SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Eighteen
Lyrah opened her eyes to the still dim room and stretched. She felt the warm heavy body beside her and smiled. It had been several days since the attack at Karah and Lyrah had found herself in yet another magnificent Fortress in the District of Mekkon. During the few days that they were there, Rhol had never had time to rest but then again, he was a Jinn. They hardly slept unless they were exhausted. Her brother had returned home as soon as he could to help the Queen Mage taking with him Ruvin, Storm and Jax and leaving Drake and Zach to escort Ron and his rogue dragons back to the Realm to face their charges.
Lord Mage also left a few of his warriors to make sure that everything was well. Warriors still scouted various areas and borders, making sure that Rowan and his army were really gone.
That morning Eva, Dante and Muriel were supposed to return. She was excited to see them all and to hold Nolan in her arms. She already knew he was healthy and fine because she felt him through the bond that they had--just like the one she now had with her mate.
And speaking of mate…Lyrah slipped under the covers running her hand over his torso and abdomen. Rhol grunted lightly but he didn’t wake up. Lyrah ran her hand until she held his heavy erection in her hand. He throbbed against her palm. She peeped up at him from under the covers but he was still out. A wicked smile appeared on her lips as she bent down and ran her tongue from the base to the mushroomed tip. Again a groan escaped thickly from his lips.
He tasted wild and dark and Lyrah wanted to taste every bit of him. She tightened her hold on him and heard him groan.
“Not so tightly, baby.” He rasped prying the sheets from her.
Lyrah must have appeared like a child caught stealing cookies from the cookie-jar because she found herself biting her lower lip bashfully. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“Jinns don’t sleep. We just rest our eyes.” His violet and gold eyes melted as he looked at her.
She could imagine how she must have looked to him with his erection in her hands, her transparent floaty night dress hiked up to her thighs when she turned over and her hair tousled. “I’ve always wanted to do this but now I feel a little shy with you watching me like that.”
Rhol tucked his hands behind his head, twitching his erection in her hands with a sexy smile on his lips. “Well, I have always wanted to watch you take me deep inside that pretty mouth of yours.”
Lyrah pursed her lips. It did feel a little wicked to have him watch her doing what she was. A thrill ran down her spine, giving her goosebumps on her skin as she turned to his member kissed him lightly on the head. She ran her tongue just under the seam of him and a growl of pleasure tore out from Rhol’s throat.
“That’s it.” He assured her, approval and hunger burning deep in his eyes.
Lyrah angled herself right above it and took him into her mouth slowly, earning a long hiss from Rhol. He filled her entirely all the way close to her throat. She bet he felt her tonsils rub against him. All the while, she found it interesting the way his balls rotated around their sack like marbles in velvet in her palm.
Rhol’s body tightened as Lyrah sucked him harder and faster. This was the first time she had ever down such as thing but she wanted to show her mate just how much she loved him, how much she loved each part of him.
Abruptly she felt Rhol’s hand against her head as he guided her into taking more of him deep down her throat. She felt he was about to come and when he was about to remove her from his erection, Lyrah pumped him with her hand feeling his scrotal sack draw up.
Rhol roared out her name as he exploded into her mouth. Lyrah felt the sweet-salty cream run down her throat. She would have gagged if she wasn’t enjoying seeing the look on Rhol’s face. She popped him out of her mouth and licked away any remnants of his essence then looked up at him.
“How did I do?”
Rhol was still coming down from his climax but she could tell that what she did only fueled the desire he had for her.
“Come here.” Rhol pulled her over his body, making her straddle him while kissing her deeply and passionately until Lyrah couldn’t even make up a thought to save her life! All the while she felt him push inside of her.
He bunched up the sleeping dress and removed it before tossing it across the room then his hands settled on her hips as he guided her to his tempo. Lyrah loved watching the way her body was affecting Rhol. So many emotions were expressed in his eyes.
He ground hard into her, rolling his hips and arching his body from the bed, burying himself so deep inside that Lyrah found herself crying out for him. She rode him hard and fast until it was her turn to feel the tightening her body, readying itself for a release.
Rhol change the angle as which she was, pulling himself forward and her bundle of nerves rubbed itself against him. Lyrah yelped in shock at how much it brought her pleasure. Her face flooded with color as it was rubbed over and over again. She felt him pulling a nipple inside his scalding hot mouth and tease it with his teeth and tongue. She didn’t know where to concentrate anymore and finally she burst into a million pieces of sheer pleasure as her body glowed like a lantern in the middle of the night. Her body trembled violently as the orgasm went through her. Rhol was right behind her, stiffening inside her and pouring himself into her as his tattoos crawled onto her and locked them together. Lyrah collapsed against him, her breath coming out in short gasps as she tried to control herself.
Rhol’s arms went around her waist, holding her to him muttering sweet nothings to her.
Lyrah’s body shuddered as his lips touched her neck.
“Are you okay? I wasn’t too rough, was I?” He brushed her hair from her face.
Lyrah looked up at him with a lazily smile. She could still feel him throbbing inside of her. “You were perfect.”
“Heavens you are so beautiful.” Rhol swallowed hard and dragged a wet lock from her face. “I just can’t get enough of you.”
“You still have a Court Meeting, remember? Not to mention seeing Drake and his prisoners off.” Lyrah ran her finger over the gentle slope of his nose then placed a kiss on it.
“Fuck.” Rhol cursed as he hefted her off him and got up, his magnificent body displayed in front of her for her pleasure. “Aren’t you going to join me for the Court?”
Lyrah crinkled her forehead and shook her head. “I don’t think I can handle the Court today. I have a meeting with the residents of the Fortress grounds. We are planning on building a school close by for their children so I am meeting some of the architects and see through their designs.”
“Why don’t we change places?” Rhol winked at her.
Did the Jinn king just tease her? A new side to him was coming into view and she loved it more. “Hell no!”
“What did I tell you about defying me?” Rhol’s hand shot forward before Lyrah could even contemplate on what he was planning to do and he rolled her over until she was on her stomach. He crawled over her, raking his fingers into her hair and pushing out of the way, exposing her nape. He placed soft kisses on her back, down her spine and had her moaning for him. This is what she got for being mated to a hot blooded and very potent male. Their sex drives were above normal…way above!
A quick rap got him furious. “Don’t move.” He said as he went to answer it, not caring that he wasn’t dressed and he had an erection.
Color bloomed on Lyrah’s cheeks as she pulled the sheets about her.
“What?” He yanked the door open, almost pulling it out of its hinges.
Zafrina stood on the other side. Her eyebrow raised slowly as she eyed her king thoroughly making Lyrah hide her head under the pillows in embarrassment.
“No need to hide yourself, my lady--I could hear you from across the corridor.”
Oh Heavens! Lyrah’s body went completely red.
“Lord Mage’s second commander is asking for you. They are prepared to leave for their Realm.” Zafrina turned to her king. “And the Court members are arriving.”
“I’ll be done in a minute. Keep them controlled, Zafrina.”
Zafrina nodded and turned away.
“Aren’t you going to join me in the shower?” Lyrah heard Rhol ask but she couldn’t get herself to burrow her way out of the sheets.
“Was I that loud? Who else must have heard me? Oh, this is so embarrassing!”
She felt a smack on her butt and yelped looking up at Rhol.
“Whoever heard you should understand that it was me that made you cry out like that, nothing else. Now, get that pretty ass of yours in the bathroom before I decide to impale you once more.”
Lyrah slid off the bed, keeping her eyes down on her feet as she followed Rhol. A chuckle echoed from him and she pouted. “It’s not funny!”
Drake and Zach were waiting in his office by the time Rhol got around to go downstairs. The two males were recovering well. Zach was at Legin Glacier with several high Mage trying to find Rowan’s lair but they didn’t. However Rhol was grateful to the male for bringing his surviving warriors back home. Rhol turned his eyes to Drake and he couldn’t believe that for a nano second, Rhol was envious of the Lord Mage. He had five very capable commanders from five very strong bloodlines. All the beasts were pure-bloods and the Mage and Merman were trained assassins. The Dragon standing in front of him was the same male that had the promise of blood and death the night he went to confront the Lord Mage about putting up spies in his Realm.
“Your departure couldn’t come at a better time.” Rhol said. “It’s about time you get your asses out of my Realm!”
Both males’ lips spread into dark smiles.
“Zach,” He said more seriously, “I would not forget what you did for my warriors in the Legin Glacier. Saigon and Darius made sure I heard every single detail of it and believe me when I say it will be haunting me for a long time.”
Zach chuckled and inclined his head. “King Rhol.”
Rhol nodded softly and turned to Drake. “If you still want to carve my head off, Dragon, this is your chance.”
Drake grinned. “I don’t have to anymore. With Lady Lyrah on your side day and night, you would want to carve your own head off!”
Rhol didn’t ignore that even just for a second. Lyrah meant a lot to him but he doubted that she was going to make it easy to live with her. He was up for the challenge because he owed her his life. The least he could do was to try and make it up to her for the rest of their life together.
“Get out of my Fortress.” Rhol said darkly.
“We should do this more often.” Drake teased. “Next time we could have afternoon tea at the courtyard?”
“Love you too, Jinn King. Don’t forget to write!” Zach winked at him as he took Drake’s hand and they flashed away.
“Fucking clowns.” Rhol grumbled but he couldn’t help the little smile settling on his lips as he made his way for the Court Meeting.
“We are glad to have you here, my queen.” Olivier, Furis’ mother came forward and handed Lyrah a cup on tea.
The hall in which they were meeting was simply decorated but it was homey with everyone knowing each other like a big family. It also smelled homey with home-made food placed on the tables right at the back. There were three architects displaying their works and afterwards they were going to have a discussion before making a decision. Lyrah thought this was a very good idea. She didn’t want the children of the Fortress workers to school in far away places where they could be in danger. The Fortress grounds were vast, covering acres upon acres of land. It was almost like a little town on its own, surely a school and sports grounds for the children was not going to take up much space.
“Thank you for inviting me, Olivier.” Lyrah accepted the cup and sipped the fragrant tea.
“It’s leik berries and mint.” The corners of Olivier’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.
Lyrah nodded. “It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Then she sighed softly and her smile faltered a little. “Furis told me about the day you were attacked at the lake. He told me about how you saved him and his cousins. I didn’t have the time to come to you and thank you for it. If you weren’t there--I don’t know what would have happened to them.”
Lyrah quickly touched the female’s hand. Olivier was a little older than Lyrah but because of the slow aging process in the enchanted world, it a bit difficult to tell age really. “Don’t worry about it. Furis was also up ahead taking care of his cousins.”
Soon two other females came to her, Jemsen’s and Nile’s mothers . They were really pretty and tall. They had their braids like every other Jinn she had come across but they all did them in different styles up on their heads with pretty colorful pins. Their dresses were also very lovely and colorful, Lyrah was envious. Their tattoos changed patterns every once in a while but Lyrah noticed that the people in the hall had differing patterns, depending on the clans they came from. They too said their thanks for saving the children.
Lyrah realized that she had just earned the trust of the Jinn females within the Fortress grounds. That was going to make her life much easier, she thought. They talked to her freely, each one telling her of their plans about the school and other things to make sure their children were never in danger again. Lyrah loved how these females were taking the initiative to help out where they could.
“Settle down everyone!” A male in a funny shiny suit got up the stage and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “We are about to start the presentations.”
Lyrah knew the glasses were just for show because thanks to the vitalizing properties of the air, the residents of the enchanted world never got sick from viral, bacterial or fungal infections. Cancers were very rare and so were deformities. Wounds healed fast and that was why they never scarred. When someone died it was either through old age, a difficult birth, ODs (Overdose for addicts), accidents, fatal wounds or poisoning.
It was through this vitalized air that even their years of living were prolonged and even for the special humans who found their way into the enchanted world, their lives were prolonged and their deformities or health problems corrected.
“My queen.” He turned to her together with everyone in front. “Your seat in up here in front. You are, after all, the king’s eyes and voice when he is not around.”
Lyrah picked up the folds of her royal gown and made her way up in front, her head held up high and her eyes shining with exhilaration. Union or not, she was going to enjoy all this attention to the fullest!
Arguments and accusations were being thrown across the room as each Noble put blame on each other for the attacks. Noble Naliah and William of the the Sector Cardinia where the Legin Glacier was situated were being blamed for negligence while they counter attacked saying, the rogues could have have crossed their borders passing through the smaller Sector of Elba.
“Rowan’s army was already at the Gates of Elba and if it wasn’t for the warriors, they would have made it to Karah!” Naliah exclaimed.
Nobel Tael and Ohamy of the Elba sector rose up from their seats and Ohamy banged his fist on the table. “If you had taken better precautions your in your districts and sector, Rowan’s army wouldn’t have made it to Elba. You should take responsibility for the negligence, Naliah and William, you should take responsibility for putting your people and the people of Elba in danger!”
“The Legin Glacier has been abandoned for a long time.” William started. “If Rowan and his horde of morons inhabited it, it was only recently. The caves underneath the Legin Glacier happen to connect to the Meridian Labyrinth under the Waldon Mountains in the Sector of Verion! For all we know they might have come from there.”
“The Meridian has been destroyed and abandoned for almost three hundred years now.” Noble Chale of Verion stated tautly while the other two Verion Nobles Jyne and Sahora nodded in agreement. “Rowan couldn’t pass down there to save his life.”
And the arguments went on until Rhol thought he was going to develop a migraine. Twelve Nobles of the twelve Districts in the five Sectors were bickering like children, each one pointing fingers at the other. Their prides and positions were at stake and they were ready to send each other to the gallows to save their own necks.
Out of the five sectors, the only one that was far from blame was the Quegal Cliffs because it was isolated up in the cliffs. It was the other Sector with three Districts apart from Verion.
“If we put blame on each other, we are not going to get solutions of the current problems.” A small voice came through and Rhol turned to the small Nosferatu female. Her cheeks bloomed with color as she tried to hide behind the bulky Noble Hart of Mekkon. Suran, the largest Sector where he had taken residence, only had two Districts.
Everyone turned to her in surprise. Rhol knew they were going to attack her for being new and inexperienced so he quickly intervened.
“She’s right. What is done is done and putting blame on each other this way will not solve anything.” He sat up. “The Mage have made sure the Legin caves are uninhabitable at the moment though they never found the lair. Nobles Naliah and Williams, Herion has suffered great damage from the attacks, right?” Both Naliah and William nodded. “Nobles Tael and Ohamy, the gates of Elba, once the landmarks of your Sector, are barely holding up, aren’t they?” Both Tael and Ohamy nodded sadly. “And Suran has lost a capital city with the Mekkon district losing the bridge to Shalarian and Shalarian almost burnt to the ground. Everyone has a big job in building up their districts. I think this will keep your hands busy for a while...that way you won’t have time to choke each other’s throats!”
Seygon cleared his throat funnily while Zafrina shifted on her feet softly. Darius unabashedly grinned at the Nobles who were shocked and infuriated by the comment their king made but Rhol didn’t give a damn what they thought. If they acted like children, then he was going to treat them alike.
“But, my king, the budgets--” Noble Ohamy started but Rhol put up his hand.
“I will have a team come to each district and assess the damage. In the meantime, i would like a rough draft of the budget each sector will think they need for the damages. All landmarks, conserved areas, official offices and public infrastructures are under the Royal Trust Fund so no need to put those down. I need to know how many people have lost their homes and assets.”
“Yes, my king.” Ohamy nodded.
“Anything else?” Rhol looked around.
Everyone was silent then suddenly Eva put her hand up and Rhol groaned inwardly.
“This is not a classroom, Noble Eva.”
Soft laughter echoed through the room and her face brightened with color again.
“Uh--I was reading through the rules, policies and regulations and I discovered that you are supposed to discuss the Union to Lady Lyrah with us.”
Rhol felt dread settle in his stomach. “What is there to discuss?”
“Well, when is it?” She was curios but at the same time she was excited.
A chorus of agreements went around the table as everyone turned to him, waiting for his answer.
“I think that is best discussed with Lady Lyrah herself.” he quickly jumped up from his chair and his exit with Seygon, Darius and Zafrina following close behind. “Seygon and Zafrina, I want you to head into the city and get the assessment team ready. I want this assessment to be done as quickly as possible for the people who have lost their homes. Darius I want you at the Black Fortress overseeing the interrogation of the sorcerers and the dragons we caught. They must have an idea of where Rowan might have escaped to.”
“Yes, my king, though I have a small errand to run first.” Darius murmured and he shimmered away in mid-step.
Rhol turned to Zafrina in puzzlement. Zafrina smiled lightly and said. “Cleo.”
Rhol didn’t need to ask anything more.
“When is the Union, my king?”
Rhol was surprised that, Seygon, the one who was always serious was actually asking him such a question.
Zafrina grinned not losing her pace. “You should have seen the way he ran out like he was on fire!”
“I’m standing right here.” Rhol snarled at her.
“The Union?” Seygon turned to him.
“It will happen when it needs to happen!” Rhol barked irritatedly. “Now, you should head off to what I asked you to do.”
Both Zafrina and Seygon evaporated and disappeared while Rhol managed to reach his office and lock himself inside. Now, why was everyone talking about the Union? Wasn’t it enough to see them together until they wanted to see a Union.
And speaking about that, he needed to go and see the Priestess.
Lyrah said goodbye to the nice people after the presentation and discussion and went back to the Fortress. She had decided to take Tatiana with her remembering how Jemsen was in love with her plus it was a little further from the Fortress. Tatiana trotted slowly beside the guards horses. Every once in a while, she eyed the smaller animals and snorted as if she were laughing at them.
“Behave, Tatiana.” She smiled. “Plus, we need to get you back to your mate, Steel. He must be missing you terribly.”
Tatiana’s ears pricked up as she neighed.
“You must him too, huh? Wait, I’ll ask Rhol if it’s possible to take you home for a while, okay?”
Tatiana bobbed her head.
“Lady Lyrah!” She saw the pale hair girl waving vigorously towards her.
“Eva!” Lyrah galloped towards the girl, leaving the guards behind baffled. Once she got there, she jumped off Tatiana and embraced Eva. “Oh, it’s so great to see you!”
Eva grinned. “I had to come early because I had my first Court meeting today.” She answered excitedly hooking her hand on Lyrah’s arm as they walked in side my side. “You should have seen it. Everyone was super angry, poking and pointing at each other like kids arguing. It was hilarious!”
Lyrah giggled. “As hilarious as meeting my brother?”
Suddenly color leached from Eva’s face. “Oh my, I had to meet him. I was glad Dante was there because the moment he came forward and eyed me like a fly under a microscope, I almost passed out! He was surprised seeing a Nosferatu. Oh but he is very dreamy…” She fanned herself and added. “If he is not brooding.”
Lyrah rolled her eyes. “I bet Dante had a lot to say to that.”
“Dante was scowling all the time. Strange are these males we call our mates. Isn’t it enough that being with them has been inherently carved into our souls?”
Lyrah shrugged. “They are always primal where their mates are concerned.”
Eva hummed lightly. “I miss him already.”
“My brother?” Lyrah teased.
Eva looked stunned. “I meant Dante!”
“Just kidding.” Lyrah patted Eva’s hand.
“So, what have you been up to? How come I didn’t see you at the Court Meeting?”
“I had a presentation to attend. A new school is going to be built at the Black Fortress so they wanted to revise the proposal and the invited me to put in a word or two.” Lyrah explained.
Eva nodded. “Oh! That’s good. I wish I had been there instead. The Court Meeting was so intense and King Rhol was not amused.”
Lyrah could almost imagine Rhol’s brooding face as he watched his Court Members.
“By the way, I asked him about the Union and he told me to ask you--so, Lady Lyrah, when is the Union?”
Lyrah found herself stopping dead on her tracks and turning to Eva. “You asked him about the Union?” she couldn’t even recognize her own voice. It was like a squeaking mouse!
Eva nodded. “He rushed out of the room before I could dig deeper.”
Lyrah didn’t have time to think it through but, did Rhol’s view of the Union change. After all, he hadn’t even said that he loved her back. For all she knew, he was simply tolerating her presence and that his feelings for her hadn’t change his mind.
Then what was that fading glow around him when he was within that creature? Did she mistake it for love? Her heart drowned in its liquids as she suddenly dropped her hands limply on her sides.
“What is it, Lady Lyrah?” Eva asked, concerned all of a sudden.
“I need to speak to the Jinn King.” She said and made her way towards his office.
When she got there, she braced herself and knocked on his door.
“Come on in.” He answered.
Lyrah took control of her turmoiled emotions and entered the large home office. It was very similar to the one in Shalarian but it had different hues on the walls and his desk was a little bit smaller and made of wood instead of crystal.
Rhol looked up from the papers he was looking through and when he realized who had interrupted him, he placed the papers down and turned his entire attention to her.
“Hi!” She hoped it sounded much more cheery than the way it echoed in her ears.
“Hello.” Rhol straightened up in his chair. “How was the presentation?”
Lyrah bobbed her head. “It was good but I enjoyed the food more. I don’t do well in long discussions.”
“So do I.” Rhol admitted.
“I heard about the vexed meeting you had with the Court Members. Eva thought is was like watching a comedy.” Lyrah tried to joke.
“Sometimes I wonder why I even bother having these Court Meetings in the first place. I could always dictate what I want to be done. I am the king after all.”
“You have the meetings because it is for the betterment of the people, not only for you.” Lyrah reminded him.
“Have you had lunch already?” Rhol sighed.
Lyrah could see how tired he looked but she really wanted to ask him about the Union. “Yeah, I had a big lunch at the presentations. The pies were so good, and the roast chicken was divine.”
Rhol smiled. “You should accompany me anyhow. The Court members are eager to have some time with you, discussing about….whatever it is that is usually discussed during lunch.”
“The Union?” Lyrah prompted quietly watching his expression charily.
A pensive frown marred his face as he looked at her. The longer he looked at her, the more uncomfortable she got. Finally he broke the eye contact and asked. “Do you want a Union with me, Lyrah?”
Lyrah stuttered. “Uh--we talked about this in the beginning.”
“We did.”
“And you said you didn’t want one.” Lyrah reminded him.
Rhol shook his head. “I didn’t say I didn’t want one, I said it will happen when it needs to happen.”
Lyrah leaned forward. “And when is that because apparently you told your Court to ask me!”
Rhol nodded. “Yes, I told them to ask you because you know when it happen.”
“I do?” Lyrah sat up with a frown.
Rhol breathed hard and rubbed the center of his eyebrows. “Why are you acting like a parrot?”
Lyrah’s mouth fell open. This male was testing her patience. If he didn’t continue talking in riddles she was going to scream! “How do I know the date of the Union?”
“Because I want you to take your time to decide when and if you would want a Union with me.” Rhol told her.
Lyrah was suddenly speechless as she glanced at her mate. Once upon a time, Rhol wasn’t ready for a Union and he made it very clear when he rejected her several times. After everything that happened between them, she felt that he might feel he owed her and that was the last reason she wanted him to be with her. Her heart ached in her ribs. He still didn’t love her, did he?
“Uhm--we don’t need to rush into it.” She said as she got up.
“Hey, wait a minute.” Rhol also got up and rounded the desk and stood in front of her. He lifted her chin and saw the tears swimming in her eyes. “Then why are you sorrowed by your own decision?”
“Because--” She choked trying to blink away the tears but they found their way down her cheeks. “Because I was wrong about everything. I don’t want you to feel I burden you into the Union, Rhol. You don’t owe me anything so don’t obligate yourself into a Union with me.”
“What?” Rhol gripped Lyrah’s wrists as she tried to move away from him. “What are you talking about?”
“You rejected me three times, Rhol, and on top of that you made it very clear that a Union was a no go. Now you are asking me to make a decision so that I will forever blame myself for whatever it will result in. I will not live with you like that! Whether I am your retreat, your mistress or your queen my existence is still a thorn on your foot and I hate it!”
“Lyrah, wait!”
She didn’t wait for him to add anything else as she quickly flashed away.