Dragon Emperor 18, page 5
At least this time, it wasn’t about someone who didn’t rightfully have the Noble Sword, but that didn’t change the level of difficulty. Someone stood in the way of my mission, and I had to play nice to fix the problem.
I didn’t like playing nice.
“Lord Evan, if I may?” Tecumseh interrupted my musings and rose from his chair. “You seem to have a lot on your plate with this mission, so I know it’s frustrating when the pieces don’t fall into place. However, I think I know at least part of the problem with Tawa.”
“Oh.” Isi looked at her husband with knowing eyes. “I think you’re right.”
“Well, what is it?” I asked.
“You mentioned the ceremony has to be with a female,” the king explained. “And the female has to be in his bloodline, right?”
“Right,” I agreed and cocked my head to the side with confusion.
“Tawa and his wife have twins,” Tecumseh said and grimaced. “One of them is a daughter.”
“Oh, gods,” I groaned as I put my hand to my forehead. “He has a daughter?”
“You couldn’t have known,” Alyona assured me. “Tawa made the connection, and now he’s worried about her. We can understand that feeling.”
“Yeah, definitely.” I frowned as I turned toward the king. “How old is she? I don’t want to do the ceremony with a baby. We found a way around that a couple months ago, but it wasn’t easy.”
“She isn’t a baby, but she’s only ten,” Isi replied. “Tawa must have already figured out she’s the one who would have to take his place.”
“I can see why he got so mad,” I murmured. “We aren’t just talking about his sister now. And I’ve never done the ceremony with someone so young.”
“Is she old enough to understand what it means?” Ravi asked. “I mean, I had to do several ceremonies by the time I was ten, but my father was the chief of the phoenix tribe. We had ceremonies all the time.”
“Rebirth ceremonies?” Tecumseh raised a curious eyebrow.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the phoenix confirmed with a smile. “I’d witnessed dozens of them by the time I was ten. They were terrifying and fascinating, but we all knew how important they were.”
“Well, his daughter is very bright,” the king said.
“I don’t know,” I murmured. “It feels so strange. I’d have to cut her hand for the ceremony. I know I can heal it right away, but that’s a difficult thing to ask of a child.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not sure what other options you have, my lord,” Isabella pointed out.
“Me, either,” I said as I looked down at the white marble floor.
Tawa’s daughter was an unexpected kink in the plan, and I had no idea what I could do about it. She was so young, and I didn’t like the idea of putting her in any pain, even though it was for just a few seconds. The Redimi Vincio ceremony was important, probably the most important thing on our mission, but it was hard to think that I’d have to bond with a child.
I wondered if the gods already knew about her when they told me I had to stay on this path. I considered sending up a prayer to the gods for some guidance, but something told me they would just tell me to do the ceremony. The mission was too important to worry about one child, especially when millions of lives were at stake, but it didn’t make it any easier to think about.
I also found a new sense of compassion for Tawa. My children weren’t even born yet, and I couldn’t imagine asking one of them to do a mysterious blood ceremony for the greater good. It was a lot for a father to soak in, and I understood now why he didn’t want to discuss everything.
It seemed Tecumseh was right about letting his son come to an answer on his own. And I’d have to practice that whole patience bullshit.
“Perhaps we should give everyone some time,” Alyona suggested. “It’s getting late in Rahma. My father is likely already getting ready for bed, and it would be difficult to start the ceremony right now.”
“Oh, I’m sure you all are tired from your journey!” the king said and motioned for us to follow him. “You can rest here. The entire south wing is rarely used.”
“That should be enough room for your whole group,” Isi agreed. “I’ll have one of our staff show you the way.”
“Then we can discuss things again tomorrow,” Alyona said with a smile. “What a wonderful idea, Your Majesties. Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome,” Tecumseh replied.
A few seconds later, a penguin Demi-Human waddled into the room. He looked like the epitome of a butler with black and white robes and a small beak for a nose, and he stood in the doorway with a patient smile on his creamy-white face.
“I’ll be taking you to the south wing, my lord,” the penguin said.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
We rose from the table and followed him out of the dining hall, and he led us upstairs and around a hallway to a set of double-doors that were already open to another long corridor. There were at least a dozen open doors that revealed bedrooms on either side with queen-sized beds in each room. Nike, Aine, Juniper, and my lovers fanned out and began to choose their rooms, but I soon realized only Rebecca still stood in the hallway with me and the penguin servant.
“I’ll be available if you need anything,” he declared before he waddled back toward the stairs.
“Are you okay?” I asked Rebecca.
“Yes, my lord.” The lady bear wrung her clawed hands in front of her as she eyed the empty rooms. “I just don’t know where to sleep. I usually find a room with Aaliyah, and now, I’m not sure where to go.”
It was strange to see the strong Demi-Human look so sad and lost, and I didn’t want her to feel alone. Her friendship with Aaliyah had carried her through the last few cities we’d been to, and this change of pace was obviously not easy on her.
“You two have grown close lately,” I said and took her hand. “I’m sure it’s difficult to be without her.”
“I love the rest of my family, but she’s my best friend, and I’ve never really had that before,” Rebecca sniffled. “I miss her.”
“I understand,” I soothed her. “Why don’t you help me find a room? Then you can stay with me.”
“I’d love that,” she replied as she wiped an errant tear from her cheek and smiled.
I tugged Rebecca along the hallway and found an empty room with a king-sized canopy bed covered in a dark blue fluffy blanket. At least ten pillows had been perfectly arranged at the head of the bed, and the waning sunlight illuminated the room from between a set of navy curtains that hung over a huge picture window.
“Perfect,” I said and pulled her inside.
Then I stood in the doorway as Rebecca walked into the room and ran her hand along the blanket.
“This looks nice,” she murmured. “But I’m really not tired yet, my lord.”
My blood rushed south as the bear Demi-Human turned to face me with hooded eyes and ran her tongue over her pink lips.
“I can think of a few other ideas to pass the time,” I said with a wicked smile.
Then I strode across the room, and she met me in the middle before I pulled her muscled body against mine. Our lips crashed together with a fiery passion, and our tongues danced in the warm heat of our breath. I traced my fingers along her spine, and I grinned as her body shivered beneath my touch.
“Oh, my lord,” she sighed against me.
I kissed down her chin to her jawline and grazed my tongue along her throat as I untied her robe and let it fall to the floor, and I could feel her smooth skin under my hands as I rubbed down her back to cup her round ass. Then I lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her to the bed.
I laid her down on the soft blanket, and I nearly drooled as I eyed her sinewy muscles down to her round breasts and the hard nipples that waited for me. I kissed down her neck and left a trail of goosebumps as I reached her tits. Then I teased her nipples with my tongue as she clawed at the bed.
“Please, Lord Evan!” she begged. “Just taste it, I need you!”
“I’m tasting everything today,” I murmured before I took her breast in my mouth.
“Oh!” Rebecca squealed.
I sucked and licked on one breast while I kneaded the other until the lady bear squirmed under me. My cock pressed against my trousers as though it wanted to break through to the warm wet slit under me, and I slowly slid down until I was crouched next to the bed with her drenched pussy in front of me.
Then I dove in.
My tongue ran between the soft folds of her flower, and Rebecca grabbed my head as I licked every inch of her slit.
“You taste so good,” I said between her legs.
“Ohhhh, gods!” she moaned and pulled me closer.
I slid my finger inside her warm tunnel as I continued to flick her pink lips and sucked on her throbbing clit, and her back arched away from the bed as she neared her first orgasm. I curled my finger up to tease her G-spot, and she nearly screamed with pleasure as her walls tightened around my finger.
Then a wave of her sweet juices cascaded out of her tunnel and down my chin as I lapped up her climax.
“Fuuuuck!” she shrieked as her body writhed with her orgasm.
I pumped my finger back and forth while I continued to flick her trembling pussy until her body relaxed against the bed, and the lady bear released a sigh.
“Mmm.” I sat up and licked my finger as I met her gaze. “Sweet as honey.”
“Because I’m a bear?” Rebecca giggled.
“Must be,” I said with a wink. “And I love honey.”
I didn’t stop staring at her as I pulled my tunic over my head and dropped my pants to the ground. Then I climbed onto the bed, and Rebecca wrapped her legs around me as I dragged the head of my throbbing cock up and down her slippery entrance.
“Please, I want it!” she moaned as she pulled me closer with her strong legs.
“You’ll get all of it,” I murmured.
Then I plunged my shaft inside her swollen pussy, and the bear Demi-Human groaned again as I began to rock my hips back and forth. I pumped harder and harder while she dug her heels into my back and gripped the blanket. Her sopping wet canal had already begun to tighten again, and it didn’t take long before another climax wracked her body with pleasure.
“Gods!” she wailed, but I didn’t stop moving as more of her juices flowed over my hard cock.
She’d barely finished her climax when I grabbed her hips and pushed her further onto the bed. Then I slid out of her long enough to flip her onto all fours, and I rose to my knees to shove my shaft into her dripping slit from behind. Her bronze ass bounced against my hips as I felt every part of her swollen tunnel, and I grunted when my own climax started to bubble to the surface.
“Oh, fuck,” I groaned.
“Yesssss,” Rebecca cried out as her pussy began to squeeze my cock again. “Fill me with your seed, Lord Evan, please!”
I felt her warm juices pour over my shaft, and I couldn’t hold back any longer, so I released what seemed like gallons of my hot seed into her warm tunnel as sparks of pleasure rippled down my spine.
“Godsssss.” I poured load after load inside her hungry womb until both of our juices spilled over and trickled down her thighs.
My body had finally stopped quaking with my orgasm when Rebecca looked over her shoulder with a mischievous grin, and before I knew it, she had her legs around me and flipped me onto my back.
“Now, I want to make you cum,” she whispered.
Then she straddled my thighs and slid her hot pussy over my still-hard cock. I shivered with excitement as the bear Demi-Human bounced up and down on top of me while my shaft rubbed against every inch of her swollen tunnel. I reached up and played with her tits as they bounced with her, and I thumbed her hard nipples while she threw her head back and moaned with pleasure.
“You’re so beautiful.” I bit my lip and let my hands slide down her hard body to her hips.
Rebecca switched gears and ground her hips against me, and my cock went even deeper inside her as she took in a sharp breath.
“Oh, gods, yessss,” she groaned as her breathing quickened.
Then it was my turn to grip the blanket beneath me as her walls tightened around my shaft, and another wave of her sweetness gushed over me and down onto my thighs. A few seconds of her body vibrating above me, and I felt the familiar rush of my seed burst from my shaft and filled up her canal.
“Fuck, Rebecca!” I grunted as I gripped her hips even tighter while my body shook with ecstasy.
I shot another round of my hot dragon seed into her overflowing womb, and we both moaned together as our juices puddled between us and dripped onto the bed.
I exhaled as my climax finished, and Rebecca laid against me with a sigh.
“That was amazing,” she said. “But I think I need to bathe.”
“Me, too,” I laughed.
I nipped at her breast as she started to lift herself from my cock, and something caught my eye as I looked past her to the doorway. I hadn’t realized I’d left the door open, and my cock rose again.
Nokomis stood in the hall with her chocolate eyes as wide as dinner plates, and her hard nipples pressed against her silky tunic.
Then the smell of the snow leopard’s desire wafted into my nose.
Chapter 4
“Oh, gods, I’m so sorry,” Nokomis mumbled before she cleared her throat and closed her eyes. “I didn’t-- uh, I, well--”
“It’s okay,” I said with a smile and sat up on the bed. “We just finished.”
“I know,” the snow leopard whispered and shook her head. “I mean, I noticed-- um, that you were…”
“You noticed I filled her womb with my seed?” I chuckled. “I do that a lot.”
“Oh.” Nokomis’ cheeks flushed a hot pink as she cleared her throat again. “I just came for… ah, something.”
“Did you forget, Your Highness?” Rebecca asked with a smile. “My lord Evan is good at making women come, as you can see if you look between my legs.”
The bear Demi-Human stood stark naked with our juices still dripping down her thighs, and her skin was still flushed from her orgasms, but she paid no mind.
“Well, I was… I can see that… I… ah, distracted… got,” Nokomis finally said as her face turned red.
“Understandable.” I grinned and squeezed Rebecca’s bare ass. “She is quite beautiful. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Of course,” the snow leopard sighed. “I just… have never seen, um, a harem. Or… sex really…”
“Oh, it’s wonderful!” Rebecca giggled. “We are all in love, and the sex is amazing.”
“How is it… loving everyone and sharing the same man?” Nokomis asked as she took a cautious step into the room.
“Have you ever heard of a soul bridge?” I patted the bed next to me.
“No.” Nokomis hesitated before she walked over and sat beside me, and Rebecca sat on her other side.
“Basically, our souls are bonded because of our love,” I explained. “I don’t just have a bunch of lovers who follow me around everywhere. We’re a family, and we love each other and care about each other.”
“And Alyona, I mean the Princess… she loves them, too?” the snow leopard asked.
“Yes, she loves all of us,” Rebecca answered with a wide smile. “We call each other sisters of the heart. Our family is different from anything I’ve ever known or even seen before. Calling ourselves a harem is almost silly.”
“The harems I’ve heard of certainly aren’t like that,” Nokomis agreed as her brow furrowed in thought. “Usually, the man simply picks and chooses who he keeps in his bed. Then he kicks them out when he tires of them. I never wanted anything like that, but your family sounds lovely.”
“It is.” The lady bear nodded and took Nokomis’ hand. “You would enjoy being with us. And there are more of our sisters back in Hatra.”
“More?” Nokomis gaped at Rebecca. “And you all feel the same way?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Rebecca replied. “Have you ever been in love?”
“I thought I was once,” she sighed. “There was a man who arrived from Tella, a city south of here, and he told my parents he wanted to marry me and unite our cities. I was impressed with his confidence and good looks, but then I discovered he was stealing things from the castle. Maps, treasures, books, anything he could get his hands on. My mother was ready to hang him for his treason, but I convinced her to let him live in exile.”
“You were much nicer than I would have been,” I muttered. “I suppose that’s why I need the power of mercy. I don’t have much when it comes to traitors.”
“It isn’t easy,” the snow leopard admitted. “Our first instinct is to strike back and cause pain when someone has done harm to us, but it doesn’t always help. Perhaps that man will learn to be more honest with the next family he meets because of the lesson he learned here.”
“Or maybe he’ll get better at lying,” I said with a frown. “How do you know which one it will be?”
“I don’t.” Nokomis shrugged and rubbed the ends of her braid between her clawed fingers. “But I have to live with my decision. I have to ask myself if it’s something I’ll be proud of later or if I’d be embarrassed to tell my future children.”
“That is an interesting way of looking at it,” I murmured and rubbed my chin in thought.
I didn’t know how I’d feel relaying some of my stories to my kids, even if I had good reason when I did the things I did. I wasn’t completely convinced to be as merciful as Nokomis was, but I certainly had no intention of telling them the war stories before they were teenagers. Maybe adults.
Either way, I couldn’t ignore all my instincts, and my dragon instincts told me to take no prisoners.
“I don’t mean to disagree with you,” Nokomis said, and her pretty lips puckered in a frown. “I hope you don’t take offense.”
“Not at all,” I replied. “I’m always open to hearing new points of view, as long as you aren’t offended that I won’t always agree.”
