Scandalous Heroes Box Set (180 page)

She stomped hard on the ground as she raced along the path toward her sanctuary, her home. Animals buzzed, chirped and whistled to their mates as the third sun pushed higher into the horizon. She wanted to tell them all to shut up. The last thing she wanted to think about was anyone or anything mating.

Tilting her head back she stared up into the sky to see the green third sun, large and bright in the sky. It would make its rotation around their planet and following it would be the moon. That’s when the goods festival would begin and that’s when she would be joined with Rymingten. Her body throbbed and ached in places so intense she wanted to stop, lean against a tree and relieve herself with her own hands. That was something she’d never had the desire to do before. When she had needs and desires she just went to the pleasure palace and got a weak male to service her. She could even do that now. She was not joined to the Kitcy warrior yet. It was still within the law for her to seek out her satisfaction.

Breaking through the forest she finally arrived at the residential area. Hundreds of large octagon-shaped dwellings spread out before her. However, if she desired she could turn left and keep a path back toward the city and locate the pleasure palace. She could still feel the hum of her sex and the ache in her breasts. It would be a quick job to have someone get her off. They would barely have to touch her or do any work for her to climax. Rymingten’s kiss had her more than primed.

The thought of him pushed away any other. No one else would do. She didn’t want anyone else and that scared her. None of the males in the pleasure house had ever made her feel this charged and high with desire. All the times she’d made her monthly visit to the hut, since reaching maturity, she’d never gone to the same male. Never connected with one, as she knew some of the other Argona females had done. She barely paid much attention to them. Her mind would be on one focus and she’d get that job done and return to her job or her dwelling.

She continued forward, deciding against the palace and disappointment. Keeping her pace brisk, she nodded at the others she passed on her walk who threw out congratulations on her exhibition match and cheers toward the goods festival to come. There was still half a day remaining until the event. However, even now the workers would be setting the city up with large tents in the center of the festival grounds.

Arriving at her dwelling, she entered and pulled the door shut behind her then leaned back against it. Closing her eyes she took a few moments to just breathe. She was alone for now, since it would take Morni a little more time to reach the area with her short strides.

A little peace and quiet was what she needed. Secure within her own walls she could get herself together, in line. Pushing away from the door she walked through the common area, where she would host any guest that visited her and continued on down a back hall until she reached her lotus room at the back of the dwelling.

Every hut had such a place whether a single or joined residence. All Argona females needed a private space to exercise and strengthen their majji abilities. More importantly, it could be used to center one’s self. The purpose she needed it for now. Morni would not disturb at all in the space. Every attendant was trained on the rules of respecting the majji area.

The room was cooler than the rest of the dwelling. It was built with several layers of thick leaves between the wood frames to insulate against the heat of the suns. It was empty with the exception of a large square pillow at the center of the room and a long wide mat to the side of it for stretching.

When she awoke each day she would enter the room and begin with stretching to align her body and rid her muscles of all the strain of the previous day before settling on the pillow. However, at the moment she was too antsy to have the patience it would take to perform and hold the positions. Sitting down, she folded her feet inward, resting them on her thighs with her knees out. She pressed her palms to her core and slowly lowered her lids as she inhaled and exhaled. Her aim was to focus, wipe her mind of any and all distraction, and concentrate on the epicenter of majji, the place behind her navel.

Argona people believed that the gift of magic was harvested and birthed in the womb from mother to daughter, through the cord that connected them. Males on the planet, born of a majji, were conduits for magic, but never were able to execute the power.

As she breathed, she felt all thoughts and images drift away from her mind, turning it into a blank slate. Just as the last tendril receded and the peace she needed began to surround her, a small detail that she’d pinned to the back of her mind, to deal with later remained. No matter how she tried to force it to clear away it stayed. Realizing it was something she had to deal with to move forward with her meditation she accessed the memory, allowing it to bloom in her mind.

Rymingten’s face teased her. She almost released a growl of frustration—he was the main reason she was in her lotus space attempting to center herself. However, she realized it wasn’t the kiss that was about to replay itself in her mind, but something else just as concerning—him catching the magic-laced whip of her braid.

How did he do it? The same question she’d wondered when she’d found herself flat on her belly with a mouth full of arena dust plagued her. An enchanted ponytail was undetectable to an opponent. Usually it was because the magic woven along the threads of hair caused a distorted image to anyone not majji and bewildered them with waves of colors so that they never saw the strike coming. However, that had not been true for Rymingten. Had it just been fortune of the moment that he’d taken hold of her braid?

She didn’t know. Had no immediate answer. It was something she would have to talk about with the queen and the high council. If Rymingten worked out, it was possible they would be collecting more males from his planet and this was something that would need to be analyzed and dealt with first.

This male she would join with would be subject to her authority and rule. She would not allow him to plague and disturb her need for balance. As soon as the joining was accomplished she would set him straight on how things would be between them—he would learn. She would see to it he did.

Having assessed the issue as far as she could, she finally pushed it aside and gained the peace she needed.

~YH~

“Do not worry, Kitcy male, after your joining there will be plenty of time for you to enjoy the goods festival. First things first.” Dorth, another Dimu, had come to collect him from the holding quarters where Rymingten had been for hours being fed, bathed and dressed in Argona’s customary joining apparel.

He was now dressed in an onyx tunic that was snug to his body and trousers of the same color. His feet were bare. Supposedly, the dark color was the Argona hue for unity and was only worn during a joining.

As he strolled beside the short-statured male, Rymingten took in all the explosions of lights that popped overhead and the many rows of multicolored tents between four large cargo vessels. There was music and dancing happening at a large tent and there were Argona people as well as other inhabitants smiling and celebrating together as they discussed various items of purchase.

“I have no need of celebration or bartering for goods.” It was true. The only thing he would have wanted to wager on was him being able to leave the planet. However, he clearly understood that was not an option for him. So, nothing these dealers could offer would he want to buy.

Tilting his head up, Dorth smiled. “Oh, just wait. You, just like other males who have been captured and brought here, will soon learn the benefit of blessing their female with treasures. It makes for a more pleasant dwelling atmosphere if you keep her happy.”

I doubt that
. Rymingten kept his words to himself. He realized that all Dimu people were too grateful to Argona’s generosity on their behalf to see beyond that to the archaic traditions of abducting joining mates.

“Ah, the joining center is just before us.” Dorth’s voice was filled with cheer as if it were his own ceremony he was going to.

Rymingten shook his head.

“One moment if you please.”

“Queen Eyleen!” Dorth squeaked and stopped midstride.

Spotting the queen, Dorth dipped and bowed so many times Rymingten thought the little male would make himself sick.

Standing beside the comical male, Rymingten inclined his head to the queen. On Kitcy they bowed to no one. Even though he would now reside on this planet, he would hold fast to his own customs. “Queen Eyleen.”

With her was a male with shoulder-length thick white hair and a dark mahogany complexion. He was almost as tall and broad-shouldered as Rymingten. The male’s narrow gold and orange apparel matched that of the queen’s long chiton. Rymingten assumed he was the queen’s mate, standing strong and silent behind her. Behind him were two attendants.

“Greetings, Dorth.” Her voice was steady and strong, clearly letting the Dimu know he could stop his bowing. Her gaze moved to meet Rymingten’s. “Kitcy warrior, I desire a private word with you.”

“My time is yours,” Rymingten said.

“True.” Holding a palm up to the others, she kept them in their places as she directed Rymingten a short distance away to a vacant area between two tents.

He waited to see what this spell-wielding queen designed for him now.

With her back to him, she began, “Your display earlier was quite impressive.”

“Thank you.” He folded his arms over his chest and stood with his legs wide, ready for anything. No matter what she had done to him in the past, it was not in him to cower to anyone. “I will be honest. My aim was not to impress, but to succeed.”

She glanced at him over a shoulder, a twinkle reflecting in her eyes. “I’m sure.” She faced him fully but kept her hands behind her back. “You had the advantage…could have won. Why didn’t you? A simple raising of the hand would have called the exhibition in your favor.”

Space rat shit!
Leave it to this perceptive queen to dig into the one thing he didn’t want to discuss.

“I guess the princess was just a little more cunning than I. She claimed the upper hand…” he shrugged. Her daughter had won, why this was even a conversation was beyond him.
Wasn’t the outcome what every inhabitant on this damn planet wanted?

“Hm.” The queen held his gaze with her intense eyes that appeared clear—colorless.

The lack of color reminded him of the great Crystal Lake on his planet. Her discerning stare made him more nervous than he would have cared to admit, even to himself.

“I’m going to offer you something that I normally don’t.”

He lifted an eyebrow, she had piqued his interest. “That is?”

“A boon.”

His chest tightened and a cool sensation rushed along his body. He lowered his arms. “That’s not possible. I didn’t win the match.”

Was she just playing with my emotions?

“No, you did not and the truth behind that reason is a lot more interesting to me.”

Double shit.
He tossed up a prayer that the Argona queen would not ask for more details of that moment in the arena. He kept his silence.

“You, Kitcy warrior, are more formidable than I think anyone, even me, had anticipated. I’ve already set plans in motion to discuss such matters with my council.”

“Is this why you are granting me my boon?”

She continued to give him direct eye contact but didn’t answer. “You have it, why is it of concern to you?”

He didn’t agree, but held his peace because he was going to get to go home. He would have anticipated feeling relief and nothing but joy at having this planet and all he’d endured at his back, but he couldn’t dredge up that emotion. Frustrated at himself, he said, “I appreciate your generosity. I’d like to return to my planet. I have dishonored my King in not fulfilling a marriage he arranged. It is imperative I make my apologies. Please offer my regrets to your daughter.”

Tilting her head, her gaze darkened, turned hard. “You have misunderstood my offer. Not only that but you gave your
word
to join with Krysteena.” It was the queen’s turn to cross her arms. “Are you telling me that Kitcy males are not honorable?”

His brows tightened and heat fused through his body. No one, not even a majji queen would stand before him and slander the Kitcy integrity. “We have
never
had any reason to have anything less than pride in our honor.” He couldn’t help the growl reverberating through his words.

“Then show it,” she declared, lifting her chin.

With tight lips he raised his chin as well. Evidently, he was still nothing more than a pawn in this queen’s games.

“Your boon will be granted after joining and festival.” She raised a hand, as if she expected him to say something.

He didn’t.

“I don’t take the importance of your requested trip lightly, Rymingten. However, it won’t be a permanent return.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and once again those eyes of hers went clear.

Unsure of what her touch allowed her to pick up on, or whether it possibly allowed her to read his mind, he kept his thoughts and plans of what he would do once home at bay. “I understand,” was his simple reply.

Removing her hand, she gave a sharp nod. “Very good.” She moved past him and headed back toward her mate and entourage.

Rymingten watched as her mate moved up beside her and offered his arm as everyone else fell in step behind her.

When he came out from between the tents, Dorth rushed toward him. “You must be some kind of special male if the queen favored you with a personal visit. An honor. An honor, truly.” The small male rambled on in excitement as he waved Rymingten on. “We must hurry. You don’t wish to bring shame to Princess Krysteena by being late to the ceremony.”

“Oh, never that.” Especially since getting the joining done and over with meant the sooner he would be able to board a vessel and head home. He lengthened his strides, making Dorth’s shorter legs triple time in steps to keep up.

A few moments later, he and Dorth arrived at a large plain wooden structure. It was unadorned with a double-panel entrance.