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No Mercy - Book 2: Trek Mi Q'an Series Page 8


  “Did you bring us presents, uncle?” Zara asked excitedly.

  “Mani said you made a stop in Galis a fortnight past,” Zora added. “Did you bring us some of their candies?”

  “Klea loved the holo-games you sent...”

  “And Jun was bedeviled by...”

  “Girls, girls,” Kil said with an affectionate grin, “have you ever known your uncle to stop in Galis without bringing you back their wares?”

  “Nay,” Zora said placidly, quieter and more reserved than her twin by nature.

  “This day is no different.” He waved a hand toward one of his warriors. “Go collect your spoils from Jek.”

  Kil grinned as the twins bounded away then he finished his stroll into the great hall. He stopped when he reached his brother’s side and clapped him on the back. “I’ve come to celebrate Kara’s come-out.”

  Zor turned around, surprised to see him here. “’Tis glad we are to have you with us and I know Kyra will be thrilled to see you again.”

  Kil nodded.

  “But what do you here without Rem and his nee’ka?”

  “I spoke to Rem last moon-rising. He and his bride are on Joo.”

  Zor teasingly waggled his eyebrows.

  “Aye,” Kil agreed, “they’ve the lustiest of wenches there.” His lips kicked up into a semi-grin. “Though Rem has no care for them now.”

  Zor inclined his head, his expression solemn. “’Tis glad I am that Rem has found his true mate.” He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “I cannot tell you how worried I’ve been after getting so many reports of his...devolution.”

  Kil clapped a hand around his brother’s shoulder and led them to an area of the vast raised table where they could talk privately. “I’ve just left Ari,” Kil confided as they took their seats.

  “And? What did the Chief Priestess have to say?”

  He waggled his eyebrows. “You mean besides the fact that I’m still the lustiest fuck on Tryston?”

  Zor rolled his eyes. “Be serious dunce. Leastways,” he sniffed, “Kyra will tell you ‘tis your Emperor who holds that coveted title.”

  Kil did a little eye rolling of his own.

  Zor grunted. “Just tell me what Ari said.”

  He nodded. “She proclaims that so long as Rem experiences no separations from his nee’ka he should be fully healed within a few Yessat years time.” He spread his hands. “Her advice is for Giselle to milk his rod often, as well as for her to steer clear of consummation feasts until Rem is fully recovered.”

  “Hmm, it makes good sense.”

  “What is your meaning?”

  Zor shrugged. “You are not mated, so you cannot understand yet. ‘Tis difficult enough,” he explained, “for a mated warrior to watch his nee’ka be fondled by other warriors without adding into the mix a biological ailment brought on by the cunning Jera.” He shook his head. “The predator in all of us threatens to come out when a nee’ka is touched by another. But when the predator has been stirring beforehand...” He sighed. “‘Tis dangerous to provoke it.”

  Kil chewed that over for a moment, his jaw clenching when he thought of—her. Of another warrior touching—her. Of that silky channel being offered up to a man other than himself.

  He ran a beleaguered hand through his hair telling himself ‘twas foolhardy to harbor such possessive feelings toward his recently acquired bound servant. Hadn’t he taken a respite from Morak just to be away from her bedevilment? Hadn’t he gone out seeking battles because she confused his emotions so sorely? Nay, he would not think on her.

  “Leastways,” Kil said, turning the subject, “Rem has assured me that he and his nee’ka fare well and that they are journeying towards the mountains of Joo to enter the seventh dimension through the holo-port there.”

  “Excellent.”

  “As you are aware the atmosphere of Joo makes it impossible to travel with a gastrolight cruiser beyond a certain point, so ‘tis naught I can do to hurry along their journey. Leastways, I will still leave with a troop of my hunters after Kara’s come-out to meet up with Rem near the mountains.”

  One dark eyebrow shot up. “Hunters? Why not take regular warrior guardsmen?”

  Kil sighed. “I have not a care for the fact that the penal colony of Trukk lies in such close proximity to Joo.” He shrugged. “I take my hunters merely as a precautionary measure.”

  Zor sniffed at that. “Warriors guard the portal that lies between the sixth and seventh dimensions. There is no reason to fear that a devolved creature might escape its asylum through the portal and travel into Joo.”

  “You mayhap have the right of it.” He sighed. “But...”

  “Aye?”

  Kil shook his head. “The wenches on Joo are a lusty lot. What would happen, for instance, if the warrior guardsmen were lured to the vesha hides whilst a devolved creature broke loose from the penal colony? The creature could easily gain a portal into the sixth dimension and reek all sorts of blood-lust havoc.”

  “I think you see trouble where it doesn’t exist, brother,” Zor murmured.

  “Mayhap,” Kil agreed, “yet still will I feel better taking my hunters.” He met his brother’s gaze. “I never want Rem to behold the very creature he was nigh close to devolving into,” he finished softly.

  Zor nodded. “’Tis settled then.” He glanced toward the other side of the great hall where Kyra was strolling towards their eldest hatchlings to give them good morn kisses. His nee’ka’s jiggling breasts never failed to give him an instant erection. And because the women—and men for that matter—of Tryston don’t age until a fortnight or so before their deaths, she was as beautiful as the day he’d claimed her over one hundred and eighty earth years ago. “If there is naught else to tell, I will go to my nee’ka and make certain all has been prepared for the feast on the morrow.”

  Kil’s eyes lit up. “Ah!” he said, having almost forgotten his other news. “There is but one more thing.”

  “Aye?”

  He grinned. “Rem’s nee’ka has been milking his rod of life-force but three days and already she complains of the belly flutters to him.”

  Zor chuckled. “So we’re to be uncles again, aye?”

  “Aye.”

  “Excellent.”

  They were quiet for a moment and eventually Zor’s thoughts turned back to the come-out. “Speaking of being uncles, our niece Jana will be here this moon-rising with Dak and Geris for Kara’s come-out on the morrow. Kara, of course, is elated.”

  “’Twas just three weeks ago Jana had her own come-out.”

  “Aye.” Zor grinned. “Kara is nigh unto bursting with excitement over the fact that she’ll be permitted to don a mazi on the morrow. She was jealous when Jana got to sport one before her. Leastways you know how close those two have always been.”

  Kil nodded. “I bet Cam will mayhap be more excited about the mazi than even Kara is,” he said wryly.

  Zor chuckled. “For a certainty, brother.”

  Chapter 13

  It took another full day of traveling by foot before the group of seven came to another purple clay door.

  “Thank god!” Giselle wailed dramatically, pressing a palm to her forehead. “The further south we travel the hotter it gets.” She winced when she glanced up at Rem’s face, the perspiration dripping off of him so badly that he looked freshly showered.

  Here she was complaining when he’d been thoughtful enough to carry her in the papoose the entire time. Of course, she thought dryly, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t gotten anything out of it. Once again she had been impaled on his cock the entire time, bringing him many an orgasm.

  “We shall bed down for the night in the underground village, my hearts.” He nodded to Death, telling him without words to open the door. “Let us just hope the inns below ground are more tempting than the ones we had to choose from in the last town.”

  Giselle could only agree. Harrumphing, she wrapped her arms about his neck after he fixed her qi’ka top so he
could take her from the papoose. “I shudder to think what was making those scurrying sounds in our room last night.”

  Rem chuckled. “’Tis best if you don’t ask.”

  Her hand slid through his as the group made their way through the purple clay door and descended the twisting staircase. Giselle breathed in the cool air with a smile and was happy to note that the city centre of this village looked a lot cleaner which probably meant that the sleeping establishments would also be cleaner.

  Var pointed toward an elite looking inn a block down and the group set out to acquire their rooms. Giselle couldn’t figure out why the silver and lavender men of this village were looking at her and Yoli so strangely as they walked passed, but they were to find out the answer to that question all too soon.

  “I apologize my king, yet ‘tis against the law for me to offer you accommodations unless the wenches of your traveling party comply with the dress code of the village.” The lavender humanoid at the sleeping establishment’s check-in chamber looked pointedly at Giselle and Yoli who in turn threw each other bewildered glances.

  “Dress code?” Rem asked. “What sort of dress code have you here?”

  “The women of Lii-Lii village are permitted no clothing at all, Your Majesty. Not even the noble wenches...”

  Giselle’s nostrils flared.

  Bloody hell! As if a damned qi’ka wasn’t embarrassing enough!

  “Furthermore...”

  She whimpered, wondering how much worse it would get.

  “...’tis against the laws of Lii-Lii for a wench to roam about unattended.”

  Rem grunted. “What mean you by unattended?”

  The inn master threw the women a haughty look. “They need to be leashed.”

  “Leashed?!” Giselle shrieked. “As in a dog collar with a leash?”

  The inn master had no idea what a dog was so he pointed towards a couple walking by. Giselle’s lips puckered into a frown as she visually confirmed that, indeed, the woman’s male escort was leading her around by a dog collar and chain.

  Bloody hell! Do the women here play fetch as well?!

  Huffing, she crossed her arms over her breasts and glowered up at her husband. “I. Won’t. Wear. That,” she seethed, each word bit out through gritted teeth.

  Rem did his best to hide his mirth—truly he did. Well sort of. “’Tis only for one moon-rising, my hearts.” He waggled his eyebrows mischievously. “Mayhap you will develop a fondness for the leash and bring them into fashion in Trek Mi Q’an.”

  Her chin went up a notch. “I refuse to wear it,” she sniffed.

  A golden eyebrow shot up. “The closest village is a two-day trek from here. We all need sleep if, like in the last village, we are unable to barter for a hover-craft in Lii-Lii.”

  “I believe a new one goes up on the auctioning block on the morrow,” the inn master droned on, “but I guarantee the tradesman will pay you no heed if your wenches cannot abide the law.” He gentled his expression, taking pity upon Giselle for the first time. “I tell you this not to distress you, my Queen, but that you might realize the way of things here.”

  Giselle, however, was not moved by his small token of appeasement. “Forget it!” she fumed up to Rem, her nostrils flaring to wicked proportions. “I don’t care if we have to walk every day for the next year, I. Will. Not. Wear. That!”

  “You would make these warriors walk needlessly?” Rem asked softly, hoping to stir a sense of empathy and guilt in her.

  “Yes!”

  “Nee’ka,” Rem scolded her in a chastising tone. He clucked his tongue and shook his head.

  “Forget it,” she ground out. Giselle’s chin shot up resolutely, her back rigid, her stance unwavering. “I’ve put up with being kidnapped, I’ve even managed to overlook your growling and the occasional baring of fangs...” She went on to list every of Rem’s alleged sins. “...but I will not, under any circumstances, endure the humiliation of wearing a damned collar and leash!”

  “We’ve the need of a hover-craft so you will do my bidding.” Rem’s jaw clenched unforgivingly. “‘Tis final, my word.”

  “Harrumph.”

  “Giselle,” he barked, “remove your qi’ka anon and hand it to the inn master.”

  “No!”

  “Have I the need to do it for you?” His eyes raked over her breasts. “I’ve my powers here, you do realize.” He sighed, not wishing to force her hand if it could be helped. “’Tis for naught but one moon-rising,” he reminded her in a reasonable tone.

  “No!”

  “Then you leave me no choice...”

  “Rem don’t! Please...”

  Giselle pressed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. So much had happened to her this past week, so many changes, but this was by far the worst of them. The very symbolism of being leashed was degrading enough, but to know that he meant to see it through...

  “Please show me some mercy,” she whispered as she opened her eyes and pleaded with him.

  Rem felt a pang of guilt stab his hearts but refused to be moved by it. Allied planet or no, it simply wasn’t safe to spend months walking through the jungles and hilly terrain of Joo to accomplish what a hover-craft could do in a fortnight or so. They needed to reach that portal.

  His eyes locked with hers. “No mercy,” he murmured.

  Giselle felt tears gathering in her eyes but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing them fall. “That seems to have been your motto ever since you stole me.”

  She turned away from her husband then, refusing to look at him. Drawing herself up to her full five feet and four inches, she regarded the inn master proudly as she removed her qi’ka and handed it to him. She ignored the sounds of the warriors around her sucking in their breath, realizing it was her uncovered freckles that had turned them on to such a great degree.

  Bloody hell! They’re all perverts!

  The inn master accepted the women’s clothing and stored it away for safe-keeping. That accomplished he strode over to Rem and handed him a collar and leash. Rem shook his head slightly indicating that if the deed had to be done then the man would have to see to it himself. Giselle, her back still turned to her husband, didn’t witness his telling action.

  The inn master sighed but relented. Standing before Giselle he was about to clasp the collar about her neck when his hands stilled. Her head shot up in time to watch the lavender man gulp and his silvery eyes bulge out of their sockets as his gaze swept over her naked body. “You are spotted,” he whispered thickly, his erection instantaneous and highly noticeable.

  Giselle rolled her eyes.

  Bloody hell! Here we go again!

  “’Tis my spots you covet,” Rem ground out, his jaw clenching as his eyes flicked a warning green at the inn master. “I own them all.” His hand made an angry slashing motion. “Clasp her if you must but be quick and be gone.”

  Giselle glared up at her husband as the collar was clasped unforgivingly about her neck just below her bridal necklace. Her nostrils flared as the attached leash was then handed over to Rem.

  “Now then,” the inn master carried on as though nothing untoward had just transpired, “let us get down to business, hm? The dining stalls are open until...”

  Giselle listened with half an ear, not particularly caring if she ate tonight or not. She just wanted to go up to their suite. She just wanted to be away from her unbending husband and his total domination of her.

  For the first time since this entire otherworldly ordeal began she found herself wanting to be as far away from Rem as was possible. She needed to be alone so she could think, so she could sort out her jumbled thoughts. Even one minute’s worth of privacy would be considered a gift from the heavens.

  As she ran her fingers through her hair in punishing strokes she wondered if she’d ever be able to forgive Rem for this last bit. Wasn’t it bad enough that she’d been kidnapped from her home, refused the use of real clothing, and been made to endure his total possession of her? They�
�d crash landed onto a planet of translucent predators then ambled on over to a planet of misogynists. How much could she take?

  “Bloody hell,” Giselle whispered brokenly. “Bloody hell.”

  * * * * *

  All throughout the evening repast Giselle refused to so much as make eye contact with Rem. He wasn’t certain what he ought to do to remedy the situation, but his hearts were breaking as she continually rebuffed him.

  Worse yet, he thought as his eyes narrowed menacingly, his nee’ka was quick to break bread and make jests with the other warriors—warriors who were forever ogling her bedeviling nipples and spots—but when it came to Rem she would make no concessions. He had told her she would be shown no mercy. Now ‘twas his wee wife who had turned the tables on him.

  The dining stall they were eating in was crudely fashioned but elegant enough. Rather than tables and benches, each party was given a vesha pad to lounge upon on the floor where everyone reclined on their elbows and fed from platters of meat, bread, and berries. The chamber was lit up by gel-lamps contained within wall sconces, giving the place a decidedly erotic air about it.

  Apparently Rem wasn’t the only male humanoid who felt that way for a quick glance around the chamber to the other vesha pads showed males coupling with their leashed women everywhere in sight. Even Death and Yoli were playing with each other, Yoli purring as Death buried his face between her legs and suckled her clit into climax.

  When Rem could endure no more separation he made a shooing motion toward his warriors in such a way that Giselle could not see it. They grinned and obliged, making their excuses to the Queen that ‘twas time for them to roam up to the matpow bar across the chamber that they might find a bit of bedsport with the wenches drinking there.

  When they were gone from the vesha pad Rem telekinetically summoned off his warrior’s garb and scooted closer to his nee’ka, unsubtly pressing his erection against her backside as he ran a large hand over her reclining form.

  Giselle’s back stiffened as they laid on their sides, her back to his front. “I’m not in the mood,” she said quietly.