Dare to Defy (18 page)

“Go away. I never want to see you again,” Daynel snapped, keeping her body as stiff as she could in his arms.

“My dear princess,” Draiken cooed patiently, stroking the face that turned away from his, “we have exchanged power with one another. You felt it when I broke through your barrier and emptied myself into your womb. In the sight of both gods and man, we are now husband and wife. You cannot deny your desire, or your need for me. Any more than I can deny the same for you. Our bond now allows us to soar together, on the wings given to us by the gods themselves.”

“The gods can go and…”

“Be angry with me, but do
not
speak against those who helped me to pull you back to this reality,” he ordered sharply. “Now speak, and do not leave out any details. Daynel, listen carefully…you were in danger.” His voice was serious and firm, grabbing her attention. “No matter what occurs when you pass the Gates, your life is never at risk. Today, it was. I need to know why.”

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked, suddenly grasping the significance of the situation.

“Not at all, my love. Tell me what you saw and be at ease. You are safe.”

“For now.”

“Yes, for now,” Draiken said smoothly, holding her close to his heart. Daynel clutched his hand as she described her journey, from the narrowing of the foot path, to the inky blackness that drowned out the diamond-studded starlight in the universal plane she had drifted to. She felt him tighten his hold on her and hold his breath. She further explained the sense of despair, being utterly alone and without hope.

“All I could think of was you. And that I would never see you again. I felt like you abandoned me to die. Voices in my head…said that you could never love me. That you only wanted me to gain power for yourself. That once you took it, you would leave me. I believed them.”

“My dear, dear love.” Draiken kissed the top of her head as he stroked her face. “Darkness wants us to believe the worse in those who desire the best. It works by destroying hope and, with that, love. We are bound through eternity now, you and I. If one of us dies before our time, our power is lost. We are stronger together than apart, and the Darkness knows that. For that reason, it wanted to destroy you.”

“Why me? I am nothing.”

“You are a source of hope, for both the dwellers of this world and the gods themselves. Both need you.”

“But how did it come through the Gates of Heaven? I thought only those chosen of the gods could go there.”

“A sacrifice was made on holy ground. A blood sacrifice of a human soul within a sacred grove. The desecration tore a hole in the veil of the Heavens.”

“Who would have done such a horrid thing? To kill a person…”

“They do more than just strike them dead. They make them suffer by slowly rending them in half, starting in the center of the body and moving toward the head and feet. The victim’s blood is then tasted by worshippers. The greater the amount tasting the victim’s blood, the stronger the sacrificial offering. This must have been very large.”

“How could a group that big hide from eyes? We have watchers through our kingdom, and all keep an eye on the Groves.”

“Unless the watchers are one of the worshippers,” Draiken grimly stated. “They would not report themselves and it would behoove the Lord of Death to have his own within the armies.”

“But that many people…”

“I must assume that the event occurred in the southern kingdom where the rulers have no interest in honoring the gods. I must also assume that Ethan was part of this.”

“Because of me? Draiken…”

“No, Daynel. Because of him. I am certain that this practice started long before you caused him insult. Greed, lust, and power feed the evil in his bitter heart. As he murdered dear Baldric and took you captive to claim for his own, Ethan will stop at nothing to gain what he believes he wants.” Draiken stared at the ceiling, recalling the words of the Healer.

“We must remove him from his source of power. How?” Daynel asked, once again stiffening as he tried to pull her even closer against his large, warm body.

Draiken was silent for a moment. “Tell me…what is the strongest force that exists through the universe?”

Daynel groaned, shoving him from her as she slowly sat up. “I hate questions like that. Günter used to ask them of me when he was teaching me about warfare and leadership.”

“He is a wise man to teach such things to the future queen,” Draiken praised. “What would his answer have been?”

“It would have been ridiculous,” Daynel scoffed, standing on unsteady feet.

“Very well,” Draiken sat up, his broad, muscular chest glistening in the flickering light from the fire. “Let us start with your answer.”

“I am too old to be sitting through lessons with an oversized, hairy governess,” Daynel grunted, carefully walking to the hearth. Her loins ached with both pain and longing, but she would never reduce herself to ask for him to complete the sexual act so that she could gain satisfaction. Draiken lifted an eyebrow, leaning his chin on his hand, his elbow resting upon his knee as he watched her. Daynel blushed, certain that he knew exactly what she was feeling and what she desired.
Big oaf!

“Perhaps this is true, but humor this oversized, hairy governess anyway. Would my being bald ease your concerns, since I have no hair upon my body but that on my head? I will shave that off if you desire.”

“You are so irritating! Very well. Power is the strongest force in the universe.”

“What kind of power?”

“Strength! Money! You know what I am saying. The one with the greatest amount of power can build the strongest force.”

“Really? Would that force be invincible?”

“Pretty much, I mean…”

“The tiniest disease can easily spread through the ranks and render that force weak and useless. How can strength and resources change that?”

“Ok! Magic, then! Magic can’t be touched by infection!”

“No? What of your magic? The sickness of Darkness made you vulnerable and could have claimed you. It is weakening the magic of our own gods. If all hope is lost, so is all magic. This world will die.”

“Loyalty?”

“You are getting closer. Come to me.”

Daynel frowned, slowly obeying. As much as she wished she could avoid looking into the depths of his incredible eyes, she found her an unwilling participant of his lesson. She climbed onto the tall bed and knelt before him as he touched her chin and locked his gaze upon her. Daynel felt her legs begin to shake, lost in the violet blue abyss. Her groin vibrated with want as her heart felt as though a fist was closing over it.
Damn the man and his patience!

“Just tell me what you want me to know and stop playing games,” she growled.

“What would Günter have named as the strongest force in the universe?”

“The sappy old lout would have said Love,” Daynel snorted, still unable to break away from his stare. “But Hate is stronger.”

“The opposite of Love is not Hate, my sweet. It is apathy. We—you and I—are fighting against both Hatred and Apathy, and there is only one thing that will give us the strength to win. It will take the four of us, you and I, Ilesbet and Günter, plus whatever followers the gods have left, to destroy this Darkness. Hope and Love must be restored to this world. Ethan’s hatred is strong, but the absence of feeling in so many others will be the very thing that will help him win. Do you understand?”

“Not really.”

“The sisters taught me something when I was young. A man who stands for nothing, will fall for anything. Human nature drives us to seek that which is the easier course to follow. In this case, having no convictions and no passion. We cannot rally the people to gain interest if we do not have that within ourselves.”

“And how are you going to achieve that? If people don’t care, there is no way you can force them.”

“I agree. I see only one way. To summon a dragon.”

“Dragons are mythical creatures, Draiken. I know in the dream state, you take on a dragon form, but it is a dream! Oh, please do not send me such a condescending look. I will not be scolded like a child for refusing to believe in monsters.”

“Dragons are very real, and they are not monsters. Ethan is a monster, and you believe in his existence, yes?”

“I think you have been sipping the mead.”

“You know very well that I speak the truth. Allow me to prove it to you. If I fail…”

“Then you will keep nagging me until you succeed. Are you certain that you and Günter have no relation? I still cannot understand why Ilesbet was drawn to him.”

“You are a stubborn girl, but also a very intelligent one. You know I would not make a claim such as this without being able to support it.”

Daynel grunted again, turning away from him as his manhood began to rise again from beneath the blankets. “What do you wish of me?”

“Make love to me with abandon. Allow your heart, body, mind, and spirit to find pleasure in me.”

“Do you truly believe that if I allow you to fuck me, that a dragon will awaken? One other than that?” She pointed to the rigid shaft that lifted the blanket like a tent.

“Are you afraid that you might begin to enjoy such an act?” Draiken asked slyly, leaning back and stretching his long form out, making certain Daynel gained an eyeful of his hungry member.

“There is absolutely nothing you can do to me that will cause me to enjoy such an invasion upon my person,” Daynel growled.

“Frigidity does not suit you. My hands upon your body will bring you to such need, and you will beg for me,” Draiken said matter-of-factly.

“I do not wish…Release me!” Daynel ordered, finding herself being stretched out upon the bed with her arms and legs splayed wide apart and held by invisible bonds. “Are you going to take me again as though I was a tavern wench? Do you wish to break my spirit? It shall not happen!”

“Quite the contrary. I only wish to prove to you that I can be trusted. See? Simple ointment scented with lavender.”

Daynel frowned, pulling against the unseen ropes. “Where do you intend to put that?”

“All over your body. Relax, little one,” Draiken grinned, pouring the liquid onto his hands, “you might actually find yourself wanting me.”

“I will never ask you to touch me, so do not get your hopes raised.”

Draiken merely smiled as he began to gently massage the oil into her skin, deliberately avoiding her more “sensitive” areas at first. His hands were instruments of pleasure, and Daynel found herself straining toward his touch as he rubbed the ointment into each muscle, relaxing her as well as bringing forth a small degree of arousal. She grunted with frustration as he paid attention to her upper chest and stomach, not touching her breasts or her nipples. Her aching grew rapidly, but she stubbornly refused to seek his assistance in relieving her agony. She moaned in frustration when he turned her to her stomach and deftly began to rub the oil into her back.

The care he took with her felt incredibly good, but there was something more. He drew his hands down the backs of her thighs, using his thumbs to work into her firm muscles and tender flesh. On occasion, an oil-covered hand brushed the moist flesh between her legs as he worked his way down to her feet. Draiken smiled as her tiny, muffled whimpers leaked out from the pillow that hid her face. He moved his way up to her backside and earnestly began to massage the still red, and very warm, globes. The tips of his fingers found their way to the crevice between the two mounds and he paid diligent attention to make certain the area received extra oil and physical touch. Her pussy was already gleaming with moisture, yet he made certain to ignore the beckoning of her swelling pink lips that peeked out from between her legs.

Daynel bit down on her lower lip. Her breasts were yearning to be suckled although neither his fingers nor his mouth had touched them, as did her little pink clit. She began to rub her body against the soft under-blankets, trying to relieve her discomfort. Draiken straddled her back, his bobbing pole thumping gently against her spine as he leaned forward to whisper into her ear.

“That was nice, was it not? I will leave you to rest now. When you desire me, I assure you that I will be prepared.”

Daynel muttered something into her pillow as he dismounted her body and went to the pitcher to wash his hands. Her body felt like her need was growing in intensity with every nerve ending aroused and tingling.

“What is that oil you used on me?” she demanded, knowing that she resembled a cat in heat as she began to squirm more frantically, her restrained hands unable to reach down to relieve her discomfort.

“Something very special made especially for new brides. And frigid women,” Draiken answered casually.

“I am
not
frigid!” Daynel barked, attempting to flip to her back.

Draiken chuckled and sat upon his favorite chair, opening a book. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Daynel’s increased squirming and the shaking of her head as she tried to relieve the growing ache of her sex.

“Are you hungry? I can go retrieve some refreshments,” Draiken offered, watching her buck her hips into the air.

“Conjure food!” Daynel hissed. “Please, ease my suffering!”

“No,” Draiken said simply. “I will not use my power to take a job from a man, and our food preparers are far more skilled in producing tasteful dishes than I. Nor will I touch your body until I know that you desire me above all things.”

“I do not desire you, I desire relief! Ugh!”

“I sense I will not be achieving much sleep this evening if I stay here with you. I will be back in the morning and see if perhaps your desires have changed. Good sleep, my love.”

“Release me from these bonds! What if I need to use the chamber pot?”

“Hmm, indeed that could cause you a problem. Let us contemplate our options,” Draiken teased, enjoying watching her fight against the intense discomfort that rose from the anointing oil over her body. He sat next to her in the bed, dripping a couple of drops on the peaks of her hard breasts. She screamed her frustration in response. “I could have you just hold your water all night, or risk spoiling the bed…” He very lightly rubbed the oil into her areolas and over her nipples. “I could swaddle you like an infant and force you to wet yourself.” He placed the oil upon his thick index finger and slowly plunged it into her pussy, making her groan. Quickly, he withdrew and placed two drops upon her clit. “I could place a barrier around your waist to prevent you from touching yourself. You would like to touch yourself too, wouldn’t you?”