Zane

 

 

 

WHUPPED ASS ON my uncle then fucked my cocks into oblivion.

In the zlilue blue gown, Astrid looked stunning. But then, she was gorgeous in anything, and especially nothing at all . . . most definitely when she was totally naked and covered in my cum.

She swept ahead with Prairie, the two trading jokes like they were long lost friends.

I was glad she had Prairie to talk to, but I wanted Astrid by my side more than anything else.

A dark mood settled over me, the prospect of coming up against Uncle at the arena almost wiping clean the afternoon and night of pure predatory passion spent with Astrid.

But then her hips swayed just-so in front of me.

X watched his pregnant mate with the same unshakable intensity.

“Brother, we got it bad,” I said.

A fleeting smile slid over his mouth. “Just wait ’til you knock Astrid up. A thousand times worse.”

“Not sure she’ll be staying with me.”

“Magnar seems to think you’re hitting it off.”

“I said he’s tapping that hard,” came Magnar’s muttered comment.

Suddenly I was relieved the females walked several feet ahead.

“Maybe it’s time for you to settle down.” I glanced at Magnar.

He got that look of Who? Me? I recognized from myself before Astrid had happened.

“Where’s Kerta?” I asked X.

“She’s already there.”

“And Mother?”

“She likes her brother even less than we do.”

“So she’s giving the ceremony a royal miss?”

“Queen Superior and all that.”

Outside, the paths were lined with Zenithians by the hundreds. From behind, I saw Astrid’s shoulders straighten, and her head swiveled as she took in the sight of our people out in force, waving flags, shouting cheers, clapping hands.

Their voices dimmed as we approached, and when we passed alongside the gathered throng, they lowered their heads as if commanded by a silent voice.

“You’ll get used to being one of the popular kids.” I heard Prairie advise Astrid. “Besides, being a royal comes with its perks. Like singlehandedly getting the king to do away with slavery because I rate so much he knows better than to argue.”

Beside me, X sputtered. “Insolent female.”

“You’re not complaining.” I chuckled.

Astrid turned her head to Prairie. “Slavery? It’s true?”

Her question went unanswered because we entered the arena where the commotion swelled. People surged to their feet, everyone turned out in their very best garb.

The populace—gathered together on this day like a brightly colored sea—parted way as Jedrek and Dex led our procession to the royal box. Magnar took up the rear.

As soon as we entered the opulent open-air enclosure, more cheers rippled through the crowd, a deafening roar from the Zenithians.

Kerta, who was already seated, dangled a goblet from one lax hand and sighed loudly. “’Bout time.”

She sounded strangely like Prairie had earlier.

My sister rose to greet Astrid and Prairie alike, bussing their cheeks in a familiar gesture. She’d been so hardened before Prairie arrived, it was almost like seeing a new female.

Perhaps it was her time to mate too.

I wound my way to Astrid, finally tucking her by my side. Her mouth gaped open at the spectacle—this was her first time seeing the Zenithian race in all our splendor and majesty.

Her wonderment visible, she leaned against the arm I ran around her waist. And I knew she wished she had the zPad with her right then so she could record the festivities, the fanfare, the fact of this existence.

The crowd only calmed—and then just for a moment—when Uncle marched onto the field below.

“That bastard again?” Astrid’s eyes narrowed.

Kerta snorted. “That’s pretty much how we all feel about the dickhole.”

Magnar leaned forward. “This is basically the only time he comes to the palace—”

“Well that’s lucky for him because I still want to ram my foot up his ass.” Astrid—sweet, smart Astrid—showed her sassy side.

I threaded our fingers together as the rest of them chuckled.

“This is just his annual inspection of potential warriors for the Valkrane,” Kerta finished explaining where Magnar left off.

Astrid merely grunted in response. She remained cold beside me until the recruits paraded onto the field, humans among them for the first time since X and Prairie had abolished the slave caste, even granting them back pay for years of servitude. I gained a small amount of satisfaction knowing how Uncle felt about Homo sapiens. He had no choice but to accept them into his program now.

 “More humans!” Shouting, Astrid raised half off her seat.

“Mm hmm. Buff male studs. Like I said.” Prairie leaned forward like she was lusting for a closer look. “I might have to trade X in for a newer model.”

“Meehri,” X grumbled.

I grinned, Prairie’s delight in torturing my brother was legendary. Even Astrid laughed momentarily.

Her gaze pivoted back and forth as the males below sweated through rigorous exercises, hoping to impress Uncle with their endurance and prowess. They demonstrated their great skill with a variety of hand-to-hand combat moves and agile attacks using a multitude of weaponry.

Even I was caught up in the violent pageantry of it all until Astrid shot straight up from her seat to scream, “COZMO!”

Cozmo.

The male Astrid had been pining over.

That image again—only this time translated to living flesh and blood, I discovered, when Astrid pointed to a particular would-be warrior down in the arena. The man, slightly older than her imaginings, waved a red flag of jealousy in front of my very face just by being real.

The strapping blond human stared up into the stands, and Astrid wailed his name again.

Before I could stop her, she rushed from the box, gathering the skirts of her gown in both hands. I hurried after her, Magnar close behind. With no thought to propriety, she barged through a band of warriors and out onto the training ground.

No one could miss her, running with her blue gown fluttering behind her. When I grabbed her around the waist, she flung a vicious glare at me and wrenched free.

Uncle, incensed, began to stalk over, but I scowled at the man from such heavy brows he stopped dead in his tracks. He watched me follow Astrid, squinting, lips pulled in tight between his teeth.

I knew I’d be hearing more scathing words from him later, but he wasn’t my concern right now.

“Astrid?” The sweaty male stared in stunned confusion before a huge smile glimmered on his lips. “Astrid!”

I felt like my hearts were being ripped out of my chest when she raced straight into the arms he opened for her.

Sinking back on my heels, I swallowed the growing lump in my throat as they embraced. Astrid cupped his face in both hands, drawing him down to smatter kisses all over his cheeks.

Magnar stopped beside me. “This doesn’t look good for you.”

The fear of losing Astrid right here, right now . . . the pain was greater than any that’d ever been inflicted on me before.

When I could hold back no longer, I shoved trainees out of my way, striding to the couple.

“Astrid,” I said with a voice that barely worked, a voice hardly heard above the utter mayhem she’d caused by entering the arena to take another man in her arms.

Pulling back reluctantly, she spread her hands over his shoulders. Then she hit me with bright blue eyes so full of scorn my hearts twisted again.

“You need to come back to the stands,” I entreated, palm lifted to her.

“Like hell I do!” Spinning toward me, she stomped closer.

“You can’t be seen like this with another male.”

“He’s my brother!” She pushed me back, both hands slamming against my chest. “And you abducted him?”

Flabbergasted, I looked between her and the man. Cozmo. Her brother?

Her brother.

Not her lover.

I bent forward, hands braced on my knees as overwhelming relief spun through me.

Relief that quickly collapsed when Astrid raised her palm and sailed a stinging slap across my face.

Stunned, I stopped breathing completely. In my periphery, Uncle looked as though he wanted to bring corporeal punishment down upon my mate.

“You said you didn’t know Cozmo!”

“I don’t. He was a slave.” I spread my hands wide.

“You abducted and enslaved my brother?”

Oh. Shit.