King's Gate 2: A High Fantasy Harem, page 15
Nia, swords drawn, was hovering over both Riley and Jocelyn. Riley was tending to Jocelyn, who was obviously hurt, and Nia was bleeding from various wounds. Occasionally one of the creatures wandered near them, and Nia would unleash absolute hell on them in quick order, crushing their skulls with a fury that shocked me. It was like something within her had been uncaged and I knew she would never be the same.
The sight of Jocelyn hurt sent me into a rage. Power surged through me and I moved faster, my assault stronger and more controlled. I was lightning focused, wasting no energy as I aimed for kill-shots only. After what felt like hours, the last of them had been destroyed and the sky faded from its dark color. The sun shone down on us again. I breathed deeply, my eyes still searching for movement, the rage slowly draining out of me. It was then that Mathus cried out to me, and I turned to see the tears in Celeste’s eyes.
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A small squeaking sound came from between her lips, then Celeste crumbled to the ground. Emely crawled toward her, pulling her into her lap so she could cradle her. I ran to them, dropping to my knees to examine the young elf.
“I'm fine,” she said in a weak, shuddering voice.
“You’re not fine,” Emely said.
“I am. I just used all my energy on my defense spell.”
Around us, scattered pieces of the zombies still twitched. An arm moved toward us, its fingers dragging it across the bloody dirt. Sabrina ran over to stomp on it, crushing the bones so it could no longer move. Her horn was caked in blood and tissue from where she had used it to impale the zombies. She shifted back to her normal form and ran toward us.
“We need to get the hell out of here,” I said. “If The Covenant’s magic could animate those things once, it could do it again. I don't want to be here when that happens.”
Emely helped Celeste to her feet, but her legs were so weak they buckled under her. Mathus scooped her up and held her against his chest. He picked up Jocelyn with his other arm and we rushed for the gate. It was closed, with a lock securing the two sides. The giant didn't hesitate to plant his boot directly on the lock. The first kick made the metal grown and strain. The second shattered its defenses. We moved as fast as we could away from the town and down the road. We couldn't go far before our injuries and obvious exhaustion dragged our feet to a stop near the edge of woods that stretched far into the distance. I dropped to the ground. Bites from the zombies still ached on my arms, neck, and back. I was thankful in that moment for my growing immortality. It kept my skin strong enough to resist the bites, but others in the group weren't as lucky. Mathus stretched Jocelyn out across the ground and Nia and Riley immediately went to work on her injuries.
"I'm sorry," Nia whispered. "I tried."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I tried to protect all of us. I cast a protection spell, but we were too spread out for it to cover all of us at the same time. It had to keep moving and protecting each of us at different times. It wasn't covering Jocelyn when she got hurt.”
“It's not your fault. None of us knew that was coming, and you did everything you could to protect us. We all got out of there alive, and a lot of that is thanks to you. She's going to be fine. All of us are.” I put every positive thought I could into my words.
"I just wish I had been able to protect her better,” Nia said.
I knew we all needed a break. The battle had taken a lot out of each of us and we needed a chance to recoup before facing the third trial, especially if it was going to come as fast as this one had. I could only imagine The Covenant was furious watching their first two followers go down so spectacularly. This wasn't their intention. The three were sent to torment me. There wasn't a single doubt in my mind that they expected I wouldn't get through the first trial, and even if I did, the second coming so fast would destroy me. Surviving the trials and pushing through must infuriate them, which meant the third trial would be even more brutal than the first two. We all needed to be as prepared as possible, and that meant taking some time to rest.
"Riley, can you find anywhere for us to go for a while? Getting to the foothills now would be too far."
"I'll see what I can find. At this point we'd have to hope for a secret inn or tavern. Being out in public isn't the best idea for us at this point, and unfortunately I don’t think that were going to be too lucky. The seeking range of my magic is limited to only four miles. But I'll look."
As she used her magic to search, I thought I heard a voice somewhere in the distance. Tuning into it, I focused my hearing to try to find the voice. It took a few seconds before it came again. It was calling my name. A woman's voice, drifting through the trees, called out to me. I quickly checked the group to make sure we had everyone with us. No one was missing, yet I heard my name again. I shook my head. When all this was done, a trip was in order to whatever this planet thought of as a doctor.
Riley shook her head at me.
"Nothing?" I asked.
"No. Nothing nearby would be safe for us right now."
The voice came through the trees again, but I ignored it. My brain had been rattled. That was the only explanation.
"Let's just keep going. We need to get as much space between us and that place as we can. For all we know, the zombies are currently stitching each other back together and getting ready to come after us again."
"Thank you so much for that imagery," Everett groaned.
"We'll find somewhere to stop," I said.
Following the edge of the woods rather than getting back onto the road and becoming too visible again, we continued walking. My name was coming through the trees more frequently, but I wouldn't even let my eyes slide in its direction. Soon it wasn't just my name. The soft, luring woman's voice called to me to come further into the woods.
I'd heard it several more times when Celeste pointed toward the trees. "Is no one else hearing that?"
"Hearing what?" Emely asked.
"Alex's name coming from the trees. Someone is calling him," Celeste said.
"You can hear it, too?"
She nodded at me.
"Alex," the voice called out, slightly louder this time, "come into the woods, Alex. I can help you. Come here."
"There," Celeste said. "Didn't you hear that?"
"I heard it," I admitted. "It's a woman. She's calling me to come into the woods so she can help us."
The group exchanged wary glances, unsure of what we were supposed to do next.
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“Does anyone recognize the voice?” I met eyes with each member of the group, but they shook their heads at me.
“No,” Celeste responded. “I don't recognize it.”
“Neither do I,” Riley offered.
“No,” Mathus confirmed.
None of us knew who the faceless woman could be, yet I found myself drawn to the sound of her voice. I was desperate to sleep in a bed and spend some time inside. At that point, few things seemed worse than a hoard of near skeleton zombies that we're still moving even after being chopped to pieces. We'd already faced that and taking them down. One woman drawing us into the woods and offering help couldn't be that bad.
“It could be a trap,” Celeste said as if she could hear my thoughts. “You know that.”
“Yes. I realize that, but what other option do we have right now? We're nowhere near anywhere we can rest and it's not like there are a ton of other people coming out of the woodwork to offer of help. After what we've been through with the last two trials, we need some time to rest and regroup,” I said.
"So, you think we should just wander into completely unknown woods and look for some woman who is conveniently available right when we need help?" Riley asked.
"You said it yourself. The third player of this twisted competition The Covenant has going will probably come for us sooner rather than later. The first two trials proved they're getting more intense. You don't know what could be waiting for us in those woods,” Celeste retorted.
"I understand that, but it could also be a genuine offer of help,” I heard myself say.
They were staring at me like they couldn't believe what I was saying. Suddenly, the words of the gods during my vision came back to me. I stopped and turned to the group. They paused, stretching out to an uneven line so they could look at me. It was in that moment I really recognized how much it had grown since I first arrived. It would grow far more in the coming days and weeks, but there were already so many more people relying on me. Making decisions for them wasn't something I took lightly, but it was what I had to do. As their leader, it was up to me to sift through contention and make the determinations I believed were right.
"When the gods spoke to me, they told me I needed to use the resources I have available to me. That's the only way I'm going to get through these trials. Each of you is valuable and I know I can rely on you to do everything you can to help, but you might not be everything that's available. I need to be open to whatever else might come our way, and that might mean taking risks. This is one of those risks."
Without waiting for any response, I headed into the woods. As I called out to the mysterious woman, I heard the footsteps of the rest of the group following me reluctantly into the trees. Soon, they were calling out as well. We didn't know what to expect, and I was equally on guard and optimistic. We had moved far enough into the woods that I could no longer see the road behind us, when movement caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. My hand moved automatically to my weapon as I turned to face it. Rather than any sort of fearsome creature or masked fighter, all that greeted me was the face of a beautiful woman, appearing at me from inside a hollow tree, glossy dark curls twisting down one alabaster cheek.
"Hello," she said.
I hesitated. "Hello."
"It took you long enough. My name is Mara."
"I'm Alex."
She laughed softly. "I know. You are the reason I left The Covenant."
The words made my chest clench and my hand tighten around my sword again. "You are a part of The Covenant?"
"I was. Not anymore. I was born into it, but after hearing the stories about you, I knew the way all those inside had raised me wasn't the right way. I had to get out. I escaped three days ago and have been forging my own path since then."
"Inside a tree?" I asked.
"There's a little more to it than that. Come in, please." Her eyes swept over the trees to the rest of my group slowly approaching. "All of you."
She dipped into the hollow trunk and I followed her. Ducking into the entrance, I expected to find Mara standing just inches inside. Instead, the hollow tree was empty. There was a hole in the ground and light shimmered up from it.
"Mara?" I called.
"Down here."
I followed her voice to drop down into the hole. My new surroundings took my breath away. "What is this place?"
One by one, the rest of my group dropped down to join me, and each reacted in the same shocked way.
"I've been working on it for a while," Mara said. "For several years it was just a hobby. When I decided to leave, it became my plan."
"A hobby? This place is incredible. How did you do this?"
What I expected to be a damp hole under the tree looked more like the lobby of a four-star hotel on a slightly smaller scale. Mara shrugged, looking around at the elaborate hideout tucked beneath the root system of the tree.
"Part hard work. Part magic."
Enough of the niceties. She didn't call me into the woods to show off her clubhouse.
"Why did you call me in here? What do you think you can do to help us?" I asked point-blank.
"You are trying to defeat The Covenant. I know The Covenant. I have inside information into how they operate, as well as the ins and outs of their stronghold. Being raised within their fold means I know most of the magic they use. I can teach you how to best them, or at least neutralize them."
Behind me, I heard a soft groan and turned to see Nia leaning against Mathus, his strong arm around her seeming to hold her up.
"We need to rest," I told Mara. "We need food and water, and a place to sleep."
"You are welcome here. You'll find everything you need. There are plenty of rooms for everyone, and a fully-stocked provisions storage. I've enchanted a spring deeper in the tunnels where you can bathe and refresh yourselves."
The offer sounded impossibly luxurious and we let Mara lead us deeper through the mind-blowing underground world. Soon we stepped into a room where a stream of sparkling clear water seemed to pour from nowhere into a deep pool beneath. Without hesitation, Emely and Riley dropped their bags and walked to the edge of the water. As they started to undress, we turned and followed Mara out to a collection of rooms down the hall.
When everyone had claimed their order in the spring and settled into their rooms, I turned back to Mara. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"
She nodded and brought me to a lounge where my body sank happily into a soft chair. Without prompting, Mara started telling me about her life with The Covenant. She didn't look at me as she spoke. Instead, she focused in the distance, talking as though she was just trying to get the words out of her mind and heart. The longer she spoke, the more attracted I was to her. It was a primal reaction, something innate that drew me to the mysterious, humble woman. She struck me as completely genuine, fully open to offer us whatever help she could. Finally, she started looking at me again. There was something in her eyes, questions and curiosity heightened by innocence. Her body turned to me and her hand teased up the side of her thigh almost involuntarily. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip and she glanced away.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Hmm?" Her eyes never left mine, and there was a febrile intensity that grew with each passing second.
"You seem to have something else on your mind."
Her eyes met mine again, then slid away.
"It's just that . . . because of the way I was raised . . ." she said, her words falling away.
She hesitated for good and I leaned toward her. "Yes?"
"I'm a virgin."
The words flared in my chest and my desire for her spiraled higher. She was giving me strong signals, but I put my hands up, patting the air and wincing.
“What is it?” she asked, her eyes round with innocent.
“Look, I’m sort of new here, but where I’m from, this? This whole setup? It’s the main scene of a horror movie. Or a fairy tale that ends very badly for the young prince.”
“You’re a prince?” she asked.
“No, not even close. But I am a man on a desperate mission who stumbled upon a witch in the woods” ---
“I prefer sorceress.”
“Whatever. Regardless, you’ve got a hollow tree and your virginity is intact and up until recently, you were one of the leaders of an organization that, to be charitable, is really fucking evil. You see where I’m going with this?”
She drew in a breath, sliding closer to me across the couch. “I see what you mean.”
“You do?” I said, stunned that she was so direct. In my estimation, villains rarely were, which made my question my assessment of the situation.
She stood, pulled her dress of in a single motion, and let it puddle on the floor. “I am utterly alone, I hate my past, and I want you because I spent all of my life causing pain. Now, I want pleasure, and you can be the man to deliver. If you want me, I’m yours.”
“I—well, now that you put it that way, don’t ask again. I accept,” I said. “If you’re certain.
She smiled, a fugitive moment of timidity that was there and gone. "Please."
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I didn't hesitate. She was offering herself to me, and I wasn't going to waste any time when she could be in my arms. Moving onto the couch with her, I cupped my hands around Mara's face and drew her in for a kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, tasting like the remnants of a strong floral tea she must have had before we came inside. I expected her to be hesitant about the kiss, nervous about the new exploration, but she wasn't. There was nothing urgent or desperate about the way she responded to my touch, but she also didn't shrink away. It was obvious her virginity was something she clung to not because it was important to her, but because of The Covenant's rule over her. Now that she was free from them and living her own life, she was ready to take hold of whatever she wanted.
And that included me.
Mara's hands found my thighs and stroked from my knees up to my hips. I wondered if she could feel my shaft straining against my pants as it hardened in response to her. I leaned in further and deepened our kiss, letting the tip of my tongue touch hers to encourage her lips to part. She complied just enough for my tongue to touch the soft inside of her bottom lip. I swept it back and forth slowly, gradually encouraging her mouth to open further so I could explore further. A soft moan accompanied her tongue stroking against mine. She pulled away from the kiss and rested her forehead against mine.
"Come with me to my room," she murmured.
I nodded. "Just show me where."
She climbed to her feet and I took her hand. Holding it confidently, she guided me out of the lounge and down the hall to a set of steps that wound tightly up to a thick door. Her hand didn't leave mine as she pressed the lever. The door opened to reveal a large room with a bed positioned in the center. Gathering her into my arms as soon as we got into the room, I kicked the door closed behind us. Our mouths played across each other as I led Mara back toward the bed. She sat down on the edge of the mattress and I lowered myself to my knees in front of her. My fingers moved down the row of small buttons along the front of her dress, slowly revealing her milky skin. She wore nothing beneath the dress, and when I pressed the sides of her dress back over her shoulders, it released her full, soft breasts into my hands.
Tucking my head down, I drew one nipple into my mouth. I sucked on it softly as I kneaded the other. Mara's nipple hardened and pressed into my palm like a tight little bead. Moving my mouth onto it, I swirled my tongue around the peak. Mara leaned back on her hands and let her head drop. My hands ran along the side of her ribcage and into the dip of her waist. When the tips of my fingers dipped into where her dress pooled at her hips, she lifted up so I could pull her stockings off, pale things of rare silk that I suddenly found incredibly offensive.
