Chapter 1

The tiny village was wrapped in slumber. Its thick walls were secured to keep out the beasts and those who sought to harm those residing there. Inside the walls, small shacks made of thatch formed a ring around the bigger, nicer houses that held the dignitaries or those who had money and could afford them. In the very center of the village was the mayor's home, a multistory dwelling that held the mayor and his fat wife as well as their beautiful daughter.

The attack came at night while the village slept; the watchers on the wall too much at ease since it had been so quiet of late. One lone scout slunk through the shadows toward the center of the village, finding the home of the mayor of the small village. He came in through an unbarred window, slicing at the mayor's sleeping form. The mayor woke for just an instant, just as the intruder sliced his throat, leaving him gurgling in his own blood.

His wife fared little better, though she slept through the attack, not even flinching when a sword was thrust through her heart. He left them there, blood dripping from their wounds, soaking through the linen bed clothes and puddling on the rushes covered floor of the house.

His eyes wandered through the richly appointed rooms, searching for the most treasured of items in the house. He found her—a young girl of eighteen summers sound asleep in her bed. A smile formed upon his mottled face.

She was beautiful, golden and pink and cream. Her skin was flawless and slightly rosy with sleep. Her breasts rose and fell with her slumberous breathes under the linen shift that she wore. It clung to her curves as she'd kicked off the blankets, molding to her rounded hips and giving hint to the color of her nipples in the light of the fire that burned brightly in her room.

Clasping a hand over her mouth, the scout lifted her in his arms, binding her in the blankets so that she could not move. He carried the girl quickly and easily through the house and slipped out the front door then kept to the shadows.

He was in and out so quickly that his presence was like a nightmare: a shadowed dream, slipping through the night to haunt minds and terrify children. His burden barely registered upon him, his mind set as it was to do his master's bidding. Even as she kicked and squirmed in his arms, he never lost sight of his duty to bring the marked one to his master.

The road flew behind him as he ran lightly down the paths outside the gates of the village. The moon touched the night with an aura of silver, creating patterns of evil creatures from the shadows of the bare trees. He passed them by with nary a glance ... running ... always running.

He had a mighty stitch in his side and his breath whistled from his over-taxed lungs but he dared not stop. Night was quickly coming to an end and he could not be found on these paths with the sun's dawning.

"Quiet." His voice was a harsh hiss... "Quiet or I shall find a way to make you quiet."

The girl, though slight, was strong. She fought against her captor, kicked and flayed and tossed her head until the blanket loosened around her mouth. Then she screamed, a sound full of rage and terror.

"I killed your parents, girl, not much would stop me from gutting you as well."

The threat, instead of halting her wriggling, set her determination. She managed to uncover her hands, her breath showing white in the cold night air as she pushed and hit at the ugly man who held her captive.

"You lie," she screamed, unwilling to believe that her beloved parents were gone. "Tell me you lie." She slapped at his head.

A roar split the night and a cold chill swept over the man. "Quiet!" His voice grew louder as he ordered the girl again. He didn't want to draw notice to himself and give the beast a chance to hunt him.

The roar sounded closer and he added speed to his already over-taxed legs, stumbling down the trail as the sound of death's roar grew closer with every moment.

The girl saw the beast first. It was one of the big lions, its head surrounded by a thick ruff of black fur. Its fangs were huge and glittered in the moonlight and the beginning light of dawn. With paws the size of dinner plates, it padded along behind them and grew closer with every step.

Her captor glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide. He had but a bit more to get the girl to the castle and his awaiting master. Keeping one eye on the beast, he tried once more to increase his speed, but it was nigh on impossible. His chest heaved, his legs shook as he forced them to move. A hint of dawn colored the eastern sky, alerting him of more dangers than just the beast behind him.

"Arghhh," he growled loudly, rushing forward even faster. The huge black gate of his master's fortress was ahead and he called out quickly. Fierce and ugly beasts stood upon the wall, bows at the ready even as they notched their arrows. "I bring the girl," he shouted.

The wide black gate moved slowly, opening just enough for him to squeeze through with his prize. As it closed behind him, he could hear the great cat growl, roaring its loss to the world in general. His chest rose and fell as he fought to catch his breath; finally he pushed away from the gate, his prize still slung over his shoulder.

"I must see the master. I bring him a great gift."

"I shall be the judge of that." The master appeared in the doorway of the ancient keep and waved him in even as the first ray of dawn's light touched the ground. The gate shimmered in the light, growing wispy and eerie until the great fortress disappeared from sight, leaving untouched forests and a path to nowhere in its wake. The great lion with its huge ruff of black fur shook then roared its fury, sniffing and pawing at the ground where the gate had been.

Nigel moved forward, his deference in every ounce of his posture as he capered in front of the master who now sat on his huge black throne. "It is the girl, master. I bring you the one you've sought."

"Show me!" The order was barked and harsh. He moved closer and watched as the squat man laid the girl gently upon the ground. He unwrapped her with a toss of his arm.

For an instant, the master was spellbound at the beauty brought before him. Her hair was so light to gleam silver in the dim light of the flaming torches. Her eyes were the blue of the ocean waves that splashed along the shore. Her body was lush, dressed in naught but a thin layer of linen that gave hint to the color of her nipples as well as the bountiful beauty of her legs and that small mound that lay between.

She fought with the long thick tresses of her hair, finally pushing them out of her face so that she could see her captor. She gifted the master with a fierce glance that threatened harm to him if he didn't stay away from her.

"Rise, girl, stand before me as is befitting of the one who shall reign beside me."

"There is nothing you could say that would make me reign with you." She rose to her feet, not eager to face her captors in a tangled mess of blankets. "I insist you return me to my parents' home."

The master looked over to where Nigel stood. His dark brow was cocked and a question was in his eyes. Nigel took his finger and slashed it through the air by his throat.

"Your parents, my pretty one, are dead. There is no going back for you now."

"What?" Luria Bloodstone felt her heart fall and a sob grew in her chest. "You're lying. I won't believe you unless you show me proof."

"Nigel, show our guest your sword."

Nigel pulled the short sword from a filthy sheath, smiling as he showed the girl the blood that stained the battered blade. "I used this to kill them, child. They are dead."

Luria's stomach turned and she fell to her knees, staring at the bloodstained sword. "No." Her voice was a bare whisper and she shook her pretty head. "No, it is not theirs. It cannot be theirs."

"Rise girl." The master quickly grew tired of her drama. "I must know. Do you bear the mark?" He was eager to know for sure that this was indeed the bride he'd been promised, the one who would bear his child and give him the power he'd been promised so long ago. She was beautiful, this girl, and he couldn't help hoping that this time it would truly be her.

"What mark?" Luria's mind was on her parents and their deaths and she barely paid attention to the man before her.

"Come here, child." He held his hand out. Luria did as he asked, unaware of what he planned for her. "Come and let me see."

She moved closer her tears now falling freely from her eyes. Taking his hand, she stepped up on the dais with him until she was between his knees. He was a handsome man, with sharp emerald green eyes that seemed to see into her soul. His hair was dark, thick and hung to his shoulders in a shaggy display that seemed to suit him well. He wore leather pants that clung to his hips, a heavily decorated codpiece cupping his manhood. On his wide chest he wore a leather hauberk, links of thin golden chain closing the neckline of the thickly padded garment. It made him look immense.

"Stand still here, girl. I must see for myself if the mark does exist upon your body. You won't be hurt." He hurriedly unlaced the front of the linen that was the only protection she held against being completely nude. Her hands came up, clutching the fabric in her fists until he spoke two soft words. Then it was as if a magical force grabbed her wrists and forced them to her sides to hold them there no matter how hard she struggled. "Be still!"

Blood filled her cheeks as she realized her breasts were exposed to his sight, the linen shift had been drawn down her arms to catch upon her slender waist.

"I beg of you, please sir, do not dishonor me here where all can see." She nodded her head in the direction of the full court of men that were seated behind her.

"I look for the mark, 'tis all. No one shall dishonor you here." Even as he spoke, he lifted the heavy mounds of her breasts and his thumb brushed repeatedly across her nipple. He watched as it hardened with eager eyes. As if he couldn't help himself, he sat forward in his chair and brought her nipple to his mouth with a soft moan. He lapped at the tender flesh and bit gently upon the hardened tip to taste her sweetness.

His head moved to the other breast, his fingers playing with the wet tip he'd just left. "So sweet, you taste so sweet, pretty one. I'm sorry but I cannot help myself." He couldn't, as much as he could help the flesh of his cock from growing hard inside his breeches. It pushed at the conical shaped codpiece he wore, raising the hard leather about an inch.

Luria cried out, shame, horror and pleasure mixing inside of her until she didn't know what to feel. A strange urgency filled her, a need to pull his head closer, to straddle his thighs and rub her sex against him until the throbbing between them went away. Her hips twitched and she felt his hands pull her closer, his mouth opening to take as much of her breast as he could into his mouth.

"Please." She moaned and her hands fidgeted before coming to rest against his wide shoulders. "Please, I do not understand these feelings."

He lifted his head and released her soft flesh from the heat of his mouth. The ocean blue of her eyes revealed her upset. He clamped an iron hand down on his lust and forced her back a step. "I am sorry, Luria, your beauty was too much to withstand." He closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths until he could look at her and not shake with lust.

With a clinical eye, he scanned the skin of her chest and stomach but other than the bruises left by his mouth on her breasts there was nothing. "I am sorry, Luria, I must strip you bare." Before she could react to his words, he pulled hard on the shift, hearing it rip and fall to pieces around her. Her hips were full, womanly with a tuft of white blonde curls that hid her sex. He turned her to face the court, hearing the sighs of his men as they gazed upon her virginal beauty. More than one man's hand went to his groin, rubbing furtively at their hardening cocks.

He couldn't blame them. He felt as if he would explode himself. His hands traced down her slender spine and followed the line to where her hips bloomed. Her ass was round, supple and firm, each cheek a perfect handful—perfect for lifting and lowering her down on his cock. He parted the two cheeks carefully and his finger slid down the sleek gash. Her rosebud was tightly furled and she flinched when his fingers roamed over it. He teased her by pushing against her gently, instigating his finger barely inside the heat of her body.

"What is this that you do?" Luria's hands rose to try and hide her body from the avid eyes of the men before her. She tried to jerk away, only to be drawn back and that finger pushed inside even further. She supposed it should hurt, but she felt no pain, only a strange fullness in her bowels and a sleek kind of pleasure that made her thighs feel weak and damp.