands. She arched a brow, wanting more. When she stopped, he tormented her by slipping his finger inside her while petting her clit with his thumb. She was panting now, whimpering with her need for release.

He was so tight, so tense with the need for a climax he would have given her whatever she wanted. “Come for me, Starr. And take me with you.” She gazed at him through half-hooded eyes, cast a wickedly sexy smile at him, then squeezed his cock, with her other hand reaching for his balls and tugging gently until he felt the tremors. Her climax hit first. She shuddered against his hand and cried out. With a roar he could not hold in, he let loose, torrents of come jettisoning from him in forceful spurts until he had to lean against the wall like a man weakened. Weakened, indeed. Completely drained was more like it. He looked down at Starr, who examined her hands. White ropes of his seed covered her fingers. Tentatively she swiped at his semen and brought her finger to her lips, her gaze meeting his as she stuck out her tongue and tasted him. She pursed her lips, then smiled. “A bit salty, and yet sweet at the same time. I like it.” Who had just mastered whom here? He had thought to teach her about sex, about the pleasures to be shared between a man and a woman. He had planned to bend her to his will by making her crave physical pleasures, then tease her by holding back just enough until she begged for it. He wasn’t certain, but he may have just lost the first battle.

Chapter Seven Following a night of very little sleep, Starr found herself once again alone in Lycan’s bedchambers, chained up the same way as the previous day. Probably the best thing to be alone, anyway. After she had willingly given herself to him last night…no, that wasn’t quite right. Begged him to touch her was more like it. She muttered an oath, disgusted at her weakness where he was concerned. But try as she might to hate him for manipulating her, she couldn’t. Not when he had showed her what pleasures existed between a man and a woman. Her orgasm had been nothing like what she’d done for herself on many long, lonely nights. Her nipples tightened as she thought of the way he touched her pussy, the way he had drawn out her climax and made her scream with the pleasure of it. Oh, and then to stroke him, to feel his power in the palm of her hands, to know that he trusted her enough to put his masculinity in her hands…now that was the most pleasurable act of all. The way he had hardened under her caressing fingers, the way he had come, groaning and shaking with the force of it. She wiped her brow, already feeling the heat of the day. “You lie to yourself, Starr. The heat you feel is within yourself and has nothing to do with the summer warmth outside.” Pacing back and forth within the small confines of the bedroom area only made her frustration swell. Had she made any progress last night at all? Surely he had to trust her a bit more after what they had shared. Even last night must have meant something to him. After she had emptied him, he took her back to their bedchamber. Instead of chaining her up, he pulled her into his bed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him. A different kind of bondage. He had held her that way all night. Admittedly, it was not all that unpleasant to feel his chest against her back, or his arms wrapped around her. She had never slept with a man before, had never felt so small, cherished, protected. So much like a woman. She shook off the sentimentality the images evoked. No wonder women fell in line with the ridiculous laws in this kingdom. The men did something to their brains. She’d bet that virgins were revered as much as a deity here. And she was still a virgin. Did Lycan consider her virginity of value? Could she give up

her innocence in exchange for her freedom? She thought about it for all of a millisecond before realizing that freedom meant more to her than anything. Her virginity was nothing. She didn’t need to be a virgin to choose a mate when the time came. If it became necessary to win Lycan’s trust, she would gladly sacrifice something that represented so little to her. But she would bet all the dracols in the galaxy that it meant something to Lycan. Women were prized possessions in Raynar. She surmised that a woman’s virginity was equally as prized. She smiled and waited for his return. He might treat her like a slave, like the simpering, empty-headed females who populated his lands, but she would show him soon enough who was the smarter sex. The sound of footsteps approaching had her mentally preparing herself for Lycan’s arrival. At least she hoped it was Lycan. He had promised her he would return to do some work in his chambers so that she wouldn’t have to spend the entire day alone. He walked through the doorway, offering a smile in her direction. Lal, he was handsome when he smiled. His white, even teeth gleamed against his sun-darkened skin. Today he wore a tan tunic and matching breeches, his clothes fitting snug against his well-worked muscles. This time, though, he wasn’t alone. Tor, the man from the window last night, entered. Starr blushed, remembering what she witnessed last eve. Did he know that she and Lycan had watched his lovemaking with the two concubines? And if he did, would he even care? Tor frowned before turning toward Lycan. “Why is she still here?” Lycan didn’t look up at Tor, just spread maps out on the desk. “Because I want her here.” “She should be with the other concubines.” Starr could feel the pressure in her chest about to explode. Talking about her as if she wasn’t even present. How incredibly rude. She wanted to shout out that she had seen Tor with the two women last night, and that he was a weak lover. Of course, he hadn’t seemed at all incompetent last night, but she had no basis for comparison, either. Although what she had seen before she had lost herself in Lycan’s arms had led her to believe that neither Lenore nor Celine had been disappointed.

“I expect an attack to come from the east. The mountainside gives them better cover. Or possibly even from the forests to the west, although that’s doubtful,” Lycan said. Lycan and Tor bent their heads over the maps. They had to be discussing the Centuri. She walked to the end of her chains and craned her neck, hoping she could catch a glimpse of the maps. Tor looked up from the map. “Do you think we need to put the archers in the towers should an attack arise? And what about our warriors? On foot, on balon, or both?” Starr stretched so far the chains dug into her ankles. Dammit, she couldn’t see! “No archers. They’re likely to spring up faster than we can prepare for. I’d say we’d do better to send our warriors out on foot. I think they’ll sneak up to the gates rather than riding in and making all the noises the balon would make.” She finally sat on the bed, unable to believe the idiocy of these men. She let out a sigh of disgust. Lycan raised his head and looked over at her. “Something wrong?” “Yes. You’re all going to die because you’re stupid.” Tor whirled around. “How dare you speak in such an insolent manner!” He started toward her, but Lycan laid his hand on Tor’s shoulder and stopped him. “Let her speak.” Lycan stepped over to her. “What makes you think we’re going to die?” Starr folded her arms in front of her. “I told you. Because your strategy is all wrong.” “Why?” “Unchain me, show me the maps and I’ll tell you.” “It’s a ploy on her part to look at our battle plans! Don’t do it!” Tor objected. Lycan turned to Tor and shook his head. “She’s hardly in a position to tell the Centuri our plans.” He looked at her as if deciding whether she really could add any value to their conversation or not. Finally, he took the key from his breeches and unlocked the chains at her ankles. She shivered when his fingers trailed lightly over her bare feet. “Come and look then, and tell me your thoughts.” She would not be flattered by his trust in her. She wouldn’t. Leaning over the table, she surveyed the maps. Raynar was laid out in detail, along with the stretch of forest to the west and small hills to the east. The desert loomed south of Raynar, with Centuri and Dognelle at

the far end of the desert region. The mountains loomed behind the two kingdoms. “Here is your weakness,” she said, pointing to the forests. “An enemy has a distinct advantage here because of the easy cover of thick trees. But you won’t find an attack from the Centuri coming from the forests.” “Why?” Lycan asked. “First of all, they rarely fight on foot, preferring the quick speed of their balon to propel them forward. Their swords are heavy and longer than yours, which means too heavy to carry long distances, and more difficult to wield. Much easier to strike downward at an enemy while they’re seated on a balon’s back. Second, and more important, is Golan’s ego.” Tor arched a brow. “What does a man’s ego have to do with a battle plan?” She leveled a smirk in Tor’s direction. “With Golan, it’s everything. He truly believes he can never be defeated. Therefore, he will not come at you in a stealth-like manner. He will come straight at you, from the south.” Tor’s eyes widened. “With no cover, on balons, where the dust of the creatures’ hooves could be seen for miles? Ridiculous.” She shrugged. “Take my advice or leave it. But I tell you, they will attack directly from the south. You’ll see them coming. But I fear you will still be outnumbered.” It was obvious Tor didn’t believe her. “Look,” she said, “I have fought the Centuri more than you have. I know the way they think, the way they approach battle, even what goes on in Golan’s warped mind.” Lycan was silent, his expression giving nothing away of his thoughts. Finally, he looked up from the map and asked, “Why would you say that we would be outnumbered if the Centuri attack?” “Before I was captured, we learned that Golan had been in talks with the Lonai and Zhendahl kingdoms. He’s negotiating a treaty with them in an effort to convince them to join forces.” “Now I know you have no idea what you’re talking about, “ Tor said, throwing up his hands and pacing the room. “ The Lonai and Zhendahl hate the Centuri.” “They hate the Raynar more. And the promise of this oasis is irresistible to them. The Lonai, as you know, are located on the other side of the steep mountain range. The Zhendahl

live within the hills in the mountains. Neither have access to the rains and ocean as Raynar does. Truly, Raynar has a lock on the most desirable location on this part of the planet. To take over Raynar is worth the price of throwing in with the Centuri. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages.” She waited while Lycan studied the maps again. For some reason his opinion was important to her, but she didn’t know why and wasn’t certain she wanted to delve any deeper. When he smiled at her and nodded, her heart began to pump harder. “You make some very valid points, Starr. You are an excellent strategist. No wonder you are the leader of your people.” His words were like a cooling night after a hot desert day. She beamed at his praise, surprised that what he thought of her even mattered. No, she didn’t care what he thought of her as a woman. But the fact he praised her as a warrior, as a leader, meant more to her than she wanted it to. “Thank you.” Even Tor had gone silent, no longer challenging her every word. They spent the next several hours at the maps and discussing strategies. She pointed out their weaknesses, at least as far as she could see, since she’d never surveyed Raynar up close. “I will take you outside the gates so that you can see what our defenses look like. Perhaps you will see more work that needs to be done.” Tor pulled Lycan to the other side of the room. Starr had to strain to hear what they said, but she knew they were arguing. No doubt, about her. Finally, Lycan shook his head and Tor stormed away, stopping at the doorway and pointing at Starr. “I think you’re foolish to put your trust in this female. She is Dognelle, our sworn enemy. She will use whatever she finds out about us against our kingdom. Think with your head, my friend. Not with your cock.” After he left, Lycan starred at the doorway for a few moments, then turned to her, offering a half smile. He approached her and stopped mere inches away, so close that she could smell his clean scent. Her gaze met his. “Why do you help us?” She shrugged, not really sure of the answer herself, so she gave him the only one that made sense to her. “Because I hate the Centuri even more than I hate the Raynar.”

***** Lycan hoped he wasn’t making a serious mistake in trusting Starr. Everything he did with this woman went against his principles, hell, the very laws of the land that his ancestors had set up. And yet she wasn’t Raynar, she was Dognelle. She was a warrior, and seemingly a very wise one, at least in strategy. She’d pointed out flaws in their thinking, she knew the Centuri better than they did because her people had engaged them in battle more times than the Raynar had. He’d be a fool to discount her suggestions. Now he found himself outside the gates of Raynar with someone whose primary goal since she arrived was to escape. Of course he had her chained to him, something she wasn’t fond of at all, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew the Dognelle could ride a balon as well or better than the Raynar warriors. If she took off at a run, she was well familiar with the forests, hill and the desert. There were a million places she could disappear in an instant. He wasn’t going to take the chance that she would get away and tell her people and possibly the Centuri of their plans. She knew too much. She could never leave Raynar now. Dark clouds sailed overhead, the warm, heavy breeze whipping Starr’s skirt up and showcasing her slim ankles and well-shaped calves. She rode a balon like she’d been born on one, easily maneuvering the creature with subtle movements of her thighs, barely even touching the reins. Her hair sailed behind her in the stiff wind. She tilted her head back and let the air flow over her, a smile gracing her beautiful face. Truly he’d never seen anything more breathtaking. “You need better cover for your archers.” Lycan looked up at the towers where Starr pointed, shaking his head to clear the distracting thoughts of how beautiful she looked. “Suggestions?” “Shore up your drawbridge. They’ll bring powerful battering rams with them. If you add another gate you should be fine. As far as the towers, secure the top and the front. Give your archers a place to duck down after they’ve shot their arrows. The Centuri use far-reaching arrows and can easily take out your archers if they’re not protected.”

They rode for well over an hour. Lycan had to admit that Starr had a keen insight into their weaknesses. He listened, asked questions, and commented when necessary. But once she started talking, she seemed quite at ease with telling him anything he wanted to know. The clouds had turned from gray to black, and they were well outside the gates now, moving alongside the forested area to survey the thickness of the trees. They had come far, passing beyond what was safe, and yet Lycan had been entranced in conversation with Starr and had lost track of the time. But she had mentioned showing him the forests, and how they could easily hide invaders. That was something he needed to see. Tor would have a fit, of course, since Lycan had refused the offer of guards to accompany them. They left the balon tied at the edge of the forest and made their way inside on foot. Low-hanging branches and heavy roots on the ground made the going hazardous. Starr seemed unaffected by the dangers in the woods, easily bending down to avoid the branches and stepping over the exposed roots. “How could anyone move forward in these entanglements? The further you go, the worse it gets.” She looked over her shoulder at him and grinned. “Familiarity. These forests extend well into Dognelle territory. I played in them occasionally when I was a child. Easy to hide and figure out the lay of the trees and twining branches. Of course I was always in trouble for wandering too far away from the safety of the Dognelle borders, but there’s something so compelling about the cool forests. I couldn’t resist.” As they talked she walked ahead of him. Lycan admired the soft sway of her hips, the way her skirt molded to her curves. But now she was moving ahead of him, faster and faster. Foolishly he’d removed her chains when they’d dismounted, figuring she couldn’t get away from him on foot. As it was, he was too big to keep up with her. The thickness of the forest nearly blocked his way. Her laughter rang out just as she disappeared. “Starr?” he called, but she didn’t answer. He tried again, but she still didn’t respond. “By hell’s fires,” he mumbled, stubbing his thick-booted foot on a huge root. Then he heard her, seemingly far away. And damned if the little sprite wasn’t giggling like a child.

How dare she torment him like this? He would leave the forest, get on his balon and hunt her down. And when he found her he would punish her severely for running away. But as he turned around in circles to see nothing but trees and branches, the realization dawned on him that he was well and completely lost. Now what? He’d simply have to start walking. Carefully, of course, so he wouldn’t blind himself from a sharp branch, or break a leg tripping over a root. “Damn woman. Should have known better than to trust her.” With every passing second his irritation mounted until he was certain if he laid eyes on her he’d do her great bodily harm. “Are you lost?” Lycan whirled at the sound of Starr’s voice. Directly behind him, leaning casually against the thick trunk of a redbark tree. He stormed over to her and grabbed her by the waist. “What did you think you were doing?” Her smirk irritated him more than the fact he thought he’d lost her. “Proving to you how easy it is to hide within the forest. For someone who knows the trail, anyway. You were lost.” “I was not.” “You were too. You were turning around in circles so many times I was getting dizzy watching you.” “I was looking for you.” “You were looking for a way out, and couldn’t find it. And, just so you know, you were going the wrong way. You were heading deeper into the forest, not heading out of it.” “I knew exactly where I was going.” By Lal, the woman was infuriating. They walked further, and came upon a clearing. Starr’s eyes widened at the vision before them. A crystal blue lake appeared in the middle of the forest. Soft grass and low hills surrounded the pristine water. Colorful wildflowers peppered the grass. “It’s so beautiful. My people would kill for a watering spot like this.” How strange the things he took for granted. Sometimes he forgot that everyone didn’t have access to the plentiful food and water found in Raynar. A low rumble sounded in the distance. Starr tore her gaze from the lake and looked at him. Laying her hand upon Lycan’s chest, she said, “Is that thunder?”

“Yes.” “Is it going to rain?” The thunder grew louder, cracking across the forest. “Yes, it’s going to rain.” Starr’s emerald eyes sparkled and her grin was like a child’s. She was breathing heavily, her breasts rising, pressing against the thin gold top she wore. Her skirt flattened against her body as the strong winds whipped through the forest. Then rain started to fall. It was so hot in the forest that the drops were cooling relief. Starr turned to head toward the sky, blinking as droplets splattered against her cheeks. She looked at Lycan and grinned. He’d never seen anyone look more desirable than Starr did right at this moment. Her smile died when she caught his expression. He couldn’t help it. Thoughts of being angry with her dissipated in the cooling drizzle. Her passion filtered through his senses, her complete joy and awe at the shower only adding to his need for her. “It’s raining, Lycan,” she said, her eyes like the luminous green Zerlon sea. Moisture pooled in their depths, spilling over and mixing with the droplets pelting her face. “Yes, it is.” He stepped toward her, stopping only inches away. Her gaze stayed fixed on his. “It never rains in Dognelle. Ever.” Her cheeks flushed a bright coral, the tears flowing from her eyes like a running river. He tried to imagine her experience, what it must be like to stand out in a cooling rain when you’ve spent your entire life in drought. “I take it you don’t want to run for cover or go back to the castle.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not what I want right now.” Thunder shook the ground at his feet. His heart pounded a cacophony of rhythms. “What do you want, Starr?” He already knew the answer. Instinctively, in some strange way, he felt a connection to this woman, and he knew exactly what she needed. He just wanted to hear the words from her. Yet she paused, as if she couldn’t make up her mind whether she wanted to say the words

or not, as if telling him what she wanted would somehow lessen her in his eyes. “Starr, this choice is yours. In this, you are free to say whatever you want. Or don’t want.” “I am no slave, Lycan.” He started to argue, then realized she was right. He could enslave her and hold her against her will, but that would never make her the same as the women of Raynar. “I know.” “I make my choices, even at this moment, as a free woman.” That, at least, he could give her. “Yes.” She nodded then, and finally said what he needed to hear. “I want you to make love to me, Lycan. Out here, in the rain.”

Chapter Eight Starr’s throat constricted, went as dry as her desert lands, but still she’d managed to get the words out. Making that decision had been both easy and difficult. She wanted to make love with Lycan, wanted it more than she’d ever thought possible. But she would not surrender her freedom in exchange for a moment of pleasure. He may think her a slave, but she was not a slave, would never be one. And if making love meant that he thought she accepted her place as a concubine in his harm, then she wouldn’t do it. Her heart soared with joy at his willingness to give her the choice, to give her the freedom to make the decision. Why she chose this moment, she wasn’t certain. Maybe it was the miraculous raindrops, making her feel alive and one with the planet’s strange atmosphere. Maybe it was the way Lycan looked at her, the hunger in his eyes like holding up a mirror to her own emotions. The elements mixed together, desire and passion, rain and thunder, swirling around her like a vortex. She was spinning out of control. Cool rain did little to quench the heat building up inside her. Lycan’s burning eyes were like throwing fuel on her already inflamed senses. He laid his hands on either side of her head, resting his palms against the bark of the tree. His breath caressed her cheek, his dark, desire-filled gaze focused on her mouth. She parted her lips, offering a wordless invitation. One that he took. He lowered his mouth and pressed his lips against hers, slipping his tongue inside with a kiss that spoke of fire and passion. There was nothing gentle in the way his mouth ground against hers, and she didn’t want gentle now. Passion exploded from deep within, a force she’d held back her entire adult life. This was what had been missing before—why she had never engaged in sex. Nothing could have prepared her for the feelings pouring out right now, because nothing in her life had prepared her for Lycan. She moaned into his mouth, reaching out and grasping his tunic, clenching her fingers into the material of his shirt until his body touched hers. His heart pounded against her hand, a frantic beat that echoed her own racing pulse.

“Where?” he said as he tore his mouth away and nipped at her shoulder. She shuddered, her voice no more than panting gasps. “Out in the clearing there. Near the lake.” “Let’s go.” He moved away and grasped her wrist, dragging her through the last of the thick trees and into the clearing. Desire pounded between her legs, moisture gathering as her mind was awash in images of what it would be like to make love with Lycan. Tiny droplets of rain pelted the surface of the water, looking like fish leaping out of the lake. The rain slowed to a near mist, the sun partially breaking through the dark clouds. Lycan took her to an embankment near the water and laid her on the ground, standing over her. What a magnificent warrior he was. Legs spread, hands on his hips, looking at her with an expression so fierce that if she didn’t know it was desire, she’d worry that he would grab his sword and run her through. Which, in a certain way, he was about to do. She giggled, and he arched a brow. “You find something amusing?” “Yes. I was thinking you looked like a warrior about to run me through with your sword. Then I thought about your sword and…” Her gaze gravitated to the sizeable bulge in his breeches. His eyes widened, then he threw his head back and laughed, a hearty, rich sound that made her want to grab him, strip his clothes off and have her way with him. “You fear being impaled on my sword then, little virgin?” “On the contrary. I’m looking forward to it with great delight.” His eyes darkened and he pulled off his tunic. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on his arms and chest, like diamond drops sparkling in the misty sunlight. When he opened his breeches and removed his rigid cock, she let out a shuddering sigh. Soon he was naked, and he dropped down onto his knees between her legs. “We need to get your clothes off.” She nodded, lifting up to undress, but Lycan pushed her back down. “Let me.” He started with the top, lifting it slowly over her head and casting it to the side. Instead of

moving on, he stared at her breasts until her nipples puckered under the intensity of his gaze. “Lift your hips,” he commanded. Complying eagerly, she raised up her buttocks, giving him the access he demanded. He reached for the waistband of the skirt and teased it down over her hips and legs, so slowly she feared she’d go mad. As he pulled the material down, his fingers lingered on her exposed skin. The humid air made breathing difficult. Or perhaps it was the way Lycan looked at her, his eyes roaming from her face to her breasts to her exposed pussy. A thrilling excitement that she had never known was possible trickled like warm water over her skin. His gaze was like a lover’s touch, one she felt deep within. A keening cry resounded in the treetops. Lycan turned his head and looked up, then back to her and smiled. “The Reevlo birds protect us here. They will sound if someone approaches.” She nodded, spotting the large, colorful birds nestled in the tops of the redbark trees. Their plumage was a rainbow of colors, their beaks as long as a sword. Though the Reevlo were not common in Dognelle, she had heard stories of their abilities to see for miles and alert a kingdom to possible invaders. As a warrior it was quite disconcerting to know that these creatures could announce an upcoming attack. As a woman desperate for a private moment with her lover, she welcomed their watchful eyes. When she returned her gaze to Lycan, she found him smiling down at her. “What?” He reached for her, skimming his fingers along her ribs and belly. Her muscles contracted at his light touch. “You have a beautiful body, Starr. Your waist is slender…I can span it with my hands.” Proving his statement, he grasped her middle. “Your hips are not narrow, but well curved.” He ran his hands down her hips and over her thighs. “Your legs are long. Ahh, I can well imagine the feel of them wrapped around me.” She let out a whimper when he slowly trailed his finger above her sex and ribcage, tracing circles over her breasts. “And your breasts are like ripe fruit that tantalize me for a taste.” She warmed under his praise, unaccustomed to being thought of as beautiful. His words were foreign to her. Her life had been spent as a warrior, her body wrapped up in clothing that

protected her from the dusty desert. Her only companionship had been that of other females. No one had ever called her beautiful before. No wonder the women of Raynar accepted their fate. If sweet words like Lycan’s were spoken regularly, what woman wouldn’t want to do his bidding? She may be a warrior, her first love may be protecting her people at any cost, but right now she reveled in being a woman about to experience something that would only occur once in her lifetime. The taking of her virginity shouldn’t be a monumental occurrence, and yet it seemed as if she stood poised on a precipice, about to tumble into new, unfamiliar territory. Lycan nestled down beside her, turning her to face him. He reached for her leg and drew it over his hip, nestling his cock against her sex. He licked her bottom lip, then drew her mouth into a deep kiss, his tongue sliding inside and teasing hers. His body felt so hard, all muscle and strength. She felt almost petite lying there next to him. And she’d always thought herself tall. The men of Dognelle were shorter than her, and thinner. Lycan was big…everywhere. Especially his shaft, which he rocked against her aching sex. Her nectar seeped from within her, moistening both of them. Lycan caressed her hip, her thigh, trailing a fire over her ribs to grasp one breast in his palm. He teased the nipple until it stood hard and erect, then bent and covered it with his lips. Starr wound her fingers into his hair and held his head over her breast, delighting in the sensations his sweeping tongue evoked. She closed her eyes and focused on the way his tongue swirled around the taut bud, the way sparks of pleasure shot straight to her core, the way he moved against her when she whimpered as if in answer to her unspoken plea for more. “Tell me what you imagined when you thought of making love for the first time, Starr.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. “I never imagined anything.” Arching a brow, he said, “I find that hard to believe. Everyone imagines their first experience with sex. How it will be, what positions, the different types of sex.” “Different types of sex?” He stroked her hair and wound it around it fist, kissing her lightly. “Yes. I can pleasure

you in many ways, Starr. With my hands, as you’ve already experienced, with my cock, and with my mouth.” Visions of watching Tor pleasure the concubines with his mouth entered her memory. She wondered then what it would feel like to have a man’s mouth on her sex. And how it would feel to taste a man, to engulf his shaft between her lips as she had seen the other night. “I would like that,” she said, suddenly feeling a bit shy and unable to meet his gaze. Truly, this bashful behavior was something she’d never experienced before, but she’d also never been intimate with someone before. He tipped her chin and forced her gaze to meet his. “And which would you like, my little virgin? My hands pleasuring you, like this?” Slipping his fingers between them, he stroked her sex until she arched her hips against his. “Yes, I like that very much.” He removed his fingers and drew them to his lips, tasting her. She shuddered, so incredibly aroused that she felt lightheaded. “Or would you like me to taste you, Starr?” “Only if I can taste you, too.” Lycan sucked in a quick breath. “Now that I would enjoy very much.” “How do we do that?” She suddenly felt inadequate, really and truly virginal for the first time. She had seen Tor and what he had done with the women, but that had been her only experience with sex. Perhaps she should have paid closer attention that night when the women devoured his shaft with their mouths, but she had lost her focus with Lycan touching her. “We will do what we feel like doing, what comes naturally.” Easy for him to say, since he was well experienced and knew exactly what to do. “Are you worried that you won’t please me?” he asked. “Yes.” He took her mouth in a searing kiss, plunging his tongue hard and fast inside her. She picked up his rhythm and gave in kind until she was breathless and panting. When he pulled his mouth from hers, his eyes were as blazing as the cloudy sky above. “Now…feel my shaft, Starr,” he said, reaching for her hand and placing it over his cock. “I

am so hard it is painful. That is what you do to me with just a kiss. Don’t be afraid that you won’t please me.” A bit more confident than she had been earlier, she stroked him lightly, loving the feel of his steely sword. She leaned back and watched his shaft slide through her hands, her sex pulsating with the need to feel him inside her. “Your hands are magical. You could easily make me come just by touching me.” She remembered the other night when she had done just that. Watching his seed spurt all over her hand at the same time he took her over the edge was the most erotic experience of her life. So far. Now, a burning urge to taste him consumed her, and she boldly shifted, sliding down his body in increments, pressing her lips and tongue against his skin and tasting his salty flavor. He was so different than her, his body hard where hers was soft, his taste so masculine it burst onto her tongue and heightened her already frenzied arousal. His stomach rippled under her questing lips and she enjoyed having this one, brief moment of ultimate power over him as she continued her trek down his body until her mouth was level with his cock. She looked up at him and found his gaze riveted on her mouth. Suddenly anxious to give him pleasure, she focused on the swollen head in front of her, noticing that a drop of pearly liquid had settled on the tip. She swiped at it with her tongue, intrigued by the salty flavor. When she fit the head of his shaft between her lips, he groaned. Her gaze flew to his, wanting to watch his face as she slowly took his cock inside her mouth. His eyes were like the clouds, filled with energy and fierce power. He reached for her head and rested his palm there, helping her find a rhythm as she took his shaft in and out of her mouth. He moved his hips against her, sliding in and out slowly, then faster. Never had she imagined that she could be so aroused by pleasuring a man. His groans catapulted her into a near-frantic state. She eagerly gulped his cock, taking his huge length as far back into her throat as she could. “By Lal, Starr!” he cried out, tensing and withdrawing his cock from her lips. When she reached for him again, he pulled her up against him, crushing her lips with his mouth. She wanted more of him, wanted him to release in her mouth. But when she tried to slide down his body again, he stopped her. “No. You will make me come if you continue to suck me

like that. And I want to pleasure you first.” Rolling her onto her back, he shifted on top. He moved his mouth along her jaw and neck, his tongue leaving a fiery trail that had her tangling her fingers into his hair and pressing his mouth harder against her. He licked her collarbone, sliding his tongue down and across the swell of her breasts. Using both his hands, he teased her until she begged for more. With a light chuckle, he continued the torture, easing ever downward until he laved her navel with his tongue, then lower. When his chin brushed her sex, she jerked against him. The throbbing ache between her legs was incessant, growing every passing second until she wasn’t sure she could bear the waiting. His hot breath sailed over her exposed sex. She lifted her head to watch him, shocked and yet incredibly aroused at seeing his mouth settling over her slit. When his tongue snaked out and licked the swollen flesh, she cried out and arched her hips, wanting more of that sweet pleasure. Lycan was relentless in his pursuit of her response. So much that she became mindless, her head emptying of all thought except climbing that mountain. Step by step he led her to the pinnacle. When he stopped, she heard her own voice begging him. Any other time she’d be appalled at the words spilling from her lips, but this time she couldn’t help herself. He held the key to her release, and she wanted it. Now. “Lick me, Lycan. Make me come, please. I can’t bear this.” When he grinned and fit his mouth over her clit, suckling lightly, she exploded into his mouth, writhing underneath him until the spasms left her limp. But he left her no time to catch her breath. He pushed up and kneeled, then reached for her hands. Hauling her up against him, his mouth crashed against hers, devouring her lips and tongue. The sweet, musky flavor of her own juices mingled with his taste, readying her once again. Slipping his hands underneath her buttocks, he pulled her astride him. His cock rested against her sex. “Are you ready for this?” he asked.

Any hesitation she might have felt fled when he rocked against her, sending shooting sparks of delight between her legs. Virginity was nothing more than a physical barrier, and not a necessity for a queen. This was her choice too, and she wanted it more than she had ever wanted anything in her life. “Yes, Lycan, I’m ready. Make me yours.”

Chapter Nine The words Lycan had wanted to hear since the moment he’d first seen Starr had finally been uttered. An urge to take her fast and furious overwhelmed him, but he forced himself to ignore that instinct. Starr may be a warrior on the outside, but inside she was still a virgin, a woman, and as such he would treat her with care. He slowed his ravaging kiss, licking at her lips and tenderly stroking her tongue. Deliberately, he lingered on her mouth, caressing her back at a leisurely pace. Her frantic heartbeats lessened, as did his. Lycan fought for control, knowing what he wanted would not produce an adequate first sexual experience for Starr. But by the gods, she was making it difficult for him to maintain this pace. Sitting on his lap like this put her sex in direct contact with his raging erection. He was poised at the entrance to her moist core, and with one hard thrust could bury himself fully inside her. But this moment was for her, not for him. He wrapped his arm around her back, then pushed her backward so she leaned against his forearm. With his other hand he caressed her breasts, drinking in the sight of the taut peaks reaching toward him. Such a curious woman she was! She watched his every movement, licking her lips and paying such rapt attention it nearly drove him over the edge. When he took her nipple between his fingers and rolled it, her eyes drifted shut and she tilted her head back. Her hair brushed his knees as she arched her back to thrust her breast into his hand. This erotic image of her would be burned into his memory for all time. Her body was perfection—womanly curves, strong legs and beautiful breasts. “Did you know you have the most perfect sex I’ve ever seen?” She leaned forward, frowning as if she didn’t understand his statement. “I do?” “Yes. Without fur covering your genitals, I can see everything, from your swollen slit, to the hard knot peeking out from under its hood.” He demonstrated by reaching down and sliding his finger between the folds of her pussy, then circling her clit until he heard her raspy breaths. “Do you like when I touch you, Starr?”

“Oh yes, very much.” “Would you like to come again?” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “I don’t know if I can.” “Oh, trust me. You can. Already your nectar pours over my legs, your pussy quivering with the desire to feel my cock deep inside you. Is that what you want?” “Yes.” Her answer spilled out on a husky whisper as she clutched her fingers in his hair and pulled his head toward hers. She kissed him with a passion that only experienced women should know, yet also with the eagerness of one who had yet to know carnal delights. When she pulled away and looked at him, her lips were swollen, her eyes glazed with desire. “I tire of all this talking, Lycan I am no empty headed female who knows nothing of what can be between a man and a woman. I may never have experienced it, but I know what it is. Fuck me.” He shuddered at her bold command, realizing that he was indeed in the presence of a woman who matched his needs. No longer caring if he was gentle or not, he reached for her hips to lift her up and guide her over the tip of his shaft. Starr complied eagerly, watching as he breached her swollen nether lips, focusing on their bodies as he slid, inch by inch, inside her heat. When he met the barrier, he paused. Her eyes met his and she nodded. With one quick thrust he breached her hymen and impaled himself within her. Her eyes glistened with tears, but she smiled at him, then sighed. Lal, she was tight. Her cunt wrapped around him, squeezing him hard. He was loath to move inside her, wanting her body to grow accustomed to his size. “Are you hurting?” he asked, brushing the hair away from her face. “No.” To prove it, she lifted herself up, then back down over his cock, sheathing him deep within until her buttocks rubbed his balls. Lycan groaned at the feel of her surrounding him, unable to believe that she could take him in so completely. Her moisture poured over them both, running down over his balls and enticing him to thrust upward. Starr tugged on his hair, pulling his mouth over hers and devastating him with a passion-filled kiss. Making love to Starr wasn’t at all what he had expected, and yet it was everything he had

hoped for, and more. They moved together in rhythm, touching each other every place they could reach, sharing sighs and moans of pleasure. Her clit brushed his skin as she rocked against him. He could feel the tension building up in her. In him as well. His balls tightened, and he knew release was imminent. He stepped up the motions, wanting her to reach the edge at the same time. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she worked his cock, squeezing him mercilessly until she tensed, threw her head back and howled, her orgasm sending spasms around his rigid shaft. Watching her in the throes of pleasure was more than he could bear. With a loud cry he emptied his seed inside her, riding out the waves of his orgasm until he, too, was spent. Lycan rolled onto the grass, taking Starr with him. She rested on top of him, her breathing heavy and labored like his. He stroked her back and kissed her hair, wanting her to rest, wanting to sleep with her cradled in his arms. Soon, her breathing evened out and he knew that she slept. The rain had finally ended, leaving in its wake clear skies. The warmth of the sun coupled with the woman sleeping on him lulled him into a sense of peace he had never felt before. Truly, she was his match in every way. Strong, intelligent, beautiful and sensual, he knew then that he would never let her go. “You will be mine always, Starr,” he whispered to her sleeping form. “Soon, I will make you my queen.” Confident that their fates were falling into place exactly as they should, he let sleep overtake him.

***** Starr had been floating, drifting off to a magical place of fantasy and rest. Lycan’s strong arms surrounded her, his body her cushion. His hands wove a magical tapestry of delight over her skin. How could she not be lulled into sleep? But then he said those words. Mine. Always. Queen. The ease with which she had settled into his embrace vanished. She tried not to show the tension that she felt, instead waiting until she heard his even breathing and knew him to be asleep. “Lycan?” she whispered, waiting to see how deeply he slept. When he didn’t answer, she

asked again. Then again. When she was confident he would not wake, she carefully slid away, then kneeled, watching him. Lal, he was glorious She could never tire of looking at him. His masculine face, warrior’s body and magical hands mesmerized her. He had been tender with her in their lovemaking. Admittedly, his gentle nature had surprised her. She expected him to be as she had heard most men were—interested only in their own satisfaction. But Lycan had deliberately set out to pleasure her. And he had. Time and time again until she had no strength left. She hadn’t expected to feel something for him, hadn’t expected to fall under whatever spell he cast. No wonder his concubines followed him around like pets. There was a magic to him that was nearly overwhelming, and wholly irresistible. But resist she must. When he whispered that she would always be his, that he thought to make her his queen, harsh reality set in. She could not stay here one moment longer. Not only did her people need her, but she had to guard her heart. Already she felt an attachment to Lycan that made her feel guilty for what she had to do. But she would do it, of that there was no doubt. She could no more live the life of a slave than she could cut her own throat. She wouldn’t live like that. Born a free woman, she would die that way too. Now he trusted her. And here they were, alone in the forest, with Lycan sleeping soundly at her side. If there was ever an opportunity to escape, this was the time. She knew the forest would eventually lead to the outskirts of Dognelle. It would be a long walk, but she could make it on foot. So why was she still there? Why couldn’t she make her body move? This was the chance she had looked for since the moment she’d awoken to find herself a prisoner of Raynar. For that matter, why hadn’t she left earlier when she’d hidden from him in the forest? He’d never have found her. She could be back in Dognelle by now. Because she hadn’t wanted to leave him then. She’d been caught up in the laughter, the silent walk, the way they seemed to fit together so well, that she had simply enjoyed the moment. She had thought as a woman thought, not as a warrior. A warrior would have taken that opportunity to make her escape. She hadn’t then, and didn’t want to now. But she would,

because she had to. The thought of never seeing Lycan again tugged at her heart in unexpected ways, leaving her with an empty feeling in her stomach. A feeling she forced aside. She had to go. Her people needed her, and they were more important than her silly, womanly feelings. She’d just had fabulous sex for the first time. No wonder she felt a bond with Lycan. Given enough time as his slave, she’d grow to hate him. She swept the dark hair away from his face, her hand lingering on his forehead. When she caressed his cheek, he groaned, and she froze, hoping she hadn’t woken him. His eyes did not open, and he did not stir again. He would be furious when he discovered she had left him, that she had violated his trust in her. A twinge of regret tightened her chest, fueling the guilt already settling there. What could she do? She had to take the chance and escape. She was no Raynar queen. She could never live as a slave, no matter how she felt about… No. No more thinking of Lycan, of what could be. They could never be. Carefully, she stood, stretching her muscles. When she looked down at her legs, she saw the bloody evidence of her virginity staining them. But there was no time to wash up. She grabbed her clothing and dressed quickly, careful to make no noise. Fortunately, they lay on a grassy bank where no leaves would crunch against her feet as she moved away from Lycan. She could only hope the Reevlo birds didn’t squawk as she reentered the forest. With one last look at Lycan, she disappeared into the safety of the trees.

***** Lycan woke with a start, then smiled, his dreams still filled with a sweet smelling Starr and the magic they had shared. Her passion surprised him, and he knew that they could share years of pleasures simply exploring each other. His cock hardened at the thought of slipping inside her again, and he reached for her, hoping she would not be too sore to enjoy more lovemaking. But the only thing he made contact with was the now-cool grass. Opening his eyes, he sat up and looked for her, thinking she might be bathing in the lake. Not a ripple marred the water’s surface.

The lowering sun filtered through the tree branches. It was nearly sunset. “Starr?” he called out tentatively, not wanting to frighten her. She did not answer. “Starr!” This time, more forcefully, as worry began to set in. He stood, realizing her clothes were not nearby. Dressing quickly, he went the way they had come, retracing his steps through the forest in the hopes that perhaps she went to check on their tethered balon By the time he reached the creatures, his blood was boiling. There was no sign of her. And if he knew Starr, he knew exactly where she had gone. Back to Dognelle. “Deceitful, lying bitch!” he shouted out, too incensed to hold his ire inside. No one could hear him out here anyway. A myriad of emotions coursed through him. How could she have done this to him after all he had done for her? He trusted her, and he let his guard down. As soon as he gave her a little freedom, she ran. How stupid could he have been? He should have known better than to trust a Dognelle warrior. She had never cared for him, had merely strung him along as if he were her puppet, biding her time and awaiting an opening so she could go running back to her people. She couldn’t have gotten that much of a head start. If he tracked her, he could catch up to her before she reached Dognelle, and then take her back to Raynar. When he returned her to his kingdom, he’d shackle her, keep her well guarded, and then figure out what to do to tame her. If that was possible. No matter, He’d do something to make her bow to his will. Anything but give his trust to her. Or his heart. That part of him would never be hers again.

***** Starr crept through the forest, hoping she would reach the outskirts of Dognelle territory

before too long. It would be dangerous to be found wandering in the desert outside their walls after the sun went down. She could only hope that her instructions to keep sentries at the edges of the forest had been heeded. Though quite a distance from the Dognelle holdings, Starr had always feared an attack from the forests. Hopefully, she’d run into one of her guards as soon as she reached the end of the trees. The walk took a great length of time, the thick bushes and trees slowing her pace. Her skirt kept getting caught on thorns and she had to stop and work it free. But she persevered, knowing the sooner she returned, the faster she could prepare her warriors for a possible attack by the Centuri. Finally, she was near the edge of the forest. The stone walls of the Dognelle kingdom appeared in the distance, a vision that had never failed to bring her great joy. Except for the first time ever, she looked at the twin stone towers and felt empty, as if Dognelle was no longer her home, her refuge. Her vision was clouded by a naked, sleeping warrior with dark hair and eyes the color of the bark of the cacao trees in the forest. A man who infuriated her, challenged her, had taken away every freedom she had ever known. But also had treated her as an equal, even though she knew it went against every law in his land. He’d asked for her counsel on matters only warriors discuss. And he had made love to her in a way that went beyond anything she could have dreamed of. Her heart would always be with him, no matter if she never saw him again. Shaking off the melancholy thoughts, she spotted an approaching rider in the distance, grateful to see it was one of her warriors. If she moved into the clearing, she could wave her down. But before she could fully step out of the forest, a hand clasped around her mouth, cutting off the scream she tried to emit. A strong arm encircled her waist, dragging her back into the tree-covered forest. Panic cut off her breath. Who had her? Thoughts of a Centuri warrior running her through with a dagger had her readying to fight for her very life. “If you move, if you scream, I’ll break your neck.” Relief washed over her at the sound of Lycan’s voice. Lycan’s very angry voice. Freedom was less than a mile away, and yet the man who could take away her

independence had a vise-like grip around her middle. “You thought you could sneak away from me? You think I’m inept in the forest, Starr? That I wouldn’t know where to look for you?” He removed his hand from her mouth. For a split second she thought of screaming, but wondered how many of her warriors were scouting the area. She may have had her differences with Lycan, but she did not want to see him killed. And he would be, as soon as her warriors caught sight of a man holding their queen captive. “I did what you should have known I’d do. I’m running for my freedom.” He refused to let her move to even turn and look at him. “You have no freedom. You belong to me.” Rage filled her and she did fight him this time. “I belong to no one! I am a free woman and I have the right to choose!” “Once I brought you to Raynar, you became my responsibility. Don’t fight me on this. We’re going back.” He grasped her wrist and pulled her along, but she dug in her heels, her feet sinking in the soft earth. “No! I will not go with you!” “Your opinion no longer matters to me.” Lycan picked her up and slung her over his shoulder, the abrupt punch to her middle effectively knocking the very breath from her. She not only couldn’t take in any air, she couldn’t speak. Nor could she scream. But as she raised her head, she saw they were surrounded by five Dognelle warriors, swords drawn and pointed at Lycan. She heard the voice of Jonara, one of the captains. “Let go of our queen, or die.”

Chapter Ten Starr felt the coiled tension in Lycan’s body as he froze. “Put me down,” she commanded him, still struggling for breath so that only a whisper came out of her mouth. Her warriors could not hear her. “Why? So you don’t get any of my blood on you when I’m run through with their swords?” “They won’t kill you unless I command them to. Now put me down. For your own safety.” Still holding one arm firmly around her, she saw him reach for the sword at his side. “Lycan, don’t. They’ll kill you.” “Then I’ll die fighting, as a warrior should.” He dropped her to the ground abruptly, and pulled his sword from the scabbard at his belt. Starr rolled and hurried to stand, trying to find voice loud enough to tell her warriors to spare him. Before she could utter a word, blood appeared on his shoulder as he was pierced from behind. His eyes widened and he dropped his sword, turning his gaze to her. “No! Do not kill him!” she cried, finally able to speak. Before she could get the words out, one of her warriors had delivered a blow to the side of his head with the flat side of her sword. Lycan fell in a heap on the ground. Without thinking she hurried to him, hoping against hope that he lived. His pulse was strong, so none of his vital life forces had been wounded. She quickly tore a strip of cloth from the bottom of her skirt and pressed it to the wound on his shoulder. Looking up at her warriors, she said, “Get him to a balon and back to Dognelle.” They stood there, mouths agape as she tore off yet another piece of her dress to staunch the flow of blood. “Now!” Like an arc of lightning, they shot through the forest to do her bidding. Lycan was heavy, even with a half dozen women dragging him. But they managed to pull him over the back of a balon. She climbed on front and sent the beast into a fast gallop The gates of Dognelle opened and she sped through, stopping in the dusty courtyard and shouting

out orders to bring him to one of the chambers. Starr didn’t even know what she was doing. By rights, she should have let her warriors kill him. But he had spared her life in the desert skirmish, and she would give him the same. In no time at all his wounds had been sewn and dressed. But he had not yet awoken. She knew it would most likely be some time before he regained consciousness, considering the hard blow to the head he had received. Ordering two of the guards to stand over him, she hurried to her chambers, desperate to change clothes. She wanted no reminders of her time in Raynar. Unfortunately, the biggest reminder lay asleep in the chambers next to hers. Starr had washed off the blood between her legs and dressed in her breeches and tunic just in time. Rhia burst through the door, a worried expression in her grey eyes. She hugged Starr fiercely. “I thought you were dead. We all thought you were dead.” Starr nodded, touched by the look of concern on her cousin’s face. She offered a smile to her Mistress of Warriors and closest friend. They had trained together, schooled together, done everything together. Rhia was her confidante, her friend, and the one person Starr would want by her side in battle. Clutching Rhia’s long, raven braid, she tugged it, grinning when Rhia yelped and jumped back. “I have missed you, cousin,” Starr said with a wink. “You are still the most annoying little monster in the land, too.” Rhia tossed the braid behind her with a grumble, but Starr knew it was all bravado. “Tell me what has happened in my absence.” “There have been no raids. It has been quiet. Almost too quiet, if you ask me.” Snatching some dates from the table centering Starr’s room, Rhia looked out the window. “The Centuri are plotting something.” “I know. Lycan said as much the same thing.” Rhia turned from the window. “When are you planning to tell me what happened to you?” Never, if she could manage it. But she knew her cousin, and knew Rhia would badger her

for the details until Starr told her everything. She motioned to the chairs and they sat. “During our battle with the Raynar in the desert, I was knocked out by Lycan’s sword. He took me back to Raynar with him.” “I gathered that when we rode up on the massacre. You were nowhere to be found. I held tight to hope that you still lived, but we were afraid the Raynar had discovered you were the queen and had taken you to their lands for formal execution.” “No, I was treated well. Like the other women in their land.” Rhia sniffed. “Yes, I know how they treat their women. As slaves.” She could not discount her cousin’s claim. “Very well fed and pampered slaves.” “What good is food and pampering when you aren’t free?” Starr nodded. “And what of the Raynar whose life you just spared? I don’t understand. He was trying to kidnap you. Why didn’t you let the guards kill him?” She couldn’t meet her cousin’s sharp gaze. How could she answer without explaining her feelings for Lycan? Standing and walking to the window, she peered out at the gathering night, wondering when the Raynar warriors would come hunting for their king. “He is Lycan, King of Raynar.” Rhia gasped. “That is Lycan?” “Yes.” “No wonder you were in no hurry to get back here.” Starr whirled and glared at her cousin. “I did everything I could to escape while I was there! You think that I would give up my people to live the lazy life of a slave?” Rhia stood and reached for Starr’s hands. “Forgive me. Of course not. I just meant he is…incredibly handsome, no doubt virile, too. What woman wouldn’t want to spend a little time with him? He is nothing like our men.” “Our men are loyal to us.” “And simpering fools, too. No match for our strength and intelligence. I can well imagine Lycan is more than a match.” Indeed, he was. Which made her dilemma all the more difficult. “I tried to convince him to let me go. But he, like all Raynar men, feel that women can’t survive out here without a man to

take care of them.” “Bah. Ridiculous, backward notions.” “He has a point. At least where the Raynar women are concerned. They would never make it here.” “Because they haven’t been given the opportunity to be educated, trained as warriors. We could turn any woman into a warrior.” Starr didn’t answer. Rhia continued. “If only we could turn our men into someone like the King of Raynar. We could breed very strong male babies, then.” Babies. Merging with the Raynar would produce incredible children, both male and female. Starr’s hand automatically strayed to her lower stomach, wondering if Lycan had planted his seed there today. Would she have his child? “There’s something you’re not telling me.” She turned at the sound of Rhia’s voice behind her, and tried for a smile. “Nothing.” Rhia crossed her arms. “I’ve known you your entire life, cousin. I know when you’re happy, sad, and angry. I also know when you’re hiding something. Out with it.” “I don’t want to talk about it, Rhia.” She brushed past her cousin, intending to check on Lycan. “It’s Lycan of Raynar, isn’t it?” She stopped and closed her eyes for a second, knowing Rhia wouldn’t be satisfied until Starr told her the truth. “Yes.” Turning, she hoped the pain she felt wasn’t reflected in her eyes. “Did he hurt you, Starr?” “Hurt me?” “Yes. You know. Force you to do something you didn’t want to do.” She didn’t understand her cousin’s question. “He forced me to stay there when I wanted my freedom.” “What else?” “They bathed me, shaved me, and made me wear the clothes of their concubines.”

“And?” “And…that is all. Isn’t it enough? I need to go check on him.” “Why?” “Why what?” “Why do you need to check on him? He’s well guarded.” Anxious to see how Lycan fared, she didn’t want to get into this conversation with Rhia. “I know our guards are competent. But I want to see anyway.” “You feel something for him!” “I do not!” “Yes, you do. I can see it in your eyes. You worry about him.” She started to protest, but then realized it would do no good. Rhia was right. Her cousin knew her better than anyone. It would only be a matter of time before she figured out that Starr was keeping her feelings about Lycan a secret. Slumping into a chair, she nodded. “Yes, I worry about him.” “Have you been intimate with Lycan?” “Yes.” “I see. And how do you feel about him, exactly?” “I have no idea. He infuriates me, his entire way of thinking is the opposite of mine. He thinks women are weak and should be pampered.” Rhia crossed her arms. “But?” She smiled at her cousin, suddenly grateful to have someone to voice the things she had only thought of. “But he’s also warm, caring, intelligent. He even allowed me to sit in on a strategy session with him and his master of warriors.” Arching a brow, Rhia said, “Well, that’s progress, I guess. And how was the sex?” “More than I could ever have dreamed of. He’s an amazing lover, Rhia. And he knows how to pleasure me, seems to know exactly where to touch me, or kiss me, to bring me to climax.” Rhia plopped into the chair next to Starr and let out a sigh. A purely feminine sigh. Starr couldn’t hold back her grin. “You’re jealous.”

“Of course I am. Do you think any of the Dognelle men have the slightest idea how to pleasure a woman? You may have been a virgin, Starr, but you’ve heard the stories that women tell. Our men are inept with sex. Yes, they get hard and they come, but they seem clueless as to what to do to arouse a woman. They wouldn’t know where a woman’s clit was if we drew them a map.” “Lycan knows.” And definitely needed no map to find the spots that gave her pleasure. “So now what?” “I don’t know. I hadn’t intended for him to follow me and end up here. Now that he is, and assuming he survives, I have no idea what to do with him.” Rhia shrugged. “Do the same thing to him that he did to you. Make him your slave.” “We don’t have slaves in Dognelle.” “You owe him a taste of what it’s like to lose his freedom. Maybe it’ll change his mind about how he treats women.” After Rhia left, she headed to the room next door to check on Lycan. “He hasn’t so much as moved,” the guard reported. “It’s like he’s sound asleep.” She dismissed the guards and sat on the edge of the bed, smoothing his hair away from his head. She peeked underneath his bandages, pleased that neither wound was open or bleeding. Hopefully he was merely sleeping and would wake by tomorrow. And then what? They had no provisions for this kind of thing. In war, there were no prisoners. But the more she thought about it, the more she relished the thought. Why not show him what it was like to lose his freedom? She left the room, motioning to the guards. “Tie his wrists and ankles to the posts, but be careful of his wounded shoulder. Tie that arm down to the iron on the bed. I don’t want him waking up and causing any trouble. I’ll be back in the morning.” Pushing back the twinge of guilt at her plan, she headed downstairs in search of Rhia, figuring it was time she started acting like the queen again.

Chapter Eleven There had to be a boulder sitting on his head. Something had to account for the pain stabbing through his temples. Lycan shifted, but found he couldn’t move. His head felt twice the normal size, and as he fought through a mental fog, he couldn’t remember what had happened before he’d gone to sleep. Forcing his eyes open, he blinked, then blinked again. One window faced him, but it was obscured by a dusty film so he couldn’t see outside. It appeared to be daylight, though. The bed he found himself in was little more than an expansive cot. Rough blankets lay underneath him, and a stiff, thin sheet covered his naked body. The room was bare of any other furniture. He wasn’t in his own room. In fact, he wasn’t even in Raynar, of that he was certain. He struggled to sit up, only to discover he was bound at the wrists and ankles. Now that his eyes had adjusted, he surveyed the room, his gaze focusing on two female warriors glaring at him. Fires of hell! He had to be in Dognelle. Bits and pieces of memory came back. Finding Starr at the edge of the forest. Sword-wielding warriors surrounding them. He remembered reaching for his sword, recalled a piercing pain at his shoulder, then everything had gone black. He winced as he tried to move that shoulder. Looking down at it, he saw bandages covering what must be a wound. And on his head, too. “Where is Starr?” he asked the guards. They didn’t answer. “Are you mute? I asked where Starr was. Tell her I’m awake and I wish to speak with her.” They responded by smirking. “They don’t answer to you. You are not a king here.” Turning toward the sound of a familiar voice, he saw Starr at the doorway. She sauntered in, then turned to the guards. “Leave us. Stand outside.”

They nodded and left. Starr circled the bed, stopping at the foot. “I kind of like you all tied up like this.” “Let me go, Starr. I’m warning you.” She arched a brow. “You? You’re warning me? You’re hardly in a position to do anything other than talk. And I can remedy that easily enough by having you gagged.” He fought the bindings at his wrists, to no avail. All it did was aggravate his shoulder and head. “This is how you pay me back for how well I treated you at Raynar?” “You mean by enslaving me? Chaining me to your bed? Denying me my freedom, no matter how much I begged you? Is that what you’re talking about?” How could this be the same woman he had made love to only yesterday? She was dressed in her warrior’s garb. Tight breeches that hugged her long legs and hips, and a loose shirt with laces. Not too loose that he couldn’t see the outline of her breasts, though. She was as compelling dressed as a warrior as she had been in her skirt. “You were treated well. You were fed, bathed and clothed.” “And you will be fed and clothed also. I’m afraid we don’t have the same bathing luxuries you enjoy in Raynar. Desert here, you know.” “Why are you doing this?” “You entered my lands. The price of war, Lycan. You now become my prisoner.” “My warriors will come for me. You have to know that.” She shrugged, but not before he saw the worry cross her face. “I’m well aware of that. My guards are prepared to defend Dognelle.” “You will all be killed. Just let me go and no one will be harmed.” “No.” Frustration welled within him. He struggled against the bindings despite the pain slicing through his shoulder. When he had no more strength left to fight, he fell back onto the pillow, sending murderous thoughts to Starr. One corner of her mouth lifted as she approached the side of the bed. She sat on the edge, her hip nudging his, and swept his hair from his face. Her fingers were cool, her touch enticing. “How does it feel to be a slave, Lycan? To know that your destiny, your very life, rests in

my hands?” “I am no one’s slave.” “I said the same thing to you not too long ago. You scoffed at me then, and told me my new life would be as a Raynar concubine. Perhaps I will do the same to you.” She leaned over him, pressing her lips lightly against his. He tried to turn his head away, but there was no escape, bound as he was. She licked his lips, her tongue warm, wet and tantalizing. “Would you like to be my concubine, Lycan? Would you pleasure me night and day, whenever I wanted you?” Despite vowing to feel nothing, his cock paid attention, stirring to life as she licked at his neck, then moved downward, tracing his nipples with her tongue. “I see you like being a slave, Lycan.” He grit his teeth and mentally fought with his body, to no avail. “I will never give up my freedom.” “Well, your heart may say that, but your body says something else.” To prove her point, she slid the light sheet down over his hips, revealing his erection. Damn traitorous dick! Why wouldn’t it pay attention and lay flaccid? He watched with an equal mix of excitement and trepidation as she trailed her hands over his stomach and lower, then wound her fingers around his straining cock. “What a warrior you are. Wounded, weakened, you still manage to rise up to greet me.” Stroking him leisurely, she kept her gaze focused on his face. “Tell me, Lycan, would you like me suck you?” “No,” he lied, but his shaft jumped in her hands. She laughed. “Oh, I think you would like that very much. Even tied up, your body cries out for release.” He was about to tell her that she meant nothing to him, but her lips surrounded the head of his shaft and sucked him gently. He arched his hips, thrusting against her hot, wet mouth. She groaned as she engulfed him, cradling his balls in her hands and caressing them, tugging on them until he couldn’t help but let out a moan of pleasure. Despite the fact he was tied up and helpless, despite how much he objected to this indignity, he couldn’t hide the fact that he wanted her, craved the release that she could

provide him. “Stop this, Starr,” he managed through clenched teeth. “Let me go and I’ll make sure no harm comes to you or your people.” She murmured against his shaft, but otherwise ignored his plea. Her assault on his cock was relentless, alternately licking and sucking his shaft until she had taken him as far into her throat as she could. She stroked him, licked him, suckled him until he fisted his hands into the sheet and prayed for release. His prayers were answered when she gripped his balls and squeezed him gently, then swallowed his cockhead. His hips thrust off the bed and the orgasm he couldn’t hold back shot forward into her greedy mouth. After swallowing every drop, she pulled away, licking her lips and meeting his gaze. Then she pulled the covers back to his chest, leaned over and kissed his lips. Remnants of his seed lingered in her mouth. Tasting himself on her only made his flagging erection spring to life again. Her eyes were dark pools of emeralds. She was not unaffected by what she had done, a fact that provided at least some comfort. “I think we’ll play this game again later.” She left the room, leaving him stunned and unable to utter a word. For a man who had always been in charge of his own destiny, being tied up and helpless was a bitter pill to swallow. He was a slave, and at Starr’s mercy. And a sweet mercy it was. Watching her take his shaft in her mouth, the exquisite pleasure of releasing his climax down her throat, was almost more than he could bear. He did not care for this situation. Something would have to change, and soon.

***** Starr spent the rest of the day with Rhia and the warriors, trying to come up with a defensive plan in case of a Raynar attack. Lycan had been correct in his assumption that Raynar warriors would come for him. She

knew it was only a matter of time before his army arrived at her gates. An army that her people could not fight alone. Was she willing to risk the lives of her warriors, the very survival of her kingdom, to pay him back for enslaving her? Could she let him go? Offer him a mercy he had not offered to her? How would she look in the eyes of her people if she let the King of Raynar simply walk free through the gates? She sat on the edge of her tiny bed and laid her head in her hands, thankful for the quiet solitude of her chambers. There was no way to win in this situation. She would have to let him go. As much as she wanted to punish him for denying her freedom, she couldn’t stand by and watch her people slaughtered. By now, Tor and the others were aware they hadn’t returned. The Raynar warriors would be storming Dognelle’s gates by morning. She had a large army and strong warriors. But they were no match for Raynar. Not alone, anyway. She would have to let Lycan go. There was no other choice. Earlier in the day, she had ordered the guards to take him into the dungeons and encased him in a cell with only a chain binding his ankles. Not quite the same as being taken to the concubine’s chambers, or Lycan’s own chamber, but it was the best Dognelle had. Besides, she had done it to get him away from her, so that what she’d done earlier wouldn’t happen again. She couldn’t seem to resist touching him, pleasuring him. And in doing so, had driven herself mad with wanting. Her body still ached with a raw hunger that only Lycan could satisfy. No. That time was over and would never happen again. She couldn’t let it happen again. Their lives were so different, and yet one thing was the same—freedom. Despite having been bathed and well fed and clothed, Starr had still been a slave. And she’d rather live out her days starving in the desert with her people, then spend the rest of her life as a cozy, pampered concubine. To her there was no choice. She headed down the staircase into the dungeons, shuddering as she did every time she walked into the dark, musty rooms. Lycan was chained in the first cell, dressed only in his breeches. The bandage on his shoulder looked clean, though, and he’d apparently removed the one on his head. An ugly purple bruise and a lump formed near his left temple.

Her first thought upon seeing him was to rush in there and release him. Guilt sliced through her at treating him this way. He was a king and deserved better. What had she been thinking when she ordered the guards to bring him here? “Ah, I see my captor is here to taunt me.” She should feel anger and the satisfaction of revenge as she looked upon him. Instead, a miserable ache gnawed at her and guilt wriggled its way into her thoughts. What was wrong with her, anyway? “I’m not here to taunt you.” “Aren’t you? Why are you here then, Starr?” His anger was palpable. She felt it sail through the bars of the dungeon. Not that she blamed him. “I’m just checking on you, to see how you’re faring.” “I’m fine. Now leave me alone.” Exactly what she should do, but when she turned to leave, her feet wouldn’t move. She dug the keys out of her pocket and opened the cell door, careful to leave the keys out of his reach. She stepped inside and stopped in front of him. “Living dangerously today?” he asked. “I don’t know what you mean.” “You stand so close to me, vile, dangerous criminal that I am. Shouldn’t you fear that I’ll wrap my hands around your pretty throat and murder you?” “You’d never hurt me.” He went quiet for a moment, then said, “Are you certain of that?” He was taunting her, and she knew it. “Yes.” “Let me go, Starr. Your time runs out.” Which was precisely why she was down there in the first place. But something about having him at her mercy appealed to her. Recalling what had happened that morning when he was tied to the bed had her nipples beading against her tunic. He’d never make love to her again if it was his choice. And she was about to set him free, never to see him again except on the battlefield. Was it so wrong to want one more moment in his arms? “Perhaps I want to use you as my sex slave, instead.” His brows arched and he stepped toward her, hampered by the chains at his ankles. “You would use me that way?”

“Yes.” “What if I don’t want you to touch me?” She offered him a smile and closed the gap between them, placing her palms on his bare chest. “Like you didn’t want me to touch you this morning?” He shrugged and turned away. She followed. “Lycan, I want you.” “I’m not your toy, Starr. I don’t perform simply because it’s what you want.” “Isn’t that the way you treat your women, though? Isn’t that the same expectation you have of them?” He scrubbed the back of his neck and leaned against the wall. “I don’t know. Maybe.” “You take them whenever you want them. You touch them when it is your desire to touch them. You snap your fingers and expect them to come running because it’s what you want, when you want it.” She demonstrated by running her fingers along his spine, then cupping his firm buttocks with her hand. He shuddered and turned to her. His eyes had gone dark as a cloudy day. She glanced down to see his erection framed against his breeches, then met his gaze again. “This is just sex,” he said, nearly spitting the words out with fury that showed clearly on his face. “Nothing else. If I meet you on the battlefield again, I won’t hesitate to run you through.” His words were spoken in anger, but she knew the truth of them. It left her with an emptiness she didn’t want to face. “I know. But that is later. Right now I want you inside me.” He paused as if he considered ignoring her request. But then he grabbed her and crushed his mouth against hers, wrapping his arms around her tight and none too gently. Which was exactly what she wanted, what she needed. When he moved her so that her back brushed the wall of the cell, she whimpered. He kept his mouth on her, driving his tongue repeatedly inside her mouth. At the same time he ripped the laces holding her shirt together and spread it open, filling his hands with her breasts. Starr couldn’t breathe, the force of her desire making her heart race erratically. She unfastened his breeches and pulled his cock out, stroking the length, loving the feel of his rigid heat in her hands. “You want this, we do it my way,” he said, his voice tight. He unfastened her breeches and

yanked them down and off her quickly. With one hand he pinned her arms over her head and leaned over her breasts, sucking and biting at her nipples until she cried out shrieks of pleasure. He moved his fingers over her sex, finding and parting her slit and driving his fingers inside her. He fucked her hard and fast, using his thumb to pet her clit until all she could see were sparks in front of her eyes. Lycan’s assault was primal, filled with lust and the desire to take what was offered. Her cunt squeezed his fingers as her first climax washed over her, soaking his hand with her juices. But he didn’t stop there. He let loose of her hands and reached for her buttocks, lifting her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on to his shoulders as he took her mouth in a ravaging kiss at the same time he plunged his shaft inside her pussy. She screamed into his mouth, suckling his tongue as he drove hard and fast against her. Her naked back and buttocks scraped against the rock wall of the cell, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was reaching the pinnacle, falling over the edge with Lycan inside her. “Faster,” she commanded, lifting her hips in time to his rhythm. Sweat beaded on his skin and she licked it off, biting the side of his neck hard. He dug his fingers into the flesh of her buttocks and slammed his cock deep, driving her against the wall. “Come for me, Starr,” he ground out between gasps. “Come all over my cock.” His words were all she needed to catapult over the cliff. Her climax hit her with such force that she screamed his name, digging her nails into his shoulders and shuddering with the ferocity of her orgasm. He roared out a guttural groan and came, his body tensing and his face buried in her neck. They stayed that way for a few minutes, both of them panting heavily. She held on to Lycan as if she never wanted to let him go. The truth slapped her and forced her eyes open wide. She didn’t want to let him go. Not ever. She loved him. Her heart leapt against her ribs as the realization hit her. This man, her enemy, her captive, was also the man she loved. And the man she would never have. “Lycan, I’m letting you go.”

Chapter Twelve Lycan’s head snapped up and he gazed at Starr’s face. He still didn’t have his body under control after what had just happened. Her cunt still pulsed tight around his cock, forcing another erection. He wanted to fully undress her, lie her down on the cot and make love to her, slowly this time. Instead, she tells him she’s releasing him. Just like that? By Lal, she infuriated, vexed, tormented and intrigued him like no other woman. And he found her utterly unpredictable. “You’re letting me go?” She nodded, and pushed lightly at his chest so he would set her down. Reaching for her clothes and dressing quickly, she avoided his eyes. “We have to hurry. I want you outside before your warriors storm our gates.” Wondering what brought about her sudden change of heart, he reached for her. “Starr.” She turned to him, her eyes revealing a pain he hadn’t expected to see. “Don’t ask me any questions, Lycan. Just get your things gathered and let’s go.” “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Why are you setting me free?” “I’m protecting my kingdom. I know we’re no match for your warriors. Come on.” She bent down and unchained his ankles, then led him through the doorway and up the stairs. “I don’t want to cause any kind of commotion, so I’m going to have a couple of my guards escort you through the gates. Wait here for a moment.” She left him behind the door, giving him time to adjust his clothes and slip on his boots. Her manner confused him. A few minutes ago she was fiery passion, as if she couldn’t get enough of him. Now it seemed as if she couldn’t wait to be rid of him. Would he ever be able to understand a woman’s mind? And more importantly, did it even matter? He would be freed and back in Raynar by tomorrow. Which should be all that mattered. But it wasn’t. Like it or not, Starr mattered to him. She opened the door and put her finger to his lips to silence him, then motioned him to come out.

This wasn’t the way he’d been led to the dungeon. They walked down a hallway to the kitchens. The rooms were dark but he could make out the cooking and eating areas. “My guards will take you to your people. Do I have your vow that they will not be harmed or detained?” “Yes, you have my word as King of Raynar that I will let them return to you immediately.” She nodded, then pointed to three balon just outside the door. “Go.” He turned to her, not wanting to leave things between them unfinished. “Starr, I—” She shook her head and looked down, but not before he caught the moisture welling in her eyes. “Go, Lycan. We have nothing more to say to each other.” After nearly pushing him out the door, she closed it, leaving him standing there in the dark with no choice but to head toward the balons. Damn, he hated leaving things unsettled between them! He thought of turning around and walking back in there to confront her, but what would that yield except more misery for them both? They weren’t going to be together. Belaboring the inevitable was useless. So why did his heart feel as if someone crushed it in their fist? He mounted the balon and followed quietly behind the two guards as they rode through the courtyard. The gates opened and they passed outside into the desert. By the time they’d reached the turn of the main road, he could see torches in the distance. Raynar warriors, no doubt. Pride filled him at the sight of so many of his people coming to his rescue. A rescue that hardly seemed necessary now, given that Starr had let him go. Within an hour they were spotted by his warriors. Tor and several others galloped forward, swords drawn. They halted a few feet away, no doubt waiting to see what the Dognelle would do. Tor cast murderous glances at the guards on either side of Lycan. “These women are not to be harmed,” Lycan said, then nodded to both the Dognelle warriors, who cast Tor a look of disdain, then turned and headed back to Dognelle. “They should be strung up for daring to kidnap the King of Raynar.” Lycan silenced his friend and ordered the troops to return to Raynar. They rode for only a

few minutes before Tor started in. “We will not be attacking Dognelle?” Tor asked. “No.” “They took you by force.” Tor pointed to his shoulder. “You are wounded.” “Yes.” “We should avenge you! They are no match for us.” “There is no need. As you can see, they let me go. Leave it be, Tor.” “But I don’t under—” “I said leave it be!” The balon he rode howled at the sound of his raised voice, but he ignored it, and Tor, for the rest of the ride. He had enough on his mind without trying to appease someone else’s thirst for revenge. Tor was loyal to a fault, but misguided at times. Lycan understood the reasons for it, but it didn’t excuse Tor’s occasional insubordination. He forgave that because of Tor’s upbringing. Dawn had broken by the time they reached Raynar. As they rode through the gates, crowds approached, all cheering. He smiled and greeted everyone, but all he really wanted was the solace of his chamber, and some time alone to think. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as Tor followed him into the bath chamber. “I don’t understand you sometimes,” Tor said, standing there with his arms folded while Lycan undressed, pulled off the bandage covering his shoulder and slid into the bath. “Obviously.” He groaned as he eased neck deep into the steaming water, hoping the bath would soak away not only the soreness in his muscles, but the tension that had filled his body since the moment Starr told him she was setting him free. “Would you care to tell me what happened back there?” “Not particularly.” What he wanted was to be left alone. “I worry about you, Lycan” Lycan opened one eye and peered at Tor. “There’s nothing to worry about.” “Isn’t there? First you allow that heathen Queen of Dognelle to occupy your chambers. Then apparently she leads you around by your dick until you’re captured and enslaved in her kingdom. When she releases you, all you want to do is head back to Raynar instead of

enacting revenge.” Lycan sighed. “Revenge against what? The fact she showed me what it was like to be a slave? That she did no more to me than I did to her? What exactly would we be obtaining revenge for, Tor?” “She kidnapped and enslaved the King of Raynar!” Whether it was exhaustion or simply that Tor had begun to irritate him, he felt his control slipping. He turned to his friend and said, “And we enslaved the Queen of Dognelle. I tire of this same conversation, Tor. I suggest you find something constructive to do with your time, such as preparing our warriors for a possible war with the Centuri. Unless, of course, you think you could do a better job than I as King.” Tor flushed red and nodded, leaving the room without another word. Lycan sighed and settled back into the bath, grateful for a moment’s peace. He’d no more closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift into nothing when warm hands caressed his shoulders. He quickly jumped up, only to find a naked Chalon kneeling over the bath. With a seductive smile, she reached for his face. “I have missed you, my king. Welcome home.” “Thank you.” “Will you allow me to bathe you?” Not so long ago he would have welcomed the beautiful Chalon. Now, the thought of her naked and in the bath with him brought him nothing but indifference. Instead, images of a blonde warrior assailed him. Visions of taking Starr against the cold brick wall of Dognelle’s dungeon filled his body with desire. His cock rose, and Chalon’s eyes darkened. She slipped into the tub and straddled him. He didn’t want Chalon, but he should take her anyway. Just fuck another woman, and get his mind off Starr. He reached for Chalon and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent. She ground her cunt against his raging cock, raking his shoulders with her nails, doing everything he liked. Except her scent wasn’t Starr’s. Her pussy wasn’t Starr’s. She wasn’t Starr. He had a warm, willing woman in his hands, and he didn’t want her. He leaned his head back against the edge of the bath and regarded Chalon. She frowned. “Is there something wrong, my king?”

“No. I’m just tired” “A moment ago you were hard and ready for me.” A moment ago she had been Starr in his arms. Chalon no longer held any appeal to him. “I am tired, Chalon. Leave me.” Relentless as always, she wrapped her greedy hands around his cock. “I can perk you up. Let me pleasure you.” “I said no.” “I know you want me, Lycan. You’ve always wanted me. I am the only one for you. The only one who can bring you to heights of ecstasy, the only one good enough to be your queen.” She dipped under the water and engulfed his cock in her mouth. Lycan shuddered, but not from pleasure. Chalon’s blatant attempts at seducing him to secure a position as queen sickened him. He pulled her out of the water and set her outside the bath. “I said, no, Chalon, and I meant it. Now leave here, and don’t come back.” Her eyes darkened and for the first time, he saw hatred in them. Then she meekly bowed her head. “As you wish, my king.” After she stormed out of the bath, Lycan made a mental note to remove Chalon as one of his concubines. Hell’s fire, while he was at it he might as well remove the rest of them, too. They no longer held any appeal to him. Where before the idea of a willing, docile female at his beck and call was enough, now all he could think of was a blonde warrior who fought him at every turn, whose wit and intelligence matched his, whose passion ignited a fire within him that she alone could quench. Disgusted that he could find no solace, he dressed and went to his bedchambers, hoping he could sleep. But sleep would not come for him this day. He loved her. By Lal and the stars, he loved her with all of his being. No wonder other women no longer interested him. Starr not only had his passion, but he’d also given her his heart. And now she was back in Dognelle, a free woman once again, and he was here, more a prisoner than he had ever been. He’d fallen in love with a woman he could never claim.

***** “My queen, Golan of Centuri is outside the gates!” Starr tensed and looked up at the guard. Her mind and body were already preparing themselves for battle. She stood and asked, “How many warriors does he have with him?” “Only five.” “Five? How can that be?” “He says he has not come to make war, but to speak with you.” Skirting around her desk, she followed the guard into the hall. “Makes no sense. What would he have to speak to me about?” “He says it’s about Raynar. And Lycan.” Had the Centuri attacked Raynar? No, she’d know about it if that had happened. The Centuri had to ride past Dognelle on their way to the Raynar kingdom. There was no other way. “Does it appear to be a trap?” “No, my queen. We had guards climb the towers and search in all directions. There are no other Centuri warriors hidden within view.” Sighing, she nodded. “Escort him in, heavily guarded of course. Bring him here to the hall.” The guard hurried off. Starr paced the dirt floor, wondering why Golan would want to see her. The Centuri king never visited other kingdoms, unless it was to take them by force. He was not one to engage in social activities, preferring instead to lay siege and take what he wanted. She clasped her hand around the sword at her side, finding comfort in the cold steel handle, hoping she wasn’t making a foolish mistake in allowing him entry. In a few moments, Golan entered the expansive hall, followed by a handful of Centuri warriors and more than two dozen of her own guards. She relaxed her grip on the hilt of her sword and met him in the center of the room. “Starr.” His broad grin showed that half his teeth were missing. His appearance made her shudder. If ever evil was personified in flesh, it was Golan. His

face was dark, streaked with dirt, hair greasy and hanging like ropes from his balding head. His beard was unkempt and could be hiding any one of a number of bugs. He smelled like the filthy balon the Centuri rode. It was a wonder any of their creatures survived, they were so poorly cared for. She coughed and covered her nose, hoping to avoid the foul stench permeating the room. Yet she refused to take a step backward, despite the revulsion she felt. “What brings you here, Golan?” He stepped forward and her hand went to her sword. Holding up his hands, he moved back. “I bring you an offer.” “What kind of offer?” “A quest, of sorts. For the richest lands in this part of the planet.” She knew he meant Raynar, as he had always coveted Lycan’s lands. Of course what kingdom hadn’t? “I’m listening.” He placed his hands behind his back. “You were kidnapped by the Raynar king, were you not?” “Yes.” It didn’t surprise her that he knew of her time in Raynar. Frankly, she was surprised he hadn’t attacked Dognelle in her absence. “I think you and I now share a common enemy.” “Lycan.” She tried not to grimace at his twisted grin. A white scar marred the surface of one of his cheeks. Apparently some internal damage had been done because his lip on that side of his face didn’t curl upward like the other, making him look more like he was snarling. “Yes. Lycan. I know you want revenge on him, as do I. It was his father who killed my father, you know.” At least that’s what Golan had always wanted everyone to believe. Rumor was that Golan killed his own father so that he could control Centuri, but no one had the guts to debate him on that issue. “Go on.” Golan leaned in, his smell nearly knocking her backward. He whispered to her, his breath reeking like the garbage dump in Dognelle. “Did he violate you, my queen?” She wanted to throw him out, preferably with the tip of her sword up his ass to show him the way. But something made her pause. If nothing else, she could at least find out what he

was up to. Motioning him to the table centering the room, she sat across from him, more as a way to gain distance than anything. He took a seat and folded his hands on the table, no doubt waiting for her to respond. “I won’t tell you the specifics of my time in captivity. Suffice it to say I don’t care to repeat the experience.” Golan nodded and played with his beard. “As I suspected. Lycan has always thought he was above any laws, taking whatever he wanted with no consideration for anyone else.” Actually it sounded more like the way Golan operated, but she said nothing. “Are you going to get to the point and tell me why you’re here, Golan?” He arched a brow, then nodded. “We are planning an attack against Raynar.” “We?” “Yes. I have convinced the Lonai and Zhendahl kingdoms to merge and join in the attack. If you agree and the Dognelle join us, there is no way Raynar can win. We will defeat Lycan, take Raynar as our own and finally move out of this hellish desert and into the land of cool breezes, refreshing rains and plentiful seas.” He was right. The warriors of three kingdoms could possibly defeat Raynar. If Dognelle were added, a victory would be assured. Golan needed her, of that there was no doubt. He might be able to win a war against Raynar with three kingdoms. Add four, and it was a certainty. A week ago she might have jumped at the chance. Then again she might not. This wasn’t the first time Golan had suggested an attack on Raynar. The problem was, Golan was only interested in furthering his own prosperity. Too bad the Lonai and Zhendahl kingdoms didn’t know him as well as she. Most likely he would find a way to either do away with or enslave the kings of Lonai and Zhendahl after Raynar was secured. After all, in Golan’s mind, there could be only one leader. “What’s in it for my people, Golan?” His black eyes gleamed like sun on a raven’s back. “Isn’t it obvious? The chance to live in Raynar, to merge into one powerful new kingdom instead of factions that could not stand strong on their own. I could even make you my queen and we could rule side by side.” Her stomach turned at the thought of Golan putting his hands on her. “I’m not interested in being anyone’s mate, Golan. But your idea intrigues me.” His sly smile led her to believe he had already claimed victory. “I always knew you were

an intelligent ruler. You can see the benefits to this.” She stood and walked around the table, leaning against the edge. Getting this close to Golan made her want to vomit, but she needed to convince him of her sincerity. “I would be foolish not to throw in with you and the others. When does the attack take place?” “We will begin our ride tomorrow night. By the time he sees us coming it will already be too late.” She nodded. “Then Dognelle will bring up the flank, waiting a bit after you’ve started your attack. My warriors can pick up after you have battled for a bit. Raynar won’t be expecting Dognelle to participate, so we will allow them to hold out hope until the last moment. Then we will attack and finish them off together.” “Outstanding!” He stood and put his hand out. She shook it, her skin crawling at his cold touch. “I knew I could count on you. Revenge on Raynar! I will look for you tomorrow.” “You can count on me, Golan. We will be there.” After he left, she called for Rhia to meet her in her chambers. “What did that pig Golan want?” she asked. “He wants us to join forces with Centuri, Lonai and Zhendahl to take Raynar.” Rhia wrinkled her nose. “Swine. He disgusts me.” Starr couldn’t agree more. “I have a plan, one you are not going to like. We have two choices here, Rhia. We can put in with Golan, or we can save Raynar.” Rhia sighed. “I don’t like either choice. Can’t we remain neutral?” She picked up her cousin’s hands and squeezed them. “I know you don’t understand this, but trust me when I tell you that we do not want Golan to take control of Raynar. If he and the other two kingdoms are successful, our time is limited. He would surely take us on next and we would be defeated. Raynar will not allow anything to happen to us.” “How can you be sure?” “Because I will beg Lycan if I have to, but it’s time for us to stop the isolation. We must convince Raynar to release their women from captivity. It is time for us to merge with them and become stronger.” “I would sooner die than live as a captive!” Rhia spit, pulling away from Starr. “If we allow the Centuri to defeat Raynar, we will all die.”

Rhia closed her eyes, then turned to her. “You are of course, the queen, and your word is law. All of us will follow you into bondage or death. What is your plan?” Starr’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude. She didn’t deserve such loyalty, but she vowed that no matter what happened, none of the Dognelle women would end up as slaves. Rhia was right, they would all rather be dead than lose their freedom. She could only hope it wouldn’t come to that.

Chapter Thirteen Lycan woke with a start when Tor threw open the door to his bedchambers and lit the room in harsh light. “There are torches in the distance! An attack is coming!” Instantly he was wide awake and throwing on his clothes and boots, running out the door with Tor at his side. “Has everyone been alerted?” Tor nodded. “Yes. Most are in the armory. The archers are setting up in the towers now.” It had to be a few hours before dawn, and yet the castle already bustled with activity. Even the women and children had been awakened, everyone readying for an attack they knew was coming. “Any idea how many?” he asked as they climbed the walkways leading to the top of the stone walls. He peered out to see what seemed like miles of torches. “No, but it’s more than just the Centuri, judging from the sheer numbers.” Lycan nodded in agreement. “I had feared they would convince the other kingdoms to attack with them.” And were the Dognelle among them? Had Starr released him so that he could watch her and her warriors approach to attack? No. He knew she wouldn’t. She had told him she hated the Centuri more than she hated Raynar’s laws. She wouldn’t join Golan. “You’re wondering if the Dognelle warriors are part of the approaching group.” Lycan looked over at Tor, but didn’t answer. Tor laid his hand on Lycan’s arm and said, “I was wrong. You feel something for this woman. It’s not my place to tell you how to feel or what to do. I just…” He looked away, unable to finish his sentence. Lycan clasped his hand over Tor’s. “I know. I hold nothing against you and you know that. I know where you come from. I know the reasons why you think a certain way. I may not always agree with them, but I understand them.” Tor nodded, and moved away to see to the shoring of the gates. Lycan checked the armory where many of the citizens of Raynar were busy setting out swords, arrows and bows. Some sharpened blades, others put arrows into shoulder harnesses for quick retrieval. Everyone in Raynar worked. Their success or failure would depend on all its citizens, not

just the military. His people scurried about, preparing for battle with a pride that filled his heart. They all knew what was at stake, and every one of them would defend Raynar with their last breath. In no time at all the preparations were completed. The gates had been reinforced, archers stood at the battlements ready to fire, and he and his warriors prepared to engage the enemy in battle. All that was left to do was wait for the approach of the Centuri. It was still too dark to see anything but torches moving toward them with steady progress. Quiet tension filled the air. Lycan tried to smile and talk to both his warriors and the others. The last thing he wanted was fear to permeate the kingdom. All he found was determination and attention to the matter at hand. At times like these he was very proud of his people. Even Mag had gathered the concubines and other women of the cities, preparing bandages and first aid. He came upon her engaged in a fierce argument with several of the guards, who insisted the women be kept inside within the sheltering walls of the inner part of the castle. Mag steadfastly refused, calling the guards names that made Lycan hide a laugh behind his hand. For the first time, he could see the women of Raynar as the strong people they were. These were no simpering females in need of coddling and protection. They were prepared to fight and die alongside the men. Just like Starr and the Dognelle. Perhaps the Raynar women weren’t as well-trained as the Dognelle warriors, but that could be easily remedied. “Leave these women be and attend to your duties,” he told the men, who quickly moved off. “Mag, I trust you have things under control here?” She nodded, her shoulders thrust back and her arms laden with supplies. “I have had to put your concubines in breeches. Easier to run back and forth that way. Several have complained, but many are more than eager to do what is necessary to protect their lands.” “And an admirable job you are all doing,” he said, nodding and moving on. Perhaps Starr was right after all. Something he’d ponder when this attack was over. When Raynar was once again safe and sound. Then he would think about all that Starr

had said to him. Now, he had to hope they could just survive the assault on the kingdom. A quiet calm settled over everyone as the torches grew closer. Soon the invaders would reach the gates. Lycan prayed for sunrise to break so they could accurately assess the strength of the attacking force. It would be much easier for the archers to see them, too. He gave the signal to the archers in the towers, and they drew back their bows, ready to fire a barrage of arrows. When he lowered his hand and shouted out, arrows flew. In the darkness, torches fell to the ground announcing that the arrows had hit their marks. Battle cries mixed with the howling of balons resounded below as the Centuri advanced. They’d brought ladders to scale the towers, and catapults to sling heavy boulders into the battlements and courtyard of the castle. Flying rocks sailed toward them. “Get the women and children out of harm’s way!” he yelled to the guards standing at the ready in the courtyard. The assault continued as the warriors advanced. Tension coiled deep inside him, and he felt a great need to fly out through the gates and confront the enemy with his sword. But he knew that he and his warriors would have to wait until the time was right. Arrows flew at them and they had to duck for cover. Coupled with the flying rocks, several of his people had been injured. When the ladders hit the battlements and the Centuri warriors came scrambling over, Lycan drew his sword and prepared to take on as many as he could. The sounds of steel crashing against steel filled the air. Shouting, screaming, and angry battle cries rent the early morning. Dawn broke over the mountains to the east. At least they could see better now. Lycan sliced through a Centuri warrior and gazed over the top of the wall. They were already deluged by warriors coming up the ladders. And as far as he could see in the gray morning light, there were more and more. Too many to count. Raynar would never survive an onslaught like this. Despite their strength and position, they were simply outnumbered. Lycan pushed past a few combatants and searched for Tor, finding him engaged with two warriors. Choosing one, he quickly dispatched the invader, then watched as Tor took care of the other. “There are too many of them,” he shouted with panting breaths, directing Tor to look outside the walls. Tor nodded, his expression grim. “They outnumber us. But we are stronger and better

trained. Perhaps we can still hold them off.” No more words were spoken as Centuri warriors approached, their faces menacing, swords held high. As Lycan engaged two of them, he realized Tor was right. Raynar was stronger and better skilled, but the Lonai and Zhendahl warriors were an unknown factor. Were they as savage and brutal as the Centuri, but lacking in training? Or did they possess the finesse and heart of the Raynar warriors? That remained to be seen. And they would find out soon enough, as a battering ram was brought forward. Flags signaling the Lonai and Zhendahl approached the gates, and pushed the ram in place. With one quick thrust they rammed the outer gates. Sounds of splintering wood could be heard as high as the tower where Lycan stood. It wouldn’t take much time to make it through the outer barrier. The inner barrier, while reinforced, would only hold so long. Lycan found several of the captains and instructed them to take flanking positions at the gates and all the entrances into the inner castle. The last thing he wanted was to put the women and children in harm’s way. The battle wore on for what seemed like hours. Raynar was holding steady despite the sheer numbers of Centuri, Lonai and Zhendahl climbing over the walls. Although the archers had killed or wounded a great number, it seemed as if there was no end to them. It was only a matter of time now. Lycan knew his soldiers were weary. They had been fighting since before dawn, and now the sun shone high above the castle. Fatigue would take its toll and there were still warriors on the ground outside the gates who had not yet taken up their swords. They would be fresh and full of energy. A part of him refused to accept that they could die today. Raynar was the strongest kingdom on the planet. No others were a match. And yet he foolishly hadn’t expected the other kingdoms to join with the savage Centuri. No one thought highly of Golan. Not even the Dognelle. He searched for the flag of the Dognelle, hoping against hope that Starr and her people had not joined in with Golan. Yet the dust from the hooves of the balon had marred those in the back of the groups approaching Raynar. For all he knew, Starr could be among the many warriors coming to take possession of his kingdom. Coming to kill him and his people. No, he wouldn’t believe she was capable of something like that. She had feelings for him.

He knew she did. She had to feel the same as he did. But if she was part of this, if she had joined with Golan, he would meet her on the battlefield and kill her like any other. He would do whatever he had to do to save his kingdom, even if it meant doing battle with the woman he loved, even if it meant driving his sword through her heart. Even if the thought of hurting Starr brought a wrenching pain to his gut. With a resounding crash the inner door began to give way. Lycan and Tor exchanged glances, knowing if the gate was breeched they would soon be overrun. This could be the last time that Lycan set eyes on his friend. They nodded and continued to fight. Lycan kept glancing at the numbers outside the gates, when he spotted a rustling of the trees to the west. The forest. Dognelle warriors riding balons emerged from the crop of trees. No wonder the trees were crashing down around them. He’d been in that forest before. Trying to ride balons through the thick branches would cause quite a ruckus. There were hundreds of them pouring from the protective cover of the forest. His heart fell as he watched their approach toward Raynar, their flag held high, their queen at the lead. Starr had come to do battle with Raynar—with him. He had been wrong about her, about her feelings. Bearing down upon the castle at breakneck speed, he knew the Dognelle would join up with the trailing end of the Lonai and Zhendahl. Damn the stars! He would not give up his kingdom, his people, without a fight. He was about to turn and engage the Centuri again when something miraculous happened. Starr’s troops didn’t fall in with the other warriors. They began to slay them. Their surprise attack had an immediate effect as Lonai and Zhendahl began to fall. Relentless, Starr and her troops sliced up through their ranks with a precision he had to admire. The other two kingdoms were small in comparison to the Centuri and Raynar. Dognelle was more than a match for them. In no time at all the Lonai and Zhendahl had turned tail and fled toward the mountains from where they came. Which left only the Centuri. And Golan.

With a cry and renewed hope, Lycan surged forward, seeking out the Centuri leader. He knew that Golan was outside the gates, but no longer feared opening them. He amassed the majority of his guards and threw open the long planks, forcing the battle out into the flatlands in front of the castle. They stormed the Centuri guards, driving them back with a ferocity that fired Lycan’s blood. A second wave of strength came over him and he knew what he had to do to assure peace in their lands. Their skirmish mingled them in with the Dognelle warriors. Lycan had to admire the way they fought, with a strength and tenacity that surprised him. He turned to fight off a Centuri, and bumped into someone behind him. When he whirled, sword raised to strike, he came face to face with Starr. Her face was dirt streaked, her sword as bloody as his. She wore a grin that clearly indicated she was enjoying the battle. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment. “Let’s go find Golan and see if we can end this,” he said. She nodded, and they wielded their way through the throng of soldiers. Lycan would have liked to watch Starr and the way she fought, but he couldn’t turn his back on the enemy. What really struck him was the fact that he wasn’t worried for her as he assumed he’d be. Considering she was a woman, and a woman he cared about, he figured as soon as he saw her that his thoughts would stray to her safety. Chancing a glance in her direction, he saw her fighting off a Centuri warrior twice her size. She was holding her own, in fact had the warrior turning around in circles due to her speed and agility. Lycan spotted Golan surrounded by his solders. They swarmed around him like a protective cocoon. Disgust filled him at the cowardice of this man, a leader of his people. He should be out there fighting alongside his soldiers, instead of cowering under their protection. Starr spotted him too. Golan leveled a vicious glare in her direction. “Traitorous bitch! You were supposed to fight with us, not against us!” he growled. Starr approached him while Raynar and Dognelle soldiers fought off his protective circle of warriors. “I don’t fight alongside snakes,” she shot back.

Starr looked at Lycan. “Go on,” she said, giving him the opportunity to fight Golan himself. “I’ll keep the others away from you.” He grinned at her, then turned his attention to the Centuri king. Lycan circled Golan. Fear flickered in Golan’s dark eyes, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. “You will not win today, Lycan. Raynar will be mine!” Golan tipped his sword and lunged at Lycan, who feinted and moved away easily. Golan wasn’t as large as Lycan, so he had the advantage of being lighter on his feet. Lycan, however, was stronger and more adept at handling a sword. After a few clashes, there were nicks on Golan’s arms and across his shoulder. Blood began to seep from his wounds. Starr fought off the Centuri trying to protect their king. Between her prowess and the Raynar and Dognelle soldiers fighting with her, he knew he would be well insulated against any attacks while he was concentrating on Golan. This further served to anger the Centuri king. And as Lycan well knew, anger led to mistakes. He patiently countered Golan’s attacks and waited for him to make that one fatal error. It didn’t take long. Thinking to drop down and swipe his sword across Lycan’s legs, he left Lycan an opening. Before Golan could swing his sword at Lycan’s knees, Lycan had leveled his at Golan’s neck. Golan looked up in time to see the blade arcing towards him. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to scream. He never had a chance to make a sound. Lycan took no joy at the Centuri king’s death. Raising his sword in the air, he bellowed loud enough so that the other Centuri around him could hear. “Golan is dead! Drop your weapons or die along with him!” But as he expected, the Centuri didn’t give up. They retreated, fighting their way through the approaching Raynar and Dognelle soldiers. Leaping onto their balon, they made haste toward the desert. No doubt they’d be choosing a new king and would redouble their efforts for the next attack on Raynar. But for now, it was over. They had won. With the Dognelle’s help, they had won. He searched through the throng of Raynar and Dognelle warriors, hoping to spot Starr. When he found her, his heart fell to his feet. She limped toward him, blood seeping from a wound at her side. He raced toward her.

“What happened?” “Damn Centuri soldier blindsided me while I engaged another. It’s nothing.” “Come inside with me. My people will tend to you and your soldiers’ wounds.” Starr shook her head. “We will head back to Dognelle.” “Are you insane? The ride is one day. You’ll bleed to death.” “I’ll bleed a free woman, then. I’m not going back inside Raynar again, Lycan.” “Because of the bravery of the Dognelle kingdom, Raynar has been saved. You have my word as king that your people will not be enslaved.” Her gaze searched his as if she were hunting the truth of his statement. Finally, she nodded, giving the signal to her warriors to follow them. The gates were closed as soon as everyone was safely inside. Lycan led Starr’s warriors to the hall, but took her aside. “You will go to my chambers.” She arched a brow. “Giving orders again, I see. I will stay with my people.” “I wish a word alone with you while my physician attends you.” A dubious expression crossed her face, but finally she nodded. He reached an arm across her shoulders, noticing her gait slowing with each step. Her skin paled and the wound continued to gush blood. Lycan swept her into his arms, ignoring her very loud objections. “You’re about to faint. Quit squalling and let me help you.” “I can walk just fine,” she said, but ceased her struggles as she winced in obvious pain. He ordered one of the guards to fetch his physician and kicked the door to his chambers open, settling Starr on his bed. She laid there, watching him expectantly, clearly not trusting his word. He didn’t blame her. Now that he had her here again, would he ever be able to let her go?

Chapter Fourteen By the time the sun slid down over the forests, Starr had been bathed, fed and her wounds cleaned and bandaged. Minor in nature, as she expected, she had only felt faint because of the blood she had lost and because she hadn’t eaten in so long. She was exhausted and craved sleep, but wanted to check on her warriors. Unfortunately, Lycan prevented her from leaving his bed, ordering her to stay put or he would chain her up again. “When do we leave this nightmarish place?” Rhia stood next to the bed, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze flitting to the door. Starr smiled at her cousin. “We are hardly in danger of marauders here in Lycan’s chambers, Rhia. Relax.” “I won’t relax until we are free of the confines of this slave kingdom.” She turned her irritated gaze upon Starr. “I’m surprised you are so comfortable. I thought you hated slavery.” Clasping her hands over her stomach, Starr said, “I am hardly chained up here. Plus, I know Lycan. He will honor his promise.” Rhia’s only response was a snort of disbelief. “Has everyone been attended to? How are our people faring?” Rhia shrugged. “Fine. They have been fed and their wounds fixed. We lost only ten warriors, although it was ten too many, if you ask me.” That much was true. Each time one of her people died, a bit of Starr died with them. And yet they had lost many more than that during battles with the Centuri. “We did what I felt it necessary to do. The survival of our people depended on the Centuri being defeated.” “Perhaps.” “And truly, it isn’t so bad here in Raynar, is it?” Rhia sat on the bed. “I don’t like it. It’s too…too…” “Comfortable?” She knew Rhia felt the same guilt that she, herself, had felt the first time she had been to Raynar. Luxuries existed here that they would never have in Dognelle. “Yes. Too comfortable. These people live lavishly. And they bathe much too often for my liking.”

Starr giggled, remembering thinking the same thing. But it was nice to feel clean, to wash the battle dirt off her body, to lay in a bed that wasn’t infested with sand fleas or the grit of the planet’s surface. She wished she could offer this kind of life to her people, but knew that Raynar would never be a place they could call home. “When can we leave?” “When Starr is well enough to travel, and not before.” Starr turned at the sound of Lycan’s voice. She felt the tension emanating from Rhia’s body, and placed her hand over her cousin’s. “Relax. He won’t hurt me.” Lycan glanced over at Rhia for only a second, then at Starr as he approached. Her pulse picked up a quick rhythm as she watched him meander across the room. His powerful strength was evident in his confident stride, his muscles rippling under his tight leather breeches. “We will not remain here long,” Rhia countered. “You will remain here as long as I say you will.” So much for her freedom. She should have known better than to trust him. “We are Dognelle, and are free. If necessary we will fight our way out.” “Rhia, leave us,” Starr said, not wanting her cousin and the man she loved to engage in a war in Lycan’s bedchambers. “I think you need to be guarded.” Rhia pressed her point by fixing her stare on Lycan. “I think I’m fine. Please, I need to speak to Lycan alone.” With a curt nod Rhia left, slamming the door behind her. “She reminds me of Tor,” Lycan said. “So much anger inside.” “She has reason to be angry. And all my people are tense here in Raynar, wondering if you will keep your word to let them go.” Admittedly, she wondered the same thing. Still doubtful that Lycan would honor his oath, she watched his face for any subtle signals. Right now he stood at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed, his expression stern. She tried to get up, but he fixed her with such a glare it was like his hands held her bound to the bed. Every time she tried to swing her legs over and get up, he shot daggers from his eyes. Not that it made much difference. Perhaps her wound was a little deeper than she at first

imagined, because she couldn’t hide the wince of pain when she tried to rise. She laid back on the bed with a frustrated sigh. “You will not move until you’re well,” he commanded. Offering up a glare of her own, she said, “I will leave when I am damn good and ready.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “We’ll see about that. I have a mind to keep you here.” Her throat went dry, her heart pounding against her chest. The last thing she wanted to do, was even capable of doing, right now was battle with Lycan. “You cannot hold us here against our will. You promised you would let my people leave.” He paced alongside the foot of the bed and looked down at the floor. “Yes, I did promise that, didn’t I?” “Yes, you did.” “I suppose it wouldn’t do for a king to go back on his oath, would it?” “No it wouldn’t.” What was wrong with him, anyway? One minute he was threatening to hold her prisoner, now he was second guessing himself? Lycan had never been one to vacillate when he made a decision. “You should never have left me the first time.” “You should have never imprisoned me against my will.” “You belong here in Raynar.” “I belong with my people.” Really, what good would it do to continue the same discussion they’d had when they first met. “I spared your life that day in the desert.” “And I spared yours in Dognelle. What is your point, Lycan?” He sighed and moved to the side of the bed, sitting next to her. She inhaled his freshly bathed scent—tantalizing, spicy, making her think of forests in the summer. Of freedom. “I don’t really have a point. You confuse me, Starr. You make me doubt the laws of my land.” Now there was a revelation she hadn’t expected. Despite the pain, she sat up. “Care to explain that?” “Not really.” Instead, he reached out and grasped her hair, pulling it through his fingers.

The light tug against her scalp made her shiver and think of things she had no business thinking of. But she had missed his hands on her, his lips against hers, his body taking hers to heights of sensation she hadn’t known existed. Scrubbing his hand over his face, he looked away, toward the window where the full moon cast its silvery glow. “No, I don’t care to explain it. I only know that I don’t want you to be free.” She sighed. “We’ve been through this before, Lycan. We are warriors and always have been. You have to let us go.” “I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay with me.” He turned to her then and she was taken aback at the pain in his eyes. A part of her wanted to reach out, comfort him, and tell him she wanted to be with him forever. But she wouldn’t, couldn’t. Instead, she said, “I’ll never give up my freedom. No matter how we both feel, Lycan, I can’t live with you if that means living as a slave.” “I love you, Starr.” Pain lanced through her chest, her heart squeezing tight. Her eyes welled with tears as she heard the words she had hoped he felt in his very soul. Oh this was so unfair! To find the man she had wanted, someone who was her equal in every way, and to hear words of love pour from his lips was more than she could ever hope for. And yet a barrier still existed between them. How could she answer him? If she told him she loved him, she would lose her freedom. But how could she not tell him what was in her heart? “I love you too, Lycan. But that doesn’t change anything.” He leaned in, so close their breath mingled together. His eyes were the brightest blue she had ever seen, the same color as the ocean in this wondrously prosperous land. Palming the back of her neck, he drew her closer, pressing his lips lightly against hers. She sighed against his mouth, then shivered as he slipped his tongue inside to taste her. Her hands moved to his arms, clutching his muscled strength and wishing with all her soul that things could be different. Lycan moved back and looked at her, his eyes glazed with the same passion she felt.

“I want you to be my queen, to spend the rest of your days with me here in Raynar.” Her heart tore in two at his words. A part of her longed to stay here, for truly they were one. “I can’t stay, Lycan.” “Because you don’t want to.” “Because I can’t! I have to be free, and so do my people.” “Starr, you’re not listening.” “I heard you.” She leaned back against the pillows, feeling emptier than she ever had before. To be this close to love, knowing that they could never be, was nearly unbearable. “You are the strongest woman I have ever met. You are intelligent, a great warrior. You have captured my heart and for the first time in my life I am giving my love. I can think of no other woman who I would have rule by my side.” Please don’t do this to me, Lycan, Don’t make me want what I can’t have. “You have many women available to you.” “I only want one.” She closed her eyes, torn in ways she could never have imagined. But she remained steadfast. “I can’t stay here.” Despite the pain, she knew she couldn’t remain another moment. Throwing the covers off, she inched to the side of the bed. Her thigh touched Lycan’s and burned through the thin gown she wore. Lycan reached for her arm to still her progress. “What if you stayed here as a free woman?” Tilting her head, she regarded him as if he’d spoken in a language she didn’t understand. “What do you mean?” He smiled. “I told you. You weren’t listening. I know now that you could never remain in Raynar unless you were free. I’m offering you freedom, Starr. To you and to all your people. Come live with me, be my queen, and we will rule our people together.” Had she heard him correctly? “That is not the law of your land.” Shrugging, he said, “Laws can be changed. And I think we are past time for that to occur in Raynar. During preparations for battle, our women showed their strength. Perhaps my forefathers were incorrect in their assumption that women were weak and needed to protected.”

She knew what it cost him to admit that to her. “You would free your own women?” He nodded. “This won’t be easy. Many here will rebel against such a drastic change in our way of life.” “It can be done, though.” “Yes. But it will take time. Time and patience, and the help of very strong, very intelligent women. What of your clan? Will they accept this?” Years of mistrust would be difficult to make disappear overnight. Starr knew this, and yet she also saw this as an opportunity for a new life for her people. “You’re right. It will be a struggle. Many of my people will no doubt object. But we can try.” This just might work. What a wonderful new life they could build for all their people. Excitement strengthened her. Could she really have the best of both worlds? A fruitful land, the man she loved at her side, and freedom for her people? Reaching for her, he nuzzled her neck. “I can be very persuasive. Do you think they’ll listen to me?” A whimper of need escaped her lips as his lips blazed a fiery trail along her throat. “Yes, I’m well aware of your powers of…negotiation.” Her nipples beaded against the gown, her breasts swelling and aching for his touch. “I fear hurting you,” he said, pulling away. She reached for his face, guiding his lips to her mouth and tasting him. She licked at his lower lip and tugged it between her teeth, then laid her palm on his chest. “Don’t stop. I feel fine.” His eyes darkened like storm tossed seas. He reached for her breasts, flicking her nipples until she cried out. “Yes, you feel very fine, indeed.” Lycan pressed her down against the mattress and stood, quickly undressing and sliding under the covers with her. “Marry me, Starr,” he whispered, trailing his fingers over her abdomen and lower. “Tell me you’ll share my bed every night. Promise to help me build Raynar into a kingdom of power. A kingdom where everyone is free.” How could she think when his fingers slipped between her slit to caress her aching sex? “Yes,” she breathed on a contented sigh. “Yes, Lycan, I’ll marry you.”

No further words were needed as he took her to a place where only their bodies spoke. A magical language like theirs required no voice other than murmurs of the love they felt and caresses that promised many nights of ecstasy ahead. Lycan pulled her gently on top of him, allowing her to find a comfortable place. No longer feeling the wound at her side, she eagerly grasped his rigid shaft and guided it to her entrance. She moved over him, panting with need as she slipped his cock inside her wet pussy. She rode him slowly, tangling her fingers into the fine hairs of his chest, leaning over to capture his mouth and slide her tongue between his lips. He pulsed against her and her cunt tightened around him, squeezing him, needing his essence more than she needed to breathe. Lifting his hips, he drove harder until she was gasping above him. He reached for her breasts, cupping them in his hands and tugging lightly on her nipples. Shooting arcs of pleasure sailed to her sex and she felt the first pulses of her orgasm. “Ah, your pussy squeezes my cock, my love. Come for me,” he said, thrusting up against her until she screamed and flooded him with her juices. With a fierce growl he reached for her hips and impaled his rigid shaft within her, tensing and pouring his seed into her. She collapsed on top of him, reveling in his touch as he stroked her back and kissed her forehead. “Each day will be like this. We will work together to change Raynar, and at night we will lie in each other’s arms and make love until we can’t move.” She chuckled and leaned up to gaze into the eyes of the man she loved. “Sounds like a very filling day.” “The filling will come at night, when I fill you up with my cock.” She grinned and kissed him, then snuggled against his body. “Rhia will hate this,” she murmured. His laugh rumbled against her ear. “So will Tor. No doubt they will hate each other, too.” Starr nodded against his chest. “Your laws won’t be easy to change. My people will be distrustful of yours, and your people will be resentful, feeling that the Dognelle forced the reversal of their laws.” He stroked her back, his touch producing a calm that no words could provide. “I know this will be difficult for both the Raynar and the Dognelle. But if we want it, we will convince

them. We are stronger united than separated. In time, they will see that.” They had much work to do, and it would not be an easy task to convince Rhia and the rest of her people that living in Raynar was the right choice. But as long as she had Lycan by her side, she could accomplish anything. After all, she had accomplished the impossible already. Raynar would free their women, the Dognelle would have access to prime lands with plentiful food and water, and she had found a man her equal, a man she could raise children with. Something she’d never thought she’d find. Something she had never even searched for, until she met the man who was her destiny. Tomorrow they would start a new life. One of freedom for all her people, and one filled with a love that she knew would only grow with each passing day. A new home, a new love. A new beginning.

About the author: Jaci Burton has been a dreamer and lover of romance her entire life. Consumed with stories of passion, love and happily ever afters, she finally pulled her fantasy characters out of her head and put them on paper. Writing allows her to showcase the rainbow of emotions that result from falling in love. Jaci lives in Oklahoma with her husband (her fiercest writing critic and sexy inspiration), stepdaughter and three wild and crazy dogs. Her sons are grown and live on opposite coasts and don’t bother her nearly as often as she’d like them to. When she isn’t writing stories of passion and romance, she can usually be found at the gym, reading a great book, or working on her computer, trying to figure out how she can pull more than twenty-four hours out of a single day. Jaci welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at P.O. Box 787, Hudson, Ohio 44236-0787.

Also by Jaci Burton: A Storm For All Seasons 1: Summer Heat Kismet 1: Winterland Destiny Kismet 2: Fiery Fate League of 7 Seas: Dolphin’s Playground Mesmerized Passion In Paradise 1: Paradise Awakening Passion In Paradise 2: Paradise Revival Passion In Paradise 3: Paradise Discovery Running Mate