Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (52 page)

She turned, and jumping up, she wrapped her legs around Arn and let him slide inside of her, moaning as his size stretched and filled her. His large, well-made hands gripped her behind and lifted her up and down on his hardness. His eyes adored his Lady, and his mouth caressed hers as she found her pleasure once more when Mika’s wicked fingers reached between them and caressed her throbbing center. She sagged against Arn’s broad chest, licking at the water droplets that remained. She turned, and they helped her out of the tub. She allowed them to dry her before she took them all into her bed, resolved to not leave any of them wanting.

The bright light of morning worked its way through Cassie’s eyelids, and she stretched luxuriously. She had made love to her men until deep into the night, fulfilling every fantasy and naughty idea she could come up with. Afterwards, they had eaten and talked in bed late into the night; none of them wanting to break the spell that had settled over them, and eventually, they all had fallen into an exhausted, sated slumber.
 

Now, her loins ached pleasantly. They were lusty men, and she had enjoyed every second of it! Rising slowly, she eased out of bed so she wouldn’t wake them, and looking down, she was overcome by a wave of desire and affection that made her catch her breath. She knew suddenly that she loved these men. It was like the memory of an emotion, and it choked her up a little. She pulled a clean set of clothes from the closet and picked up her boots and went to change in the main room.
 

Once she was dressed, she left her chambers, closing the door quietly behind her. She was intent upon taking a ride.
 

She saw Kara headed her way and smiled at her friend. Kara looked her up and down and then broke out in a huge grin.

“Well, it’s about time,” Kara chuckled as Cassie swung and punched her lightly in the shoulder.

“I’m going for a ride if you would care to join me, you smartass,” Cassie returned with a smile.

“Haven’t you been ridden enough already?” Cassie laughed and punched her again.

“Real fucking funny. Now, do you want to go for a ride or not?” Cassie pulled Kara’s ponytail lightly.

“As a matter of fact, I was just going to see if you were up for one,” Kara smirked, and the women walked side by side to the stables as Kara pulled details of the previous night out of her friend. “All five of them? Gods, you are amazing. Maybe I should observe one of these encounters as you obviously should be a teacher,” Kara said, laughing.

“That’s right. I am The Sex Goddess. Actually, I didn’t want to make any one of them feel left out. They are such sweet guys,” Cassie said, grinning cheekily at her friend.
 

They had nearly reached the stables when she felt a wave of nausea. Her hands went to her head as the nausea was almost always followed by an intense pain in her head.

“Cass, are you all right? Is it your head? Did you have another memory?” Kara’s hand gripped her shoulder.

Cassie stood perplexed for a moment as the expected pain did not come, but she suddenly ran and hung her head over a fence by the stables, vomiting violently. A few moments later, she wiped her mouth and discovered Kara standing next to her with a cup of water and a cloth. She rinsed her mouth and then wiped her face clean. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. God, that was awful. My head didn’t hurt this time, though. Maybe that’s a good sign.” She smiled weakly at her friend. Kara frowned at her and felt her forehead.

“Perhaps you should see the physician again,” Kara said.

“No, I am sure it’s okay. I feel fine now. Let’s take that ride; the fresh air will do me good.” She walked determinedly towards the stables and asked the groom to saddle her horse and Kara’s.
 

Kara was still looking at her uncertainly, concern marring her features.

“Really, Kara. I know it will do me good.” Kara nodded and mounted up with her when their horses were brought forward.
 

They rode for quite a while, and when they returned to the stables, Cassie’s stomach had begun turning again. A wave of dizziness overtook her as she dismounted, and she blacked out just as she swung her leg over the pommel.
 

Kara cried out as she watched helplessly as Cassie fell to the ground, her head hitting hard against the cobblestones.
 

Leaping from the saddle, Kara ran to her friend, followed quickly by some of the grooms. Blood ran from Cassie’s temple as she lay on her side—motionless.

“Help me get her up, and someone go fetch the physician, NOW!” Kara shouted.
 

A small group of nearby warriors ran forward and helped Kara to carry Cassie’s limp body inside the Palace.
 

The women moved quickly with their burden to the door of Cassie’s chamber, kicking it open as they carried her inside. Cassie’s men had been up for a while, and were doing busy work while they awaited her return. They cried out when they saw the blood on their Mistress’s head.
 

Mika moved quickly and gathered her in his arms and walked quickly to her bed, laying her down.

“She fell getting off of her horse. I have sent for the physician. Remove her clothing and put something comfortable on her. Tell the others to gather cloth for bandages and to heat some water.”
 

She clipped out the orders in her usual direct manner, and the men moved quickly to obey her commands. Cassie stirred and groaned. She tried to sit up, but Kara pushed her back down as Aidan quickly removed her clothing and replaced it with a soft cotton shift.
 

Mika held a cloth to her head-wound, staunching the blood flow as they waited for the physician. Soon, the woman scurried into the room followed by her assistant.

“What has happened?” she asked as she set to work, checking the wound and cleaning it.

“She fell dismounting her horse. I believe her boot was caught in the stirrup,” Kara said. The little woman
tsked
and applied a poultice to the cut and efficiently bandaged the wound.

“Has she regained consciousness?” she asked.

“No, but she groaned and tried to sit a moment before you came in,” Kara replied. The woman harrumphed as she pried open one of Cassie’s eyes and checked her pupil.
 

She lightly slapped Cassie’s cheeks, much to the horror of Kara and her Commander’s slaves.
 

“Wake up, Cassandra!” The words were followed by a smart crack to the cheek.

“What are you doing? Stop that!” Kara cried, angry beyond words as she reached out towards the healer.

“Be quiet, young woman. I do not tell you how to fight; do not tell me how to heal,” was the woman’s unruffled retort.

“Now, see here! I will not just sit here and let you hit her like that.” Kara reached for the woman’s hand as she moved to slap Cassie again.

“For God’s sake, will you two shut up? My head is killing me,” Cassie growled, forcing her eyes open to glare at the near-to-brawling women. “Shit!”

“Do you know who you are?” the physician asked.

“A better question is do
you
know who I am because I am thinking seriously of killing you both if you don’t pipe down,” Cassie said huskily.
 

Kara choked on a relieved laugh.

“Humor me, Commander, and tell me your name,” the physician said.

“I am Lady Cassandra, Commander of the Queen’s Guard, and you are going to get me something for this headache, right?” Cassie said.
 

The physician smiled and reached into her bag. She pulled out a vial of brown liquid and handed it to Cassie.
 

Cassie pulled the top off and swallowed it quickly, knowing it would taste awful. She grimaced and gave Mika a slight smile when he handed her a goblet of water.
 

“What happened?”

“You fell from the horse and cracked your head on the stones,” Kara replied, and Cassie groaned in memory.

“Oh, God. Yes, I was so flipping dizzy, and then I blacked out. Good thing you were there, Kara. Thank you.” She rubbed her temples, and felt for the bandage which was wrapped around her head.
 

She looked up at her men who ringed the bed and smiled. Just then, her chamber door burst open and Nera ran into the room. Seeing them at her bedside, she came quickly to her.

“Cassandra, are you all right? They said you fell . . . again.” On seeing her friend sitting up, she smiled in relief. “What have you done now?” Nera chuckled.

“I blacked out and fell off of the freaking horse. I swear this is getting old! First, I get clocked by a limb, and now I faint and fall off. The poor horse probably thinks I’m crazy.” They all laughed. “Nera, were all of the survivors recovered? I gave the order before I rode off after that Trevian, but I forgot to ask about the rest of my women and Quinn as well.” They all froze and stared at her as her words sunk in.

“Cassandra, you remember? Has your memory returned?” Nera asked. Cassie frowned and rubbed her forehead.
 

She could remember. It was all there, and despite her headache, she laughed and jumped out of bed, launching herself at Nera and Kara.

“I remember! I can remember everything! Oh, my God! I am so happy! Yes!” She crowed, and the women grabbed her and hugged her tightly. After a moment, Cassie broke away and anger suffused her face. “I will kill him. I will kill him for what he has done. Nera, forgive me. I must go to do something that will start a war.” Cassie spun and began rummaging through her clothing looking for her battle gear.
 

Her slaves stood in bewilderment and fear. They had not been told of what Nall had done. Nera took Cassie’s arm, stilling her frantic movements.

“Cassie,” she said. Cassie turned to look at her.
 

Suddenly, a dam burst inside of her, and she started crying. Loud, ugly sobs tore from her as Nera pulled her into her arms. All of her love for him as well as all of the grief, anger, and betrayal sobbed out and onto her Queen’s shoulder, and she felt Kara come wrap her arms around the both of them. Finally, her sobs subsided to hiccups, and she stepped from their embrace, looking at them gratefully.

“Forgive me,” was all that she said. They assured her there was nothing to forgive. “You are the best of friends. I will not kill Nall. Not just yet anyway.” She wiped the remainder of her tears from her face with both hands.

“Cassie, will you be all right?” Kara asked, and Cassie caressed her friend’s face gently.

“Yes, I think I will be well now, thank you. Thank you both for being my friends.” They smiled at her and hugged her tightly once more. The physician left an extra bottle of medicine as she went, and Nera and Kara followed not long behind her, leaving their restored friend to her rest.
 

Cassie got back into her bed and lay down. Kai placed a cool wet cloth on her forehead, and she caught his hand, bringing it to her lips. She looked up and saw they all surrounded her, literally wringing their hands.
 

They were scared and confused by all that had just happened, so she patted the bed, asking silently for them to join her. They piled on and lay or sat around her, gazing at her expectantly.

“Mistress, what did Prince Nall do to you?” Mika spoke for the group, and his voice was hesitant.
 

Cassie sighed.

“He found me in the forest after I fell and took me back to his keep. He didn’t tell me he knew me, and he led me to believe I was a woman of his country. He then courted me and eventually asked me to be his wife.” Their eyes were open wide in astonishment and then in anger at his deceit.
 

He would have taken her from them permanently if he had not been found out.
 

“I had no memory of anything, and I would have become his wife gladly. Then, King Darien showed up.” She watched as each of them battled with his anger and outrage before they looked at her again.

“It’s over now, my loves. I am returned to you fully. I will handle Lord Nall if the time comes. Let us just be grateful my memory has been restored.” She touched each of them gently, and they each managed a smile for her. She then relaxed back onto the bed and closed her eyes.

What was she going to do about Nall?

XXXII

The months passed slowly, and Cassie returned to her full strength with no lingering effects except for the occasional nausea, but that, too, subsided in time.
 

It wasn’t until a morning several months after her return that she realized her leather breeches had become uncomfortably tight.

“Kara, I can’t figure it out, how I am getting fat!” The two women were lounging in Cassie’s rooms, enjoying a day off from training, and allowing Cassie’s slaves to pamper them. “Look at this.”
 

She pulled up the soft flowing tunic top that she had taken to wearing because of her growing middle. Kara gazed at her belly in fascination, and then, unbelievably, she laughed.

“Cassie, you are pregnant!”

“What? No. I can’t get pregnant; you know that.” Her face creased as she thought about all of the intestinal gas she had experienced lately. Could it have actually been the movements of a baby?