Stealing Fire

Angela Castle

Published by Rogue Phoenix Press

Copyright © 2011

ISBN: 978-1-936403-24-0

Electronic rights reserved by Rogue Phoenix Press, all other rights reserved by the
author. The reproduction or other use of any part of this publication without the prior
written consent of the rights holder is an infringement of the copyright law. This is a
work of fiction. People and locations, even those with real names, have been
fictionalized for the purposes of this story.

Prologue

Tamara's feet dangled above the precipice. No matter how she tried to calm her racing
pulse and rapid breathing, she felt the panic rising.

How had four weeks with the most gorgeous magical man she had ever met, turn into
this? Tuthal, sorcerer of Kell had shown her the wonders of his alien land, brought her
pleasures that left her weak, sated, and never wanting to leave his side. He had stolen
her heart in a matter of days, yet she sensed there was a hell of a lot more to her
magical sorcerer than he chose to reveal.

Tuthal's tower, and the place he called home, remarkably resembled a lighthouse. It
was positioned by a bay inlet along the eastern side of the Kell coastline. Tamara was
curled up on a soft couch by a blazing crystal fire. She glanced up at him as Tuthal had
come down the steps from the upper room.

"It is time, my Tamara."

"Time for what?" She gave him a seductive smile; there was always time for some hot
sweaty sex with her hunky alien sorcerer.

"There is someone I wish you to meet."

"Okay, cool." She jumped up, trustingly putting her hand into his. Tamara had seen the
glint of his sword as the robes he wore parted slightly then he turned and waved his
staff to open a red glowing portal; portals being a source of magical transport between
worlds, and only Sorcerers like Tuthal were able to open them.

"Remember when the time comes, my beauty, I need you to scream for me." Before she
could question what on earth he had meant, Tuthal had tugged her though the red
swirling portal.

Tuthal did not allow her time to think or react. He gripped her wrists, lifted her off her
feet, and shackled her wrists either side of her head between two poles.

"Tuthal, what the hell are you doing?" She was trying to stay calm, hoping this was
some kind of kinky game he wanted to play. Tuthal's expression was passive, giving
nothing away behind his miss-matched eyes.

"I need you to be my sacrifice to the soul demon, Tamara; you are the one I have
needed for a very long time. Trust me Tamara, all will be well." She watched as he had
opened another portal and stepped through, leaving her alone in the darkness of what
could only be described as hell.

"Stay calm, it'll be alright, stay calm, stay calm." Tamara repeated like a mantra trying to
believe the words she spoke. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy always had the best
advice in situations like these; 'Don't panic.' But that was easier said than done.

The air was heated and fouled from the flames and sulfa that wafted up from the bottom
of the very large and long pit.

Good god, how did she get into these situations? Even if her previous boyfriends had
been total losers, at least they wouldn't have tried to sacrifice her to a demon.

Tamara tried yanking her wrists, but the leather straps that tethered her were too strong,
and her arms were beginning to ache with the effort of trying to break free. She wasn't
going anywhere in a hurry.

"Are you ready?" Tuthal's arm slid around her waist. She felt his breath on her ear.
Softly, he kissed the skin just under the lobe. Tamara growled in anger. Had he returned
to insure his 'sacrifice' went to plan?

"You know you're going to pay for this." Despite the horror of her situation, she couldn't
help her body's response to the man behind her. She didn't know what it was about him
that made her body react in such a way. Was it his heady masculine smell, the way the
rough callouses of his fingertips and raised palms of his hands caressed her skin? Or
was it the way his firm, warm muscled body pressed against her back. Whatever it was,
no other man had been able to flip her switch as fast as Tuthal did.

"I know sweetness, I know. One thing at a time. I hope you can forgive me when this is
over." He removed his hand from her waist. Tamara felt bereft of his warmth at her
back. "I feel him approaching. Scream for me sweetness; let him know your terror is
real."

A sudden burst of anger made her twist and kick helplessly in her bonds, as Tuthal
shifted away from her. Real terror, he wanted her to feel real terror? How can it get any
more real than being offered as a sacrifice to some hideous demon? Tamara screamed
all right. She screamed in anger and betrayal.

Tamara glanced up and saw it approaching. Shimmering in the heat it stalked
purposefully across the heated red rocks, across the cracked blackened ground of the
hell realm Tuthal had brought her too.

Tamara guessed the demon to be at least eight feet tall. Its skin was reddish brown,
from the top of his face right down to the pads of its cloven hooves. Long sharp
fingernails gleamed like little daggers at the end of each of his five fingers. On top of its
monstrous scull and down the length of its spine were green and black spikes. It had
two large red glowing eyes. Much to her surprise it had a very humanoid and handsome
face, despite its monster's body. Its gaze was locked on her. Large full lips curled up
into a menacing smile; his lazy gaze roamed her body from head to toe. It was then
Tamara did scream in genuine terror, her body trembling in fear.

"I see you brought me a treat, Tuthal." The creature had a low deep gravelly voice.
Between them was a huge chasm. Surly even this beast couldn't jump without falling
into the pit of molten lava below. Tamara was praying for the latter part of her thoughts,
a pit falling death. Then she could go home. Not that she even knew where home was
anymore. She had thought her home was with Tuthal. How wrong she was.

"'Twas it not our bargain, Nasten?" Tuthal stepped to her right side.

"You fucking bastard, I'm going to kill you," she raged at Tuthal.

The creature he'd called Nasten laughed in delight at her outburst.

"And one with spirit. Delicious."

Shit, was the thing going to eat her?

"My soul in return for the soul of an innocent beauty." Tuthal stepped forward, the tip of
his boots on the edge of the fire pit.

"Aye, she is that." Nasten eyes seemed to be fixated on her heaving chest. The
creature licked its lips as if it did want to eat her. Tamara glanced over the demon only
to gasp in fear as she saw it was sporting a huge erection. I am so fucked. Tamara
couldn't help the thought rolling through her brain. Her breathing became more rapid
with fear; she twisted trying to yank her arms free. They ached from the exertion and
her wrists were sore from the chafing of the leather straps which held her in place.

"Then she is yours. Give me my soul, Nasten," demanded Tuthal.

The creature opened his hand. Tamara blinked in amazement as suddenly a glowing
blue tear-shaped jewel appeared on it. This was Tuthal's soul? Tamara was even more
astonished when from nowhere a black stone bridge started building itself right over the
fire pit between Nasten and Tuthal. Oh, no, no, no fucking way. Why couldn't he leap
the pit and just fall to his death like she had hoped? Tamara was way out of luck now.

Nasten stalked across it and placed the jewel into Tuthal's out stretched palm. Nasten's
gaze went back to her.

"She is five times the worth of your measly soul and powers. Come my little one, we are
going to have a wonderful time together." The creature laughed at her fear.

Tamara blinked as the monster began to morph, his spiked spine retreating along with
his scales. A mop of black hair appeared on his head, flowing down and around his
shoulders. Huge muscles bulged under smooth red skin; the hooves were now almost
normal looking feet. His hands were no longer claws but smooth red hands with black
shinny fingernails. He now stood seven feet tall instead of eight. As he reached for the
leather straps that held her, Tamara was so transfixed by his glowing red eyes, she did
not notice he had freed her completely. Her arms drooped down as the blood rushed
back. She ignored the pins and needles sensation making them tingle. When Nasten's
large hand encircled her bicep tightly and tugged her towards him, reality kicked back
in.

"No!" she screamed, fighting to free herself from his grip. It was like trying to pry a
welded iron bar loose. He was too strong. In desperation her gaze swung to Tuthal who
was holding the jewel to his chest with his eyes closed, and head bowed. He wasn't
even looking at her.

The bastard had betrayed her, betrayed her sister's trust in him, and betrayed the
people of Kell.

Chapter One

Hobart, Tasmania…

To be a King was not always good; it came with a heavy weight of responsibility.
Adalardo, King of the Kells, stood on the sidewalk in the township of Hobart watching
the human population move about at a pace faster than he was accustomed to. There
was a distinct chill in the air along with the rancid smoke of the stag-less carriage that
glided along the dark stone streets. Lady Jane had told him they were made up of a
mixture of compact gravel and tar, made just for the machines to roll about on.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked. Adalardo glanced down at the woman
beside him, Lady Jane the Protected, or the wife, as she called herself, to his good
friend Drystan. Drystan was head commander to his army of warriors. Jane had been
the first human woman he and his men had encountered after she had fallen through a
portal between their worlds. Adalardo was ever grateful for the twist of fate that had
delivered her into his land, saving his people from slowly fading from the pages of
existence after a war had wiped out nearly all the women and children from his
kingdom.

Through Jane and the Sorcerer Tuthal, they had established a safe portal between their
worlds. It allowed his men to come to Earth and choose women Jane had found through
the undercover 'dating' agency she had set up. Once the ladies were happily in the
arms of their chosen Kell men, the men took them back to Kell as their Protected, or
what Jane preferred to call brides. Eighteen human women now dwelt in Kell. It was a
good start for securing the future of Adalardo's people. The women of Earth had indeed
captivated his men with their beautiful hair, skin and eyes.

"Yes, it is time," he answered, tugging the soft leather jacket he wore close around his
upper body. Jane had assured him he looked 'hot,' which she had explained was a
notch above extremely handsome. Adalardo had laughed in amusement at her
comments, much to Drystan's displeasure. He also donned a dark-colored t-shirt and
tight turrets, or jeans as Jane called them. In his Kell-made boots he was able to
conceal a blade.

Jane had warned him that wearing a sword in public on Earth would get him in trouble
with the human law. Trouble was not what he or his people needed, especially if they
wished to continue to find more available single women to Protect.

"There is no guarantee you'll find the love of your life in one day, your Highness," she
stressed as she took his offered arm. Jane threaded her arm through his and they
started walking down the street.

"Tuthal trusted your judgment. Drystan trusts your judgment and so do I."

"Your confidence in me is flattering, but it took me over two months before my sister
used the agency. The woman you want may not even be in Tasmania."

"Every search has a starting point, Lady Jane." Adalardo couldn't help but smile when
he heard her resigned sigh.

He kept his stride slow in order to allow Jane to keep up. He had sworn on pain of death
to take good care of Drystan's 'Protected', or in human terms, Drystan's wife. Especially,
now that Jane was pregnant with Drystan's child.

Jane was his guide and was helping him navigate the human world to search for his
future queen.

"It was a feeling deep within," Drystan had confided to him late one evening over too
many goblets of Kell wine. "I knew in here." He thumped his fist over his heart. "When
you find your one, you will know too."

Adalardo glanced at Jane's swollen belly; she would produce the first Human-Kell child.
It was going to be a monumental event. All Adalardo needed now was to find the one
woman to be his queen, his lover, and most importantly, his Protected.

"All right, wing man it is."

Adalardo frowned in confusion.

"Wing man?"

Jane gave a mischievous chuckle. "It's kind of what humans call a friend who helps the
other score a date, or in Kell terms, find a Protected."

"Ahhh, then you are this 'wing man' to all the men of Kell."

"Um, well, I guess so." She looked thoughtful for a moment. She gave a shrug, followed
by a smile. "C'mon then, it's Sunday and the best place to be in Hobart on a Sunday is

the Salamanca markets. Lots of people to mingle with and lots of shopping." She
wiggled her eyebrows at him. Adalardo gave a hearty laugh, envying his Commander
for the fine woman he had in Jane.

~ * ~

It was always her fault.

Her fault she couldn't have children, her fault she was so fat. It was her fault when he
found a single thing out of place in their home. She could not cook right, could not clean
right. Even the purple and yellow bruises marring her arms and lower body were her
own fault for making him angry.

Penny Summerton kept her gaze lowered. She avoided looking people in the eye for
fear they would see through her to the truth that Darrel always saw, her worthlessness.
Of course Darrel was always excellent at making her believe that no one else would
care for her like he did. That no one else would ever want someone as worthless as
she. Penny swallowed a small inner voice from her past that kept hammering at the
back of her mind. She was not worthless. There had to be a better life to the one she
had. She had to leave him.

She had tried once, taking money from his wallet while he had been knocked out in a
drunken stupor. She had caught a bus from Hobart bus station down to Devonport.
When you lived on an island as small as Tasmania, there were not many places to run
to. Penny had no one to go to and no one to shelter her. She had no clue as to the
whereabouts of her father who left her and her mother when she was only five. When
Penny was in her late teens, her mother had died of breast cancer.

Of course there were services to help women like her. But she did not want to see the
pity in their eyes.

There had been hell to pay when Darrel had found her still in the Devonport Bus shelter,
not knowing where to go.

"If you ever run again, Pen," he had threatened with calm menace, "no one will
recognize your body when they find it, and it would have been all your own doing." He
had used his belt on her lower back and legs. Penny had struggled to walk and even sit
for over a week.

Penny glanced at her watch. Eleven-thirty. Darrel had left for the pub at eleven, which
gave her at least eight hours. Penny always looked forward to Sundays when she got to
wander the markets for a short while before she had to walk home and get the house
spotless and cook a proper meal before he returned. Penny had just enough money to
buy some fresh fruits and veggies. Darrel was always careful to give her just enough for
food and supplies, and of course he would check what she had left over at the end of
the day. He made sure she wasn't trying to hoard up any savings to try and make
another attempt to leave. Penny was completely and utterly trapped, living a daily
nightmare.

~ * ~

Adalardo walked behind Jane as she slowly moved from table to table, her gaze flitting
over the contents of each stall before moving on to the next. Adalardo divided his
attention between keeping an eye on Jane and observing the thrum of humans who had
braved the chilled Tasmanian air to search for treasures of their own. These markets
were not that dissimilar to the markets in the inner village.

Since the Drac-Kell war, he had watched the outer township shrink dramatically.
Adalardo wanted to work towards seeing the outer township become full and vibrant
once again as it used to be during the reign of his father.

Because there was still so much to do in Kell, Adalardo felt a measure of guilt in the pit
of his stomach for indulging in the pleasure of not being in his homeland and at the beck
and call of his people. He consoled himself by knowing this mission would benefit his
people. The elders of the casts and advisors had been pressing for him to find a
Protected to help insure the royal line. Adalardo was the only son of King Colan; his
uncle had never produced children to keep the Royal cast alive.

If Adalardo was to die, the entire royal line would be wiped out. Rulership of Kell would
fall on Drystan's and Jane's shoulders. Drystan had made it clear that this was a
responsibility he did not wish for. Another wave of envy swept over Adalardo at the
freedom his commander and his Protected enjoyed. Soon, he told himself, pushing the
negative thoughts to the back of his brain. Soon he would find his own. Drystan was
currently on Kell, as he still had a duty to keep his warrior skills sharp, war or not. He
also stood in Adalardo's place while the King tended to personal business.

"Wow, Drystan would love one of those." Adalardo turned his attention back to Jane.
She hovered over a table draped with a black cloth, which accentuated the shining
metal blades of some very impressive swords and daggers bearing beautifully designed

inlay and creatively carved hilts. Jane picked up a three-inch curved blade with what
looked liked ancient Kell dragons wound around the hilt. He stepped up closer to
examine the weapons.

"Indeed, fine blades. Did you not say swords were forbidden in your land, Jane?"

"Not forbidden, just not to be carried around in public. How much for this one?" she
asked the short, rounded man, whose bald head seemed to shine in the limited sunlight.

"Nice choice. Dragon's breath dagger. Three hundred." Jane gave a snort. Adalardo
suppressed a smile as he watched her face become passive. She laid the dagger back
on the table. "I saw another dealer three stalls over who was selling a very similar blade
for only a hundred." The man turned his attention to Adalardo, hoping to sway him on
the purchase. "I'm sure your wife doesn't know the value of excellent quality when she
sees it."

"

She be not my wife, seller, and knows more of this…" he waved his hand over the

table, "

…than I." He of course meant the bargaining and not the blades, but the seller

did not have to know that.

Adalardo took a step back to let Jane handle the haggling. The man's rounded face
reddened slightly before turning back to Jane. She had folded her arms across her
ample chest.

"Two fifty then."

"One hundred." She countered.

"Lady, I can't possibly do it for that."

Adalardo watched with amused curiosity as she uncrossed her arms and leaned on the
table, looking the seller directly in the eye.

"I'll give you one eighty if you throw in the cleaning kit to go with it."

"Oh, no way." The vendor reddened even more. Jane casually shrugged and turned
away.

"C'mon, Adalardo, that other seller had better stuff anyway." Adalardo made to follow
Jane when the seller hollered for her to return.

"All right lady, you're killing me here, I'll take one eighty." Jane smiled sweetly at the
rounded merchant as she pulled the human currency from her small black bag slung
around her shoulder. The vendor wrapped up her purchase.

"You drive a hard bargain, lady," he grumbled, handing over the wrapped weapon plus
a little box. She tucked them into her bag.

"Lady Jane, you are a formidable force," Adalardo told her as they made their away
from the blade sellers table. She gave a laugh.

"Naaahh, haggling isn't hard when you know what you want. I'm surprised you didn't
want anything."

"It is not blades I wish to shop for."

"Yes, yes, I remember. You'll have to forgive me. It's a woman thing, shopping. I tend to
get carried away. So have you spotted any potential dates? You do, after all, have a
height advantage on me." Adalardo let his gaze once again sweep over the women who
moved through the long aisles of vendors. There were so many women. He spotted a
little blonde woman, but she was pushing a child in a small carriage. He saw several
very beautiful rounded ladies who turned to stare then giggle as they passed.

"There are so many, I do not know."

Jane was also glancing about. "Go with what feels right, you know, gut instinct." He
understood what she was trying to tell him, giving her a nod. "Let's keep moving then.
You never know, we might get lucky."

Chapter Two

Penny was so caught up in her own thoughts she wasn't paying a lot of attention to
where she was going. In her hand she gripped her small, orange, wicker basket, which
contained her meager purchase. She pushed through the thickening market crowd. She
only wanted to get out and home to enjoy some solitude for a few small hours of
Darrel's absence. He would most likely be drunk when he returned. She needed time to
prepare herself and to make everything perfect so perhaps for one evening he wouldn't
yell.

Out of habit, her eyes were fixed on the ground instead of where she was walking.
Penny suddenly smacked into something solid and bounced backward, letting out a
startled squeak as she fell. The back of her head smacked the hard earth. Dazed,
Penny blinked up as someone large was leaning over her; two very strong arms were
suddenly lifting her up, setting her back on her feet.

"Oh my goodness, are you alright?" a woman was asking, but all Penny could see was
the giant of a man gazing intently down at her with two of the darkest, most intense
eyes she had ever seen. He had to be well over six and a half feet tall. He had a huge
body builder's frame. He still had a large hand wrapped around her upper arm. Penny
felt a strange warmth spread through her at his touch. She was embarrassed by not
watching where she had been going, and now she was staring up at a strange, beautiful
man.

"I'm sorry," Penny stammered. "So, so, sorry." She took a step backward; his hand fell
away from her. The man's intense gaze kept Penny riveted; she felt the blood suddenly
drain from her head, a wave of dizziness sweeping over her; unable to keep from
swaying on her feet before the world tilted into darkness.

~ * ~

The woman, who had crashed into him from behind, held him mesmerized. Adalardo
spun around and glanced down. The moment he had stooped down, gripped the
woman's soft arms to help her to his feet, he knew there was something special and
uncommon about this woman. The warmth of their simple contact spread through him
like wildfire, surprising and startling him. He could not help but stare at her, amazed and
captivated by her beauty. Long, dark red hair, which shone in the daylight, tumbled
about her shoulders. Adalardo felt the sudden urge to touch her silky strands. She had
long delicate eyelashes the same shade of red as her hair. Her lashes framed her two

warm brown, almond shaped eyes. He liked the smattering of small freckles which were
scattered across an elegant pert nose.

Adalardo noticed her lips were prettily bowed, complemented by a plump lush bottom
lip, which appeared naturally tinted on the redder side of pink. His approving gaze swept
over her lush curves that not even the plane brown skirt and top she wore could hide.
Adalardo had a sudden vision of her standing beside him on his dais in a flowing Kell
gown, the golden crystal crown of the queen upon her head. This woman was the one
they had set out to find, his Protected and his future queen.

"Adalardo quick!" Jane gasped. Adalardo observed the woman's face discolor rapidly as
she swayed on her feet. Taking a single step forward he caught her in his arms as she
fell. It was a wonder how light she felt; it was very different to any Kell woman he had
ever taken pleasure with. He was struck with how right she felt in his arms. Was this the
feeling Drystan and Jane were telling him to watch out for? By the moons of Kell, he
hoped so.

"She is unwell; we must take her and heal her." Jane glanced around before picking up
a small orange basket the woman had dropped.

"Can you carry her back to the apartment?" Adalardo noted the worried look in Jane's
expression.

"Do you doubt my strength?" he teased. Jane responded with a snort and a roll of her
eyes which always amused Adalardo.

"I never doubt the strength of a Kell Warrior; let's hurry then, before someone assumes
we're conducting a kidnapping."

~ * ~

"She is the one," he told Jane bluntly as he laid the woman down on Jane's bed. Jane's
gaze met his. During the short walk back to Drystan and Jane's Earth apartment, the
feeling had only grown with each step. It felt right, she felt right in his arms--her warmth,
the soft sweet floral scent. Already he was aching, hard, his cock straining against the
tight human turrets. He was going to keep her, take her back to Kell.

"Adalardo."

Adalardo was weary of the gentle tone Jane was using on him. "I'm sorry but she can't
be."

"Why not?" he demanded, startled by the sudden anger in his tone. By the irate
expression on Jane's face, so was she. Jane took the woman's left hand lifting it up
showing him the gold band on her finger.

"This is why, Adalardo. By the looks of it, this lady is married. She has a human
Protector." Jane stood up and gave Adalardo's arm a gentle squeeze. "I'll go fetch the
healing crystals."

"Bring the ruby also, Jane." It was a command; he disliked commanding Jane, but she
had become one of his subjects when Drystan had taken her as his Protected. Jane
pursed her lips together in disapproval. But he would not be swayed. He just had to
know. "Please," he added for good measure. Jane gave a nod and hurried through the
door.

Denial pounded in the back of his brain. He could not find his woman and not be able to
have her. She belonged to someone else. Adalardo ran a frustrated hand through his
hair. Damn! Sitting back and watching his subjects take Protected women, one by one,
had made him envious, and instead of waiting for Jane and Drystan to bring an
unmated woman to him, he had demanded he go search for his own. While Drystan
stood in his place back in Kell, he had been none too happy to be separated from his
Jane. This search for a woman to call his had been a bad idea after all. For all it had
netted him was a woman he could not have.

A startled gasp made Adalardo glance back to the lovely woman on the bed. She was
awake, staring at him, her expression fearful.

"You are safe, lady," he spoke softly so not to startle her further. He lowered his large
bulk down on to the end of the bed, making it dip.

"Who are you, where am I?" she asked, Adalardo could see her small frame trembling.
He wanted nothing more than to be able to pull her into his arms, hold her close, and
ease her fears. It took all his self-control not to move.

"I am Adalardo; you are in the apartments of Jane and Drystan. You were unwell so we
brought you here to heal you."

"

H…how long have I been here?" Worry marred her pretty face.

Jane took that moment to reappear through the door. Seeing the woman was awake,
she smiled in kindness.

"Hi, you're awake. I'm Jane and this is Adalardo. Don't worry, you're quite safe. You
passed clean out back at the market. He-man here volunteered to carry you back to my
place until you were feeling better."

~ * ~

Penny was confused when she woke up in a strange room to see the most beautiful
dark man pacing in front of her. At first she had feared this huge, extremely strong
looking man, but as his deep rich husky voice rolled over her, every sense she had
relaxed. Deep down Penny knew he meant her no harm.

Penny glanced at the woman. She was obviously pregnant. This gorgeous man must be
her husband. Adalardo, it was not a name Penny had ever heard before; it was exotic
and suited him. Penny listened as Jane explained what had happened. Penny felt the
heat rise in her face.

"I'm so sorry to have put you out." She lowered her gaze automatically.

"Oh, pish posh, it was no trouble at all," smiled Jane. Penny watched as Jane placed
three things on the dresser beside the bed: a glass of water, a little wooden box and a
small pouch. The pouch sounded like it contained some kind of stones. "What's your
name?"

"Uh, Penny Summerton."

Jane's smile widened.

"How are you feeling, Penny?" She handed her the glass of water. Penny sat up and
took the water. Sipping it slowly, she still felt slightly dizzy but pushed it aside.

"I'm okay. Thanks for your help."

"Any time," Jane replied.

"Are you married?" Adalardo said suddenly, jolting her attention back to him. Penny
swallowed and gingerly set the glass of water down.

"Yes. Darrel Summerton is my husband. I need to go; I have much to do before he
comes home."

"He must be a man of great worth to have such a fine lady as you, Penny Summerton."
The man rumbled. Penny blinked, stunned by his words. Darrel was many things but not
a man of great worth.

"Oh, don't mind him," Jane said, looking sternly at the man. "He's a friend of my
husband. I run Ruby Glow matches here in Hobart. We're trying to match him up with
some lucky lady."

Penny glanced from Jane to Adalardo. So Jane wasn't his wife. Why relief flooded
through her, Penny had no idea.

"Oh, yes, I've passed your offices a few times. Thanks for looking after me, but I have to
get home." She swung her feet off the bed and stood up then swayed. The man
practically jumped to his feet, gripping her shoulders to sit her back down on the bed.

"You are unwell, we must heal you first," Adalardo insisted with a gentle command. It
struck Penny that this was a man who was used to issuing commands and having them
followed. There was a kind of regal presence about him. Penny glanced up at him in
puzzlement. He had an accent she couldn't quite place.

"Heal me? Are you a doctor?"

"What Adalardo means is he wants to make sure you're feeling okay before you go
anywhere. You are looking kind of pale," Jane explained.

Penny glanced around the room for a clock. There was one on the bedside table.
Sudden panic ran through her when she saw how late it was.

"I, I have to go right now," she insisted.

"If you must, but we will escort you," Adalardo said with a firm resolve.

"No, no please." She stood up again, moving away before the beautiful big man could
touch her again.

She saw Jane and Adalardo exchange glances of worry. Penny swallowed. Could they
guess? Did they know? Her breathing became rapid and panicked.

"Please, Penny, its okay, calm down. We'll take you home. Believe you me, I will never
hear the end of it from the big guy here if he doesn't see you home safely. So please
allow us to take you home. I have a car just out front."

Reluctantly, Penny nodded. She would have to work quickly once she arrived home.
Everything had to be perfect, in order to avoid the worst of Darrel's blows.

Jane smiled. "Alright then, I'll grab my keys and we can go."

Chapter Three

Back in the hell realm…

"You know Nasten, I have grown very fond of my Tamara. I have no wish to be parted
from her." The look of terror and betrayal on Tamara's face was hard to bear. Now with
his soul back, he felt the burden of her pain deeply. Tuthal had deemed it necessary;
she wouldn't have co-operated if he had told her the truth. He felt her pain as well as his
own, knowing it was going to be harder for him to win her back.

He needed Tamara as much as he needed to breathe. From the first moment he had
stepped through the portal into Jane's small Earth dwelling and laid eyes on her, he
knew the spell he had placed on Jane had worked. Jane had found him his perfect mate
and the one he needed to steal back his soul. There was no way he was going to let the
soul demon take her. He would steal all the fire from hell itself to make sure she
remained his.

Nasten swung around at the sound of Tuthal's voice. Tuthal acted quickly, never giving
the demon time to react. Swiftly, he withdrew his hidden blade and charged forward,
slicing through the arm that was gripping Tamara.

Tamara fell to the ground, and screamed in horror as Nasten's arm was still attached to
hers. Nasten fell heavily backwards as Tuthal kicked at him. Nasten roared in fury and
pain, realizing he was being betrayed. Tuthal wrenched Nasten's arm off Tamara and
pulled her trembling body into his arms. He whipped out his staff, summoning his
powers to throw open a portal. Tamara, wide eyed and in shock, stared up at him as he
swept her through the portal.

~ * ~

Jane's apartment,

Hobart…

"Holy crap, Adalardo. An incoming portal!" Jane exclaimed, making Adalardo swivel
around. Jane was already moving out of the way as the wind started to whip around
them. Penny's eyes went wide with bewilderment. Adalardo moved quickly, grabbing
her around the waist to hoist her out of the way. He shielded Penny with his body as the
swirling red mist began to form.

Portals that came from Kell and to Earth were blue. Adalardo knew this was not coming
from Kell; his body tensed, he reached down, unsheathing his hidden blade, prepared to
face whatever came through the unfamiliar portal.

From the portal jumped Tuthal. A thin gleam of sweat covered his face, from his clothing
wafted a scent of ash and smoke. In his right hand he gripped his staff, and his left arm
was wrapped around a small, distressed, struggling woman.

"Oh my god, w... what is that?" Penny exclaimed. Adalardo glanced down to see she
was peering around his body at the glowing red portal and the people who had just
come through it. The portal folded in on itself and vanished as if it had never been.

Tuthal glanced at Adalardo then at Jane.

"Apologies, Jane," Tuthal said.

Jane had placed her hand on her hips glaring at him. "What the hell do you think you're
doing? I though you and Tamara were off on your honeymoon!"

The woman who was clutched in Tuthal's arm tugged herself free. She was clearly in a
daze. She shook her head as if to clear it.

Adalardo understood this was Jane's older sister, Tamara. Drystan had explained the
price of his services to the people of Kell was for Jane to find the sorcerer a protected.
Jane's sister was the one chosen for Tuthal.

Jane's sister stumbled across the floor, falling into her sister's arms. "Jane! Oh, my god,
Jane," wailed Tamara.

"What the hell have you done to my sister?" Jane's expression was one of anger as she
glared at Tuthal.

Adalardo did not like to see the women so distressed, or worried.

"Tuthal, what games have you been playing? "Adalardo demanded, turning his glare on
the Kell sorcerer.

"You're Majesty, I do apologize. No games do I play." Tuthal gave him a respectful bow.

"Majesty?" Penny gasped. There was confusion in the depths of Penny's lovely brown
eyes. "W...who is that and what is going on?" Penny asked.

Adalardo did not fail to note her tone was edged with fear. Fear was not something
Adalardo wished to see in Penny's face, nor hear in her voice.

"This fucking bastard just tried to sacrifice me to a demon," Tara blurted out.

"You did what?" Jane gasped in shock. "Is this true?"

"I know there is much I need to explain to you, Tamara. Understand I would have never
let him take you. What I did was very necessary." Tuthal stepped towards Jane and
Tamara. The two women backed up.

Adalardo took hold of Penny's arm as he addressed her. "My apologies, Penny, this
must seem strange and confusing to you. Do not fear. You are safe," Adalardo assured
her quietly, moving a step back from the warmth of her body.

"Explain, explain!" Jane's sister screeched at Tuthal, before giving a hysterical laugh.
"What's to explain? Who knows what that thing would have done to me!"

Adalardo had had enough of this confusion. He was about to take command of the
situation when a loud banging on the outer apartment door startled everyone.

"Open up, police, we have you surrounded!" A male voice yelled.

"Holy crap!" Jane's eyes went wide in panic. "We have to get everyone out of here, right
now! Tuthal, open a portal to Kell this instant. There is no time to lose, unless you want
to end up in a human prison cell!" Her gaze swung to where Adalardo stood with Penny,
regret flashed through her expression. "Your majesty, we're going to have to take Penny
with us, and return her when it's safe."

Tuthal whipped out his staff and opened a familiar glowing blue portal. Jane was half
dragging her sister towards it.

"Hell, no. I'm not going back with him!" Before Tamara could fight her sister, Tuthal
strode forward and snatched Tamara away from Jane, holding her securely in his arms.

Adalardo bent down to scoop Penny into his arms. He was relieved when Penny threw
her arms around his neck and did not fight him.

"Apologies, lady Penny, please believe you are safe, and everything will be alright."
Penny gave a startled gasp as he carried her through the portal. He would deal with
everything once they were safe in Kell.

~ * ~

Penny stood in a daze; she felt light headed as she gazed around the strange
surroundings. She seemed to be in some kind of courtyard. She glanced down at the
cool grey stone beneath her feet then up at the walls. Everything sparkled with a myriad
of beautiful colors. Crystals of every shape and size caught the light and gleamed.
Penny was memorized by the sight, feeling like she had just stepped into a dream
world.

Penny glanced around, startled to see huge men the size of the one who had carried
her though a strange swirling mist, advancing on them. Instinctively, Penny tightened
her grip on Adalardo. He still had his warm strong arms secure around her. So dazed by
all that had just happened, it only just registered that Adalardo had actually picked her
up off her feet and carried her despite her weight and size. Gently, he set her on her
feet.

Adalardo was talking to her. She glanced up at him and blinked then shook her head.
They were all speaking a language she didn't understand. Except for Jane, and from
what Penny could tell, Jane's sister, Tamara.

"I don't understand you," Penny managed to squeak. The large man frowned; he turned
to bark orders at the men around him. The men bowed and scrambled to do his bidding.

A huge man in what could only be described as warrior dress with a large sword
attached to his belt came running forward. Jane turned towards him holding out her
arms.

"Drystan," she breathed. The man lifted Jane into his arms kissing her with passionate
reverence.

"By the moons of Kell, even one day is too long away from you, woman," the large man
exclaimed.

Tamara, who had been dragged through the red mist, was kicking and screaming at the
man who had carried her through. Penny watched as Jane's man turned his attention to

Tamara and the one called Tuthal. Tuthal let Tamara go. Tamara swiveled around,
slapped his face, making even Penny wince, before storming back over to her sister.
Penny clued into the fact that the man who held Jane was her husband, Drystan.

Adalardo said something to Jane and Drystan. Drystan deposited his wife gently on her
feet, keeping an arm around Jane's waist as Jane glanced back at Adalardo.

"She doesn't understand you," explained Jane. "See, I told you the translation stuff
works better here in Kell." Adalardo nodded and Jane looked directly at Penny.

"Penny, I'm sorry there is a bit of a mess to sort out here. If you bear with us for a
moment, we can sort everything out and explain what's going on, okay?"

It occurred to Penny she had just been kidnapped. Penny had no idea who these
people where or where she was. Trying to dampen down the sudden urge to panic,
Penny nodded her head.

"Go with Adalardo. He is king here so you'll be safe with him. He's going to give you
something that will help understand his language. It's a little white powder, just put it
under your tongue. Trust me it's not a drug, and it's not poison. After that he will bring
you to the main hall where everyone will get a chance to say their piece." Jane turned
her glare on Tuthal.

Adalardo offered his hand to Penny with a gentle smile; she blinked gazing up into his
dark depths. She lifted her hand and placed it into his warm one, something within her
made Penny trust him, as she let herself be led away.

~ * ~

Tamara was madder than the hell she had been in. Tuthal had broken her trust, scared
her witless, and had used her for his own gain. Tamara was sharply aware of Tuthal's
gaze on her back as she walked through the long corridors of the Crystal palace with
Jane and Drystan.

"It'll be alright." Jane patted her shoulder. "Maybe you should rest and calm down
before we all meet up in the main hall," Jane advised. "After all that excitement, I sure
need a rest."

"You need your rest, I should have never let you go," Drystan rumbled at his wife.

"You worry too much darling, but I did miss you terribly."

"Who was the lady?" Drystan asked.

"Some unfortunate woman we bumped into at the market. The King is quite taken with
her, but she's a married woman," Jane sighed.

"She is mated?" Drystan asked Jane.

"Yup, we're going to have to take her home as soon as we are able, because if the
police are now onto us, we're in trouble."

"Police? What do they want?" Tamara asked with a frown. She had been out of touch
with things on Earth since she had been living the past month with Tuthal on Kell. Tuthal
was still following them through the Palace corridors.

"Think of it, Tamara, all the women who I have matched up with Kell men are now living
here in Kell and no longer living in Tasmania. I told the ladies to make sure they let any
friends and family know they were leaving Tasmania. It is now quite clear, not everyone
has done that. I am assuming that some of the ladies have been reported missing, and
it is obvious the police are going to think the worst."

"Oh, I see." Tamara, distracted from her anger for a moment, paused to think about the
situation. She could see how disappearing women would cause a stir.

"I'll go find you a chamber," Drystan told Tamara.

"I don't want him anywhere near me," Tamara told Drystan, who glanced back at Tuthal.

"Tamara, you need to let me explain." Tuthal was almost growling in frustration. Tamara
didn't care.

Drystan paused to hold Tuthal back from the women. "Sorcerer, you will have chambers
of your own until the meeting in the hall. Then all disputes and arguments can be
settled."

Tamara glanced up at Tuthal who was looking none too happy about the idea. But then
reluctantly he gave a nod of his head.

"Very well, until then." Tuthal turned and strode away.

Tamar sighed in relief.

"Humm, baby, I need a bath too; I'm feeling very, very dirty." Jane had moved closer to
Drystan. Tamara didn't miss the sly seductive smile Jane gave her husband. Tamara
resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Get me a room quickly so you can go to your own. I have no desire to know the details
of your sex life."

Jane laughed. Even Drystan was smiling.

"I will make haste." Tamara almost laughed as he ran down the hall.

"The promise of sex is a wonderful motivator," giggled Jane.

Chapter Four

Alien. The word rattled around Penny's brain. She was on an alien planet. These huge
dark haired and dark eyed men were alien. She had glimpsed a few human women
striding casually about as they passed several large open areas of this massive palace.
No doubt she would get lost easily if she wondered off by herself.

Adalardo had given her a little of the white powder Jane had told her about on the end
of a small crystal spoon. Despite Jane telling her it was safe, she had eyed it with
suspicion, but heck, "When in Rome," as the saying goes.

A jolting sensation raced through her brain, making it ache. Penny groaned and gripped
the sides of her head, sitting down on the end of a very large opulent four-poster bed.

"Here, drink this; the ache will ease in a moment."

Penny blinked, realizing she could now understand what Adalardo was saying. She took
the crystal goblet from his hand and sipped at the dark purple liquid. Surprised to taste a
light fruity wine, she quickly finished off the rest of the wine before handing back the
goblet.

"What was that stuff?"

"Tellrock powder. It helps us commutate." Well, that was obvious. Penny was
bewildered. How could a little white powder make her understand totally a different
language? But on an alien planet, she guessed anything was possible.

"It is a powerful crystal, mostly used by the scholar class. Our lives revolve around the
use of crystals here in Kell. They have many uses."

"Scholar class, Kell." Penny hoped repeating the strange words would help her
understand them.

"Aye, tis the land in which you are now. This is my kingdom, Penny, the land of Kell. As
King I welcome you."

"King? You're a real king?" She gazed at the commanding man in awe and confusion.

"This may be hard for you to accept, but you are not on Earth any more, but a far distant
planet."

Penny tried to comprehend what he had just told her. "You don't have space ships?"

The tall King of Kell smiled at her in fond amusement.

"I do not know of other alien races or how they travel. But we can move to and from
Earth via the portal that brought you here," Adalardo explained.

"That blue swirly thing."

"As you saw, as you experienced. Do not fear, we will return you to your protector
soon."

Penny frowned in puzzlement. "My protector?"

Adalardo's smile fell from his handsome face. He reached down, taking her left hand in
his. She glanced down to see what he was looking at and realized it was the gold
wedding band around her finger.

"I believe your human word is husband."

Guilt flooded through her. She snatched her hand back and turned away, as her
thoughts turned to Darrel. No doubt he would be madder than hell that she had not
returned home.

Penny knew he would be out searching for her. If they took her back to Darrel, he would
more than likely kill her. Even if this whole thing hadn't been her fault, he would blame
her anyway. It was always her fault.

"You are going to take me back to him?" She fiddled with the ring wanting to rip the
thing off her finger.

"When it is deemed safe, yes. An Earth husband is equal to what we call protectors
here on Kell, as it is the warrior's duty to protect their woman. I am sure he is missing
you greatly." The King's gaze was almost wistful.

Gently, he reached up to brush back a stray red lock that had fallen forward across her
cheek. She didn't flinch as she usually did when Darrel touched her. No, it was quite the

opposite. With Adalardo she felt safe. Instinctively, Penny knew this man would never
harm her.

His simple touch made her heart pound in her chest, her skin heat, and awakened her
long dormant sexual desire; he made her feel like no one man ever had.

"Being, protected sounds like a beautiful thing."

Penny thought over her situation, perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. Hope
speared through her that maybe this alien planet was the answer to her prayers. At last
an escape from the man who made her life a daily hell of fear and pain.

"Is there any way to get to Kell other than the portal?" she asked in hope.

"It is the only way," he assured her.

Penny swallowed and gathered her courage." Could I then stay here, in your land, and
not go back to Earth?"

Adalardo silently regarded her.

"Beautiful lady, be it my wish, I would have you here with me for all of time, but I am
also a man of honor. I would never take what belongs to another."

"I beg of you, Adalardo, I mean, your majesty, please do not send me back to my
husband. H

e…he…" Penny struggled with the words to tell him the truth. She had

known this strange alien King for less than a few hours and already she was placing her
life in his hands. She felt ashamed for doing this to him, for placing her problems on
another.

"No, never beg anything of me, Penny. Ask and it is yours." When she stood up from
the bed, Adalardo stepped forward taking hold of her upper arms. His dark gaze held
hers captive.

Penny winced as he had caught the spot where Darren had bruised her. He released
her arm. "You will tell me everything in all honesty. Here in Kell we do not harbor
secrets, and we protect all those who need it."

His words gave her solace and assurance that she was doing the right thing.

"My husband he is a cruel man. My life is a living hell with him. He blames me for every
little thing that goes wrong." The words tumbled from her mouth. "He beats me,
demeans me; he said if I ever tried to leave him, he would kill me. I have tried to leave
him, yet he always finds me. I was thinking if I stay here in Kell, I will be safe from him."
Adalardo's face darkened in anger and rage. Penny knew it was not directed at her.

Slowly, she rolled up the sleeve of her arm, revealing the evidence of Darrel's cruelty.
Adalardo's eyes glanced over the yellowish bruises on her arm. Then she lifted the
bottom of her blouse to show him the other marks on her lower body.

"He is an unworthy creature, and has no honor to harm a woman. By the Moon's of Kell,
Penny, I swear no harm shall ever befall you again. You will remain here. I decree it."

Penny wanted to laugh, as tears of pure and utter relief slid down her cheeks. She felt
Adalardo's arms slip around her gently, pulling her against his hard chest. "Here in Kell,
if a warrior or a man is found without honor, then another may challenge him for the
right to become the ladies protector. You must understand if you stay here in Kell, I will
move everything under the Moons of Kell to make you my own. I knew from the first
moment I touched you in the human market that you are the one destined to be mine. I
want you for my queen Penny; I have no doubt of that."

"You...you want me?" she squeaked, unsure how to take his declaration.

He placed a finger under her chin, raising her face to meet his gaze. He wiped away her
tears with the pad of his thumb. When he stooped down and placed a soft kiss on her
lips, she gasped as white-hot pleasure suddenly seared through her with such a simple
kiss.

The king gripped the back of her head tighter as the kiss turned from the simple one of
comfort to something more heated and carnal. Her body flamed to life under the touch
of his lips. The pressure on her mouth increased. He sucked her lower lip before using
his teeth to tug on it then angled her head slightly to allow him better access.

Penny couldn't stop the soft moan that rose up from her throat when his tongue started
exploring the depths of her mouth. Her every sense came alive, and her head spun with
the effect he was having on her. Her breasts felt heavy, her nipples tightened into hard
buds. She was suddenly craving his touch on her breasts in order to help relieve their
aching tenderness. The dampness seeping down between her legs was undeniable.
She found herself passionately kissing him back.

She wanted Adalardo; it was a new wonder, to learn that this man could turn on her
body to such a level. No, not man, he was an alien. But hell, she didn't care. He had
taken her from Darrel and that all that mattered. Her hand snaked up around his head
as the other gripped onto a powerful bicep. She gasped as he lifted her easily in his
arms, aligning their hungry, questing mouths. One of his hands brushed the side of her
breast. She moaned again, clinging to Adalardo. He broke the kiss; Penny gasped for
air she didn't realize she needed.

"Penny, my Penny you are mine," he declared, his voice husky with longing. "There is
no other I desire more than you."

Penny almost cried out in confusion when he set her down and kissed the top of her
head before backing away.

"If you want me, why stop?" Penny gazed up into his dark midnight depths.

"You tempt me to my limits, Penny, but not until you are healed. You need rest. I will not
take advantage of you in this state. There are urgent matters to be attended to. I am
King after all, and there is a land I must run."

"I understand, your majesty." Penny felt a little hurt, but it was the type of pain she could
bare.

Adalardo smiled softly. "Use not my title, Penny, I am your Adalardo." He kissed her lips
softly and quickly before pulling away. "I am going to explore every last inch of your
beautiful body. I am going to bring you to such pleasure that never again will any other.
Once I have challenged your Earthling mate to relinquish his claim, I will make you my
queen."

Penny's eyes widened. "How are you going to challenge Darrel? On Earth we just get a
divorce. I'm sure he won't object to divorcing me as long as you are with me." She sat
up on the bed as he sat by her side. She lifted her hand and twisted off her ring, holding
it in the palm of her hand.

"I don't want this anymore; as far as I'm concerned he is no longer my husband."

"This may be so but you are in Kell now." He took her offending ring from her hand and
set it by a small bedside table. "We need to settle this the Kell way. Your Earth mate will
have to be brought here and challenged. If he concedes or loses then he will be exiled
back to your world, and it will be acknowledged by Kell law that you are now free to be

claimed by the victor. I am a strong warrior, Penny, I will win you and I will have you for
my queen."

"So you won't kill him?"

She saw his jaw clench; she got the feeling if he was allowed to, he would, but even
Kings have to follow laws.

"To bring such harm to a woman is a crime worthy of death, but to ease your fears, I
make a vow not to kill him."

Having Darrel put in his place may not be a bad thing after all, and she believed
Adalardo when he promised not to kill him. It made her feel a heck of a lot better.

"I trust you." She gave him a smile.

"It gladdens my heart to see you smile, and to have your trust, my future queen. Now
lay back. I wish to heal you."

Penny obeyed, feeling lighter of heart and soul than she had in a very long time.

When they had first met, she had thought herself in love with Darrel, but as soon as he
had the ring on her finger, he had changed into a man she didn't know, a cruel heartless
man. But this large warrior King before her was open and honest. She could see the
dark, dangerous streak in him, even that was not hidden from her view. It was the kind
of darkness that no doubt made this man a formidable warrior. Yet he had a gentle way
about him. His words and kisses could melt away any problem she had. He was a man
she could easily trust and lose her heart to.

Chapter Five

Tamara sat with her arms folded, refusing to look at Tuthal who sat opposite a long
crystal table. Jane and Drystan sat between her. The king, looking refreshed in his royal
robes strode in and took his place at the head of the table. Tamara had taken a bath
and had some loose fitting clothes on that Jane had lent her.

"Where's Penny?" Jane asked the King.

"Resting. The shock of current events has been very taxing on her."

Tamara saw Jane frown. "With all due respect your majesty, she is a married woman.
You are going to have to take her back to Earth and to her husband."

Everyone jumped as the king suddenly slammed his fist on the table. "The Kernoc dog
will die by my blade." Tamara watched as he drew in a calming breath to explain his
sudden outburst of anger. "Apologies, the lady Penny is under my guardianship until the
matter of her unworthy human mate is dealt with. He has physically harmed her. I have
witnessed myself the marks on her body."

"It's sad but true, some human men do abuse their women." Tamara said. "I don't blame
you, your majesty. If you can help a woman like that, then you have my support."

"And mine," Jane piped in. Jane's husband nodded.

"It is appreciated," the king said, "Now to other matters." The Kings gaze moved over
everyone present.

"First things first. Before we get to Tamar's and Tuthal's issue, I have to explain what
happened back in the apartment on Earth and why we had to get out of there in a
hurry." Jane paused to take a breath, absently rubbing the swelling stomach.

"I kind of figured this would happen eventually, considering there are eighteen women
from Hobart now here in Kell. Their disappearances wouldn't go unnoticed by the
authorities. I'm guessing they probably think we're some kind of cult or mass murderers
and are pulling apart the apartment as we speak. If we ever step foot back in Hobart, we
are more than likely to get arrested."

"We have not harmed any of these women," the King said. "And we are still in need of
more willing ladies."

"I know. Humans are funny, fickle creatures. They don't always see things the same
way as others do. But I wouldn't worry too much. There are many other places on Earth
to find willing women," Jane said with reassurance. "Oh damn, I forgot about the ruby. I
left it on the bedside table in the apartment."

"It is no matter, I can create you another," Tuthal assured Jane. The sound of Tuthal's
voice made Tamara snap her head up, his dark gaze fixed on her.

"I will need one more trip to Hobart, Tuthal. I must fetch Penny's mate to see that justice
is served under Kell law."

"Sire, allow me the task to bring the human male here, to see that justice is done,"
Drystan volunteered. "I am more familiar with the workings of Hobart city; with an
address I will be able to fetch him easily."

"Drystan, the police will have seen your face and would have taken photos of both of us.
You will be recognized if you go back to Hobart," Jane said with obvious worry.

"My Blue-Fire do not fear for me. It will be quick and simple. The human authorities will
not even know I was there."

"Still, I don't like it," Jane pouted.

"I would consider it a favor to me, Jane, if you would let him," the King said in
amusement.

Jane sighed in resignation, "Alright, but you're in big trouble if I have to come in to save
your butt again."

Drystan's eyes shone with obvious love as he gazed at Jane.

"Good, then that is settled. Now for the other matter. Tuthal, do you care to explain
yourself and why the lady Tamara is accusing you of putting her in harm's way while
under your guardianship?"

Tamara raised an eyebrow at Tuthal.

"I see she wears no Protector bracelet. Do you choose not to bond with her? Or does
she refuse you?" continued the King.

"I have every intention of calming the lady Tamara, as my Protected, but there were
certain things I had to do first." The smug arrogance that rolled off Tuthal made
Tamara's blood boil in rage. She glared at him as she jumped to her feet.

"Certain things you had to do first! You sold your damn soul to a demon then used me
to get it back!"

"Lady Tamara," snapped the king, he rounded a dominant glare in her direction, making
her shut her mouth and sit back into her seat. "You will be afforded opportunity to
speak, but until then you will let Tuthal give his explanation."

"It is true what she says. In my younger days as apprentice sorcerer, my powers were
weak. I began experimenting and stumbled upon the way of the portal. It led me into the
Hell Realm of Nasten, a powerful devil with great powers. He offered to help me in
exchange for my soul. Foolishly and readily I agreed. He gave me strong powers which
I confess to using, and at times, abusing. For a very long time I have been nothing but a
hollow shell, empty within."

"I knew the moment I set eyes upon the lovely Jane that through her, she was the
answer to my emptiness and my salvation." All present turned to glance at a confused
looking Jane. Drystan tensed beside her as if any second he would leap up ready to
defend her against Tuthal.

"I returned to Nasten and asked for the return of my soul in exchange for an innocent
beauty from Earth, I showed him an image of Jane. She is a worthy heart, just the type
of soul that Nasten is greedy to obtain. He agreed and the bargain was struck. But not
even a soulless creature such as I could harm the lovely lady Jane. The time in my
tower when you first brought her to see me, I placed a simple finding spell upon her to
assist me in finding another lady of equal innocence and beauty to take her place."

"No wonder I felt the way I did, that each woman I came across until Tamara felt wrong,
and why Tamara felt so right," Jane gasped.

"You have my apologies, Jane and you, commander." Tuthal's dark gaze moved again
to Tamara, "When I had Tamara, I delayed the deal with Nasten for as long as I could.
In that time my attachment and fondness of Tamara grew. I formulated a new plan that

included gaining back my soul and keeping the lady Tamara as well. Most of all I
wanted my soul to fully feel the love I have in my heart for her."

Tamara blinked. Did Tuthal just confess to loving her?

Heaven knew she had already lost her heart to the dangerous and powerful man. But
was all this deception worth the risk of her getting hurt? Tamara already hurt from the
knowledge Tuthal hadn't trusted her to tell her the truth, especially if he claimed to love
her.

"So far I see that you have caused no harm to anyone but yourself, Tuthal. Deception
and lies always surface. I do not blame the lady Tamara's anger," the King said. "But
without yours and Jane's help our future would have been lost."

"I have made many mistakes, and I ask your majesty to prove myself of worth once
again. I offer you all my services with no fees, no more deceptions, and the chance to
win the lady Tamara's favor."

"You could have just told me the truth," Tamara said quietly, holding the gaze of his
mismatched eyes.

The King lips twitched up in amusement. "She has a point."

"I refute it not," agreed Tuthal.

"You may say your piece now, Tamara," the king offered.

Tamara swallowed, trying to sort out the new emotions, uncertainty being the foremost.

"You scared the hell out of me," she finally spoke in a calm tone that surprised even her.

"I would have never let any harm come to you. I care too much for you to allow that. I
am deeply remorseful for scaring you."

Tamara drew in a deep breath, trying to fortify her emotions. "For a man who sold his
soul in the first place, there was too little trust and too much deception. I am sorry,
Tuthal. I can't risk my heart on someone whose whole life has been nothing but a lie."

Tamara watched as Tuthal's jaw clenched in anger, his gaze remaining steady on her.
She was expecting him to protest more, but was suspicious when he said nothing.

"Lady Tamara, as you are Jane's sister, I place you under Drystan's and Jane's
guardianship. Until you choose who you wish to be your protector. There are many fine
warriors who will vie for your hand."

"No," Tuthal snapped in anger, rising from his seat. "You are still mine."

"Tuthal, sit down," Adalardo ordered. Tuthal complied with the Kings command. "You
did not claim her when you had the opportunity so she is free. Take this as a chance to
prove to her you are worthy of her hand. I will not tolerate any magic used to sway her,
but if she does choose another, you will not interfere either."

Tuthal swept back the robe he favored and sat back down, never taking his dark,
brooding gaze from hers.

"Apologies, your majesty, I will of course comply. Will you allow me residence in the
palace?"

"The north tower has been long empty. You may take it," the king said with a nod.
Tamara clenched her teeth. She knew there would be no avoiding him now.

"As much as I hate to be the voice of concern, but Tuthal, you just told us you stole back
your soul as well as Tamara. This demon isn't going to be coming after you, will it?"
Jane piped up.

"Lady Jane is correct. One thing we do not need is a new enemy," agreed Adalardo.

"I have never known a soul demon capable of leaving its own realm, and even if he
does manage such a feat, I have left no trail for him in which to find me," Tuthal assured
all present.

"I hope you are correct, Tuthal, for everyone sake," Adalardo said.

~ * ~

Penny woke with a scream; the nightmare of Darrel's angry face and hovering fist ready
to strike her had her heart pounding as she tried to fend him off. Something crashed in
the darkness, before the bed dipped and two strong, warm arms surrounded her with
comforting warmth. A large sure hand stroked over her back and hair, soothing and

chasing away her nightmare. The exotic masculine scent of Adalardo invaded her
senses; she sobbed against a hard, naked muscled chest.

"Shhhh, my beauty you are safe, you are safe." He gently rocked her in his arms as if
she were a mere child. Penny's mind began to clear, and reality began to set back in.

Yes, she was safe, and Adalardo the alien King who had rescued her from Earth, held
her. She relaxed in his arms, enjoying his warmth and his scent. She felt his smooth
toned skin and strong beating heart under the palm of her hand. It felt wonderful to
touch.

Penny remembered back to before she had fallen asleep. The king had healed her with
Kell healing crystals. Her whole body had tingled and vibrated with the power of the
crystals. Once she was healed, she struggled to keep her eyes open and had fallen into
a deep restful sleep.

And now he was comforting her after a nightmare. Penny never wanted to leave the
security she felt in his arms. Embarrassingly, her stomach growled in hunger. She
hadn't remembered eating anything past a slice of toast the morning she had gone to
the market.

"How long have I slept?"

"You were in need of rest, my little red; the crystals effects are strong, when used for the
first time. But I have been neglectful in seeing to your needs." She glanced up at him.

"I kind of need a bath or a shower; I know nothing about your land or how things work
here."

Adalardo's gave a soft chuckle." Fear not, I will show and teach you everything you
need to know. There are many differences, but those differences are simple ones. Jane
calls us mystical people," he said with clear amusement.

Penny gave a soft sigh as Adalardo pulled away, moving off the bed.

"Come, let me show you the bathing chamber. While you are bathing I will have the
servants fetch you a meal then it will be an honor to show you my palace and soon the
whole of my kingdom."

Penny was still having trouble comprehending that this man was a real king. Using
words like servants, palace and Kingdom, had her momentarily dazed.

"Um, yes I would like that."

He smiled and walked her to a door.

"I shall send for Vanora. She is a lady of Kell and a mother to all. She will bring you Kell
clothing and help you dress."

He opened the door. Penny glanced into a room that was just as big as her house back
in Tasmania. A deep pool dominated the room. Opulent day lounges off to one side
were covered with rich cream material that Penny supposed were towels. A warm grey
stone offset everything in loving contrast. Penny hadn't taken much notice of the interior
during her bewildered state of finding herself thrust into an alien world. But now she
glanced around with awe. She realized everything sparkled with many crystals and
jewels set into the walls. Crystals were inlaid in the furniture and windows. It was
beautiful.

"You will find lotions by the pool." Adalardo's deep voice brought her attention back to
him.

"Thank you." Taken by a sudden attack of shyness, she glanced up at the large dark
king with his tanned toned skin. She admired the lovely set of his handsome square
chin, the hint of rough stubble across his cheeks chin and neck. He wore only a pair of
loose comfy looking pants and his robe was open displaying a beautifully sculptured
male chest, rippling muscles and fabulous abs. Penny struggled for comparative words
to describe Adalardo, but only drop-dead gorgeous came to mind.

How could this male cover model material, want a plain freckled face woman like her?
Suddenly, old insecurities rushed back with full force. Insecurities that Darrel had
beaten into her. Thoughts of her own worthlessness, of how ugly she was, and how no
one would want her.

"Penny, your face is sad. Tell me what weighs heavy on your mind." Adalardo was quick
to pick up on her sudden change of mood. Penny had no reason to lie and she wasn't
about to start.

"

I…I can't help but wonder why me. You are truly beautiful, and I…I am just plain, ugly. I

have freckles, and dull red hair."

Adalardo moved swiftly, taking gentle but firm hold of her. She gasped as he tugged her
towards a long mirror which stood in the corner of the king's large bed chamber. He held
her hand pinned to her side as he stood towering behind her, keeping her in front of it.

"Tell me what you see?" he demanded firmly.

She forced herself to look at her reflection. Penny always avoided mirrors at home,
glancing to neaten her hair, or tie a scarf, but never really looking at herself, because
she hated who she saw.

"I see me and you behind me." She struggled to keep the tremor out of her voice.

"I see that too, but what do you see when you truly look at yourself?"

"I see a woman who is fat, has ugly freckles and horrid red hair."

"Then you see wrong," he rumbled. "I see a woman with soft brown eyes with a hidden
warmth and fire. I see a face of beauty, fine pale skin, blooming pink cheeks, and lips
full and ripe that I will never tire of wanting to taste. I see hair, soft with colors of ruby
flame. I see a woman whose body is small, delicate, perfectly rounded for me to hold, to
give pleasure too, and take pleasure from."

Penny blinked at her reflection, trying to see herself as he did. He sounded so confident,
so sure. Did he truly see her that way? Penny wasn't sure how to process the bubbling
feelings welling up inside her. She knew in that moment she had fallen utterly in love
with this alien King. Not only did she want to look beautiful to him, she wanted to feel
beautiful for him. She met his reflected gaze in the mirror.

"You are everything I want Penny, and you are everything I need. I have shown you the
truth, but only you can believe it in here." Adalardo released her arms to touch her chest
just above her breasts. She knew what he meant; she had to feel it in her heart. She
had to reject all those inner voices telling her how worthless and ugly she was, and start
believing the truth. She had to believe she was worthy and beautiful. "Believe in yourself
as I believe in you Penny." His soft breath came from just above her ear. She trembled
again from the desire he ignited inside her.

Penny nodded. "I understand, thank you Adalardo." He turned her in his arms to gaze
down into her eyes with a warm smile.

"Now you must go bathe before I forget myself and ravish you." He pushed her back
towards the bathroom. Penny did something she had not done since she had been a
carefree teenager. She actually giggled.

With his large hand on the center of her back, he gave her a gentle push into the room
and closed the door behind him.

From a nightmare into a beautiful dream, yet something nagged at the back of her mind.
The old saying if something seems too good to be true then it probably was. Right now
she didn't care. She was in a safe place were Darrel would never get to her. Darrel was
nothing but a cancer, poisoning her life and slowly killing her. Adalardo was her cure
and hope for a future. By the gods of every land that ever existed, she was going to take
it for all she was worth. Already she was beginning to believe she was of great worth.

Chapter Six

Back in the Hell Realm

…

It had not taken Nasten long to reattach his severed arm. But it had drained him of
some valuable power. Nasten had used the residue of Tuthal's recent portal and more
power to create a viewing window into the world in which Tuthal had escaped.

Nasten watched through the portal he had disguised as a long oval mirror and placed
unnoticed by the humans. Nasten was in a deep rage. Tuthal was going to pay for his
deception. He only needed to find a way to track him. This human realm seemed the
best place to start.

This human realm was on a planet called Earth. Yet it was clear that it had only been
used by Tuthal to try and cover his tracks. The sorcerer was clever but not clever
enough to outwit Nasten. He listened to the human men moving about searching for
'missing women.' Nasten had no care for their affairs. He only wanted the blood of
Tuthal to squeeze between his fingers.

He was a soul dealer. His power and magic came from those who offered their souls to
him. Tuthal, the young Kell, had come to him wanting youth and power; like every other
fool, willingly giving up the most valued and powerful part of any creature. The soul was
the part that held the most magic; the part that held their eternal presence that could
never be destroyed. Nasten thrived on each and every one he took.

"Let me in, where is she, where is my wife?" The screech of a man caught Nasten's
attention. A pale skinned human man was glancing around the small dwelling. "That's
her basket." His voice was one of distress, yet there was falseness about it that Nasten
easily picked up on. "They have taken my wife."

"Mr. Summerton, we are going to find your wife, along with all the other women they
have taken. If you will wait here a moment, I'll go get a pen. You can give us a
description of your wife and of her last movements."

The man moved in front of the mirror and began to preen, smoothing back his dusty
blond hair, gazing into his blue eyes. Nasten snorted with disgust. This human was
clearly a man of deceit and deception, a darkened tainted soul if ever he had seen one.
A man whose viciousness and vindictiveness was one of a coward.

The Kells had taken his mate. Not that he could blame the Kells for doing so. They had
no doubt rescued her rather than abducted her from such a man as this. Nasten could
see the malevolence and cruelty in the man's eyes. But that was just the kind of
creature Nasten could use to his advantage. Nasten needed a soul to take and a body
to use. This one would do. It was true, he would be limited, but he could still use his
powers through the human, even if the body was weak.

Nasten waved his hand, giving himself a more acceptable human appearance before
letting himself be seen by the human known as Darrel.

"Human, come forth," he beckoned the human closer.

"What the heck? Who are you?"

"I am the one who can make all your dreams come true, return your little wife to you and
make you very, very wealthy."

The man glanced around to make sure he was alone before his blue eyes gleamed with
greed. Yes, Nasten thought, this human would do perfectly.

"How can you make me rich?" was his first question.

"By letting me use something you have and I need, and in exchange I can give you
great riches."

Nasten opened the palm of his hand, making jewels and gold appear. "Tis but a small
trinket of what I can give you, human."

"Okay, what is it you need from me. What do you want me to do?"

"Step through my magic mirror, human, and we will bargain."

The man hesitated." I don't see how. It's just a mirror."

Nasten bit back his irritation at the man's stupidity.

"Place your hand to the glass, my friend, and you will see." When he did so, Nasten
reached forward, grabbed his wrist, and dragged him through.

~ * ~

Crystal Palace,

Kell…

Tamara yawned, stretching her arms towards the ceiling. She was in a chamber just
down the hall from Jane's and Drystan's. She had insisted on her bedchamber being not
too close to Jane and Drystan. She did not want to hear what was obviously going to be
going on between the loving couple. She realized in annoyance all the clothes Tuthal
had brought her were still in his tower. She cursed him under her breath again.

During dinner, she had eaten hungrily, demolishing every morsel that had been placed
in front of her by some younger male servants, much to the approval of a few of the
single warriors who had come to join her at the meal table.

How quickly word had spread that there was a single woman available. Strangely, she
had expected Tuthal to sit and brood or try and chase away the warriors, intent on
making themselves known to her. The warriors complemented Tamara on her beauty,
but were not shy in pointing out the fact she was not as rounded as her sister. Then
they suggested she eat more to help her gain more weight. Tamara did not take
offense, but was amused at the topsy-turvy way the Kell men liked large women rather
than skinny ones.

Apart from Jane, she had never been accused of being too thin. Tamara was far from
stick thin with a curvy size twelve figure that she had learned to use to her advantage.

Tamara was tired; she excused herself from the dinner hall and found her way back to
her bedchamber. She wanted nothing more than to just fall into bed and sleep away her
problems.

Tamara stripped off her clothes and crawled into bed naked. She shivered with cold.
Her mind instantly remembered the warmth of Tuthal's body next to hers. His lager
frame wrapped around her had always kept her warm. She closed her eyes and Tuthal's
dangerously sexy face came to the forefront of her mind.

Even the scar that ran down the left side of his cheek to his eye had added to the
dangerous lure of him. He said he had lost his amber eye in a battle with a dragon.
Tamara sighed. He had told her many things without really revealing his true self. While
she had been nothing but an open book to him. Tamara's heart was heavy and sad.

She blinked back the tears. Her heart and body were still yearning for him. Even if her
mind rebelled at what he had done.

The men who had come and gone from Tamara's life had been much like her, young
attractive and shallow. It was the last man she had been with who had woke her up to
her state of emptiness with his complete and utter lack of care for anyone but himself. In
one way she was grateful for her ex-boyfriend's selfishness. It had made her question
what she really was doing with her life.

She had uprooted herself, left Melbourne and gone to see her sister who she knew was
living in Hobart, Tasmania. Jane had been the sensible sister, breaking away from the
domineering, degrading influence of their mother as soon as she was able.

Tamara thought perhaps she could take a leaf out of her younger sister's book. What
she had discovered of course had changed her life and swept her into the arms of
Tuthal and into the land of Kell.

The man had sold his soul for power. She had to give him credit for wanting to do the
right thing. But how he had done it still grated her the wrong way. When she thought
about it, she and Tuthal were very similar. They both wanted and needed change in
their lives.

Tamara sighed and rolled over again, still cold. As tired as she was, she knew sleep
was not going to come readily. She closed her eyes, and in the next moment, a strong
arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back against a familiar warm body.

"You're not meant to be here, Tuthal," she said softly, without even opening her eyes.
"I'm still mad at you." His lips found the back of her neck, placing a soft kiss upon it.

"You only punish yourself, to deny yourself pleasures as well as my warmth, my little
beauty."

Tamara smiled inwardly. It was true. She had become quite addicted to the mind-
blowing pleasures Tuthal could give her.

"Did you truly believe I would let you go so easily? That I would allow anyone to ever
touch you but me?" He splayed his fingers over her stomach, sliding it up to cup her
breast. "You are mine, we belong together. I will be your protector."

Tamara bit back a moan as rolled her hardened nipple between his thumb and
forefinger, pinching it. His other hand slid over the curve of her bottom, pushing her legs
apart to delve between them, coming to play with her clit as he teased and tormented
her nipple.

She had no hope of resisting Tuthal, nor did she want to. She was already wet and
wanting, so apt was he at manipulating her body.

"

A…are you taking a…way my…freedom…of choice?" Her words were coming now on

breathy little pants.

"Beauty, you chose me the moment you placed your hand in mine, that first time back
on Earth."

His hot breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine as his fingers inflamed her
body. She surrendered to his skillful touch. It was almost annoying how he made
everything so logical. She had chosen him and knew deep down there would be no
other.

"

You…you hurt me," she managed to gasp out as one of his thick fingers slid deeply

into her hot, wet pussy. He began to slowly finger fuck her while keeping his thumb on
her swollen clit, flicking it from side to side, pushing her towards release.

"I feel deeply your pain, my beauty. I regret that I hurt you that way. I assure you it will
never happen again."

Tamara let out her moan when he added a second finger alongside the first. Greedily,
she pushed her hips back, wanting more, needing more.

"Say you forgive me, my Tamara; say you will be my protected," Tuthal murmured
huskily in her ear.

Her mind was hazy with the pleasure washing over her. She could not deny Tuthal, but
he couldn't get away with it that easily. She gathered her wits just enough to answer
him.

"I will forgive you, but you must be punished."

Abruptly his fingers stilled and withdrew from her body. Tamara bit back her wail of
protest and turned in his arms to gaze up into his mismatched eyes.

"You wish to punish me?"

She could have laughed at the confused expression on his face.

"Oh yes, don't you think you deserve punishment for what you put me through."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "What do you have in mind for punishment?"

Tamara's lips curved up into a wicked smile.

"How about I get to tie you to the bed and tease you with my tongue to the brink of
insanity." She could see Tuthal was having difficulty suppressing a smile.

"If this is your punishment, then so be it."

"Oh, not until you finished what you just started big boy. Make me come, make me
scream with pleasure then fuck me until I don't know where you begin or I end."

"I vow that you will. This means you are mine now?"

Tamara gave a small chuckle.

"Yes, I will be your protected." Tamara gasped as he held out his hand and a small gold
bracelet appeared in the palm of his hand.

"You know, you're going to have to teach me that trick one day," she mumbled, as he
snatched up her wrist and put the bracelet around it, snapping it in place with the small
heart shaped lock.

"It is done, you are claimed. You are mine for eternity." The pride in his voice was
evident.

She smiled with all the love she felt in her heart for Tuthal. There was no reason to keep
it hidden any longer. She reached up to put her arms around Tuthal's neck. The gold of
her new wedding bracelet gleamed in the pale light of the glow crystals in the walls
around them.

"Well, husband, I love you."

"I did know that, but it will always be a pleasure, a joy to my heart and soul to hear it
from your lips," he said with an arrogant gleam in his mismatched eyes.

Tamara laughed, rather than feel insulted.

"And I love you, my beautiful Tamara." Her heart soared at his words.

He lowered his head, capturing her lips, kissing her with a heated passion. Tuthal
shifted his body over hers as he plundered her mouth with his tongue, possessing every
recess of her mouth until she her head was spinning.

His lips trailed kisses down her throat, across her collar bone, and down between the
valley of her breasts. His hands skimmed up across and over her body, leaving not
once inch of her untouched.

Tamara loved the feel of his hands. His right one, which held his staff and swung his
sword, had rougher callouses than his left. She loved the delicious friction she felt as he
glided it across her sensitive skin.

"Oh, Tuthal, I burn for you," she gasped, as his tongue swirled around her right nipple
before taking the mound of flesh into his mouth, sucking really hard, making her
stomach clench and clit pulse. Good god, he knew how to flip every damn switch in her
body and turn the dial up to overload.

She writhed beneath him when his fingers once again found their place between her
legs. He flicked her clit several times. Tamar's hips cantered off the bed when he
pinched her swollen clit hard between his fingers and bit down on her nipple just hard
enough to cause a small level of pain to shoot through her. It was all it took for Tamara
to come screaming. Her breast fell from Tuthal's mouth and his fingers were suddenly
gone from between her thighs.

Tuthal quickly shifted, moving his big body down the bed. He shoved her thighs wide,
his face disappearing between her outstretched legs to her exposed and quivering
pussy. Tuthal's strong hand gripped her hips as she tried to pull away from his questing
hot tongue then he lapped at her pussy with low growls of pleasure. Tamara moaned;
she undulated and writhed as his talented tongue speared into her deeply.

Good god, he was doing it again. Well, she had demanded it of him, hadn't she? All
Tamara could do was ride out the wave as he pushed her body towards another climax.

He hovered above her; she growled her protest when he stopped. Tuthal shifted again,
rising up to cover her body with his larger one, and in the next instant she felt him thrust
his large cock into her body. The sudden force of his penetration pushed open the inner
wall of her wet channel and had her coming, hard.

He caught her scream with his mouth as he pulled back and plunged in again and again
in long deep strokes. She shifted her legs around his hips, feeling every damn large
inch of him, as her inner walls still convulsed around his cock. He groaned into her
mouth as his tongue pushed in deeply, tangling with hers while she kissed him with
abandoned fervor. Her body felt like a mass of boneless jelly as he pounded into her
over and over. He knew she loved it when he was rough and took her hard like this.

"Mine, mine, mine," Tuthal panted against her lips. She could feel his body start to
tremble in her arms. He let out a long low growl then pushed his face into the crook of
her neck and bit down. The pain suddenly shocked Tamara into a third climax, as his
seed spurted deep into her womb. Her pussy clenched down on his cock, milking him
for everything he was worth. After along moment of shuddering, he groaned and
collapsed on top of her. The only sounds in the room were their rapid breathing.

"Baby, as much as I love you on top of me, you're damn heavy," she squeaked. She felt
his chest rumble with a chuckle. He pushed himself up, gazing down at her with the
smile she loved to see on his face.

"Mayhap, I should rethink the claiming," he teased. "You are sure going to drain all my
strength, but it will be worth every drop. I will die a happy man of Kell."

"You're a big oaf, that's what you are." Tamara was quite enjoying this playful side of
Tuthal. It was one she had not seen before. Perhaps gaining back his soul had brought
with it his lost sense of humor.

He withdrew from her body rolling to the side. She laid her head on his chest and
yawned. "Well you've tuckered me out, baby. If that was the start of our honeymoon,
then we are going to need lots of rest to survive the rest of it," Tamara murmured
sleepily.

"Aye, my beauty, survive it for the rest of our lives."

That sounded damn good to her.

Chapter Seven

Hobart Tasmania…

"Mr. Summerton?" Nasten blinked through the dull human eyes. Oh yes, the man in the
dismal grey clothing was using the human's name. Rattling around, banging against his
possession the human man was screaming to be let out, to be set free. Nasten had
managed to take the man's soul, possess his body and step back through the portal in
what he considered record time.

"Your soul and your body are mine to possess until my revenge is complete. Then you
will receive the reward you deserve," Nasten told Darrel to shut him up. Yet Darrel
continued to whine about the darkness and pain. Nasten wanted to growl.

"Silence or you will know real pain, when I rip your still beating heart from your chest
and let you watch it," he warned. The threat seemed to work, as Darrel fell silent.

"Mr. Summerton, are you alright?" the human lawman asked.

Nasten had gleaned all the information he needed from the human's mind.

"Yes." He cocked his head and regarded the human surroundings he found himself in.
An image of two women together caught his attention. He walked over and picked up
the small, framed picture. The lusty full figured wench was the first of the women that
Tuthal had shown him to temp him into giving back his soul, and the second was the
prize Tuthal had offered him and was now his due. He saw the resemblance in the two
women-sisters. He set the photo down to pick up a second. The fuller figured woman
stood with a tall Kell man who was holding her in his arms.

"One of my officers can drive you home if you like. Mr. Summerton."

"You will find these women? I seek these women." He didn't like the sound of the
human's nasally voice. But it was a soul and a body to use.

"Don't worry yourself, Mr. Summerton. We will do our best to find them."

"Yes, find them." The man was trying to lead him out of the very small room with
meager furnishings. "I would like to go home now." The Kell had taken Darrel's human

mate. Nasten knew if he bided his time, perhaps the Kells would come to him; lead him
to Tuthal and the delectable prize that was his due-Tamara.

"You may take me to my home," he told the human lawman.

~ * ~

Crystal Palace,

Kell…

He couldn't keep his eyes off her. Every lush curve was revealed in the ruby red Kell
dress wrapped around her body. The swell of her breasts and the valley of her cleavage
were making his fingers itch to touch them and his mouth water to taste them.

He had always admired the way the Kell women dressed, always displaying the best
parts of their lovely rounded bodies to great effect, and now on these smaller human
women it was divine. A servant bowed low as he passed. Penny glanced up startled.
Adalardo understood she needed a lot of gentle care, a tender soft touch, to bring her
out of the fear and repression she had been living under for so long. Already he could
see her responding to his touch and kind words. He also noticed she wasn't glancing
down as much as she had when they first had arrived back in Kell.

He walked beside her, keeping one of her hands in his at all times, and showed her
about his palace, enjoying her wide eyed wonder at everything he showed and
explained to her. Penny had wanted to touch the glow crystals and had exclaimed in
amazement at the absence of heat. Then he showed her the fire crystals blazing in the
fireplace. She had wanted to know about the small things of the palace, like how they
heated the water and moved it through the palace to the many bath chambers. She was
even curious to learn about the tools the servants used to clean the halls, rooms and
chambers.

He had taken her into the meal hall and had ordered a banquet of Kell's finest foods be
brought before her.

"Oh, no," Penny protested. "It's late I don't want anyone put out for my sake."

"You are my lady, Penny. They will be happy to see your wishes granted as they know it
will please their king," he had assured her. "Feel at ease, my sweet. There is nothing
you could ask or do that could ever make anyone think poorly of you. Here in my land
all women are treasured. They provide their warriors with care, warmth, love and we in
return protect and cherish them."

"I've only seen a few other human women. How come Vanora is the only Kell woman I
have met?"

Adalardo explained why there were very few women; how they had been at war with
their enemy, the Drac. How they had been lured out to battle while the Drac had
ambushed and massacred their female population. Penny had gasped in horror.
Adalardo could see the compassion in her lovely eyes.

"You have no need to fear, Penny, the war is now over. The leader of the Drac is dead.
Any surviving Drac have been scattered to the four corners of the planet."

As the food arrived, he took pleasure in explaining each dish and which plant or animal
it had derived from. She smiled while she ate, continuing to eat until nothing more would
fit in her stomach.

"In the morn break, I must tend to matters of the Kingdom. Will you do me the honor of
being by my side?"

A sudden concern flashed across her expression.

"You really want me for your queen?"

Adalardo nodded. "Yes, no other will do but you, Penny. I had a feeling deep within me,
from the moment I beheld your lovely face. You are the only woman for me."

Again she blushed prettily. She would just have to grow accustomed to his praise and
complements, as he planned never to stop.

"But a queen, Adalardo. I mean, I don't think I could handle such responsibility."

He took her hand, tugging her out of her seat and onto his lap. He gazed down into the
warm brown depths of her worried eyes.

"For one, I will teach you all you need to know; for second, you have a great inner
strength you are yet to discover." He placed his hand just above her breast, to where
her beating heart lay. "The Kell people pride themselves on seeing what is below the
surface of a person. You, my future queen, have great beauty and measure."

Her brown eyes brimmed with tears; she threw her arms around him, her face pressed
against his chest. He kept his arms tightly around her and swung his gaze around the
room, pleased to see everyone else had made a discreet exit.

"Adalardo, I still think this is some kind of dream, and I am scared I will wake up and you
won't be real, that this whole place won't be real, and he will be waiting to find fault and
hit me again."

He tightened his hold on her soft body.

"I am very real my, sweet little red. Never shall anyone ever take you from me; never
shall any one ever harm you. Do you trust me to do this, to be your protector?"

She raised her gaze, her dark red lashes spiked with the wet of her tears. "Yes,
Adalardo, I do, with all my heart I do."

Unable to resist her pink quivering lips any longer, Adalardo dipped his head and caught
them with his own. Soft and gentle he proceeded, so not to startle her. His kisses were
something else she was going to have to grow accustomed to. He would demand them
as a right of King and her protector. He pushed the darkening thought of her human
mate to the back of his mind and focused on the quivering beauty in his arms.

She gave a soft sigh. Adalardo took advantage of her parted lips to slip his tongue into
her mouth to savor and explore the silken depths of her again. He loved how she
tasted-like warm sunshine, a feeling that melted right through the skin to the bone, a
sensation that made a person feel good and so alive.

To his delight she responded with a more urgent hunger to his kiss. He slid his hand up
from her waist to brush against the curve of her breast. Her breasts had been tempting
him with their fullness. He was aching to touch them, now boldly did so. She gasped
then moaned as he plumped her left breast through the material of her dress.

Damn the moons of Kell. He was aching and with each of her positive responses, he
was having a damn hard time staying in control. He had to remember where he was.
With great care he let go, slipped his hand back to her waist, and ravaged her mouth a
little longer to cherish her flavor before pulling back.

"By the moons of Kell, I want you Penny." His tone was hoarse with need.

"Then have me, Adalardo, I am all yours, and I never want to be anyone else's."

Adalardo shoved back his chair. Gripping her tightly in his arms, he rose to his feet.
Penny gasped in surprise at his action.

"I'm too heavy," she protested.

Adalardo growled, "Never doubt the strength of a Kell warrior, Penny."

"No, never again, I love your strength, Adalardo. I love everything about you," she
declared, as he carried her back through the palace halls, ignoring the stares of those
he passed and a few giggles of some of the human women who knew the passion and
delights of their Kell Protectors.

She had freely offered herself, and nothing was going to stop him from taking her.

~ * ~

An instant of doubt ran through Penny's mind, but he held her with secure strong arms.
The heated look in Adalardo's eyes quickly erased all fear. No one had ever looked at
her with such intense passion or reverence. It made her feel beautiful and alive, strong
and confident. Something she hadn't felt for a very long time.

A door slammed shut, startling her from Adalardo's deep gaze. He was kissing her
again. He was always so careful with her as if he was frightened of startling or hurting
her. Penny sensed he was holding back much of his passion in order to be gentle. But it
was not what she wanted with Adalardo.

"This isn't right," she managed to gasp when he let her breathe once again. Adalardo
had laid her down on his bed. He raised his head.

"What is it my sweet? Do you wish to stop; have I pushed you too quickly?"

Penny's heart melted a little more at his concern.

"No, I don't want you to stop. What I don't want is for you to hold back. I want everything
you are, Adalardo; I want everything you have to give. I don't want you to fear that you
will hurt or scare me, because I know you never would."

"Are you sure, Penny? My desire for you is great." She touched his cheek, running her
hand down over his neck to his shoulders.

"I am very sure. I want you to take me how you want to take me, Adalardo; I fear
nothing." A low growl came from this throat. Penny gasped, only to find him sucking the
very air from her lungs with an impassioned kiss. He plundered and possessed every
recess of her mouth as his hands slid along the curve of her waist to her lovely red Kell
dress. And in one hard yank the material tore like tissue paper under his strength,
strength that Penny delighted in.

The lusty hunger in Adalardo's gaze as it swept over her naked body made her feel
attractive, sexy.

"So beautiful, all this creamy, soft skin." His large hands skimmed over her stomach and
thighs, before crossing her ribs; his fingers tickled her, making her shriek with laughter.

"And very sensitive," she gasped.

He grinned too. Adalardo was handsome, but when he smiled at her like that he was
devastatingly gorgeous. Penny had trouble believing this gorgeous King was all hers.

"And all mine." The laughter turned into a moan when he took both of her breasts
between his hands, plumping them, feeling them before his mouth latched onto one,
sucking it deep into his mouth, his tongue flicking across her nipple.

All Darrel had ever done was roughly grope before taking his own pleasure. Sex had
become something she had to endure with Darrel. But Adalardo made her feel alive. He
made her body burn like nothing she had ever experienced.

Penny moaned louder and gasped as his teeth grazed her nipple. He let her breast go
with a soft plop before latching onto her other breast, to begin the torment all over
again.

"Oh, Adalardo," she moaned, smoothing her hands over his broad muscled shoulders,
loving the feel of smooth skin over hard strong muscle. One of Adalardo's hands had
snaked its way down across her belly and through the junction of her red curls.

Penny almost jumped off the bed when two of his thick fingers slipped between her
folds to find her hot and wet. Her swollen clit ached for attention, as each tug of his
mouth on her breast was making her clit pulse. She cried out when he started to rub her
clit in firm fast circles. She writhed, panted and moaned over and over. Pushed to a

height she had never known. Even the first time she had learned to pleasure herself, it
had never been this good.

She had not known pleasure again. Since she had married Darrel, it was all about his
pleasure, not hers. She had begun to forget about things like the pleasures of the body,
after years of not knowing it. Darrel had even forbidden her to ever touch herself, calling
her a dirty, selfish slut.

Penny's body began to tremble. She sucked in a sharp breath when her breast fell from
his mouth. He pushed her thighs further apart and slid in a thick finger, twisting it up to
hit at a spot she had only read about. Penny's breath hitched and a split second later
she came, feeling it spear through her body like lightning.

"So beautiful, they way your skin flushes pink when you come. This is something I know
I will never tire of watching you do, my sweet little red."

She barely heard his low husky voice as he slowly continued to push his fingers in and
out of her.

"Forgive me, my sweet, it has been a long time since I've had the pleasures of such a
beautiful woman. I need to have you now."

"Yes, darling, oh yes, take me." Penny almost moaned in disappointment when he
withdrew his fingers. She gasped as Adalardo lifted her in his arms so she was
straddling his waist. Penny hadn't been afforded the chance to look at the rest of his
body or his cock. Darrel had only ever fucked her from behind when he didn't want to
see her face.

Adalardo held her in his arms, his dark intense passion filled gaze, staring into her
brown eyes as he slowly pulled her body down onto his. Penny's eyes went wide when
she felt the thickness of him penetrating her. Good god, he was big. She let out a long
moan as his thick cock stretched open her inner walls.

Adalardo suddenly froze.

"Little red, are you alright? Am I hurting you?" There was concern in his expression, his
voice strained with the effort it took to keep himself still.

"No, I am fine. Don't stop, I want this. I want you, all of you." Penny gripped his shoulder
and pushed her body down to impale herself. Not only was he thick but he was long. His
cock was imbedded in her channel, impossibly deep.

"You feel so good, so hot, by the moons of Kell, so tight, my sweet. I will not last with
your tight sheath gripping me like this," he groaned.

Adalardo held tightly to her hips as started to pump into her. She threw her head back
and moaned at the intense feeling of him moving inside her. Every sensitive nerve
ending was screaming with the pleasure of him filling her so wide and deep. Despite the
first orgasm, she knew if he kept doing this, she was going to come again. She needed
him to move faster, but was feeling too timid to ask.

"Say it!" he demanded suddenly. "Never hide your thoughts from me, Penny. I am not
him."

No he wasn't, damn it. She wasn't going to let Darrel rule over her life any longer. She
was not going to hold back from what she wanted. Adalardo had given her freedom and
she was going to use it.

"Fuck me faster, harder!"

"Aye, my lady." Adalardo gave a strained laugh, shifted them both and she fell on her
back. Adalardo started thrusting with deep quick penetrating strokes. Oh yes, this was
just what she wanted. Penny went wild beneath him, her King, her everything. She
raised her hips to meet each stroke, gasping and groaning loudly writhing and clinging
to him, tugging down his head so she could kiss him with the passion she felt.

"Penny, Penny, Penny," he gasped her name in reverence. "Come for me, my Penny."
Every nerve ending screamed with overloaded pleasure as she was helpless to do
anything but obey his command. Crying out, never had she come so hard in all her life.

Adalardo gave a deep guttural groan as she felt the heat of his seed spilling deep into
her body. She held him as he trembled and collapsed on top of her, his arms bracing
the bulk of his weight so not to crush her. For the longest time they simply lay like that.
Finally Adalardo raised his head and gave the softest kiss of gratitude.

"Never have I felt like this with another. I knew you were meant to be mine." He shifted,
slowly withdrawing from her body.

"I know the feeling," she murmured, enjoying the fact that he had tugged her back into
his arms. Her head rested upon his chest. His arms wrapped around her, cuddling her
against him. "You are the most amazing man I have ever met. I love you, Adalardo, and
I am more than happy to be yours, if you are happy to be mine."

"Always, my sweet little Penny. We belong together and to each other. You are my
heart, and I love you, my sweet. I always will."

Chapter Eight

The warm soft body next to his was a wonder, a comfort he never wanted to go without.
Sunlight had just started to filter in through the window; he enjoyed watching his woman
sleep, proud of the great steps she had taken in such a short time. Adalardo wondered
at the human world where so many women were demeaned and devalued. In his view,
taking women from Earth rescued them from a degrading society. After a manner they
were saving each other. Giving them back their value and strength, human women were
much like unpolished crystals; when handled properly and with the right care they
gleamed and shone. His Penny was a bright jewel, and already she was beginning to
shine.

Adalardo thought back many moons to the words of Tuthal. 'What you need are women
of new blood, from a new land.' There was much he didn't know about his mysterious
Kell sorcerer. Adalardo felt it was time to bring the sorcerer cast out of the darkness and
into the light. He detested secrets in his Kingdom; he wanted to rule his land with
openness, honesty and light.

His lady stirred and snuggled deeper into his warmth. Adalardo smiled at her tender
subconscious action. He stroked her silken hair and the soft skin of her naked back. He
felt her breathing alter and a yawn escape her lips as she began to awaken. Slowly her
eyes fluttered open; she seemed to stare at his chest for a moment before shyly raising
her eyes to meet his.

"Good morning my lady." She licked her lips and Adalardo couldn't resist dipping his
head to taste them, taking in her soft sigh.

"Good morning my king," she answered with a contented smile. When he ended their
kiss, he pulled back to gaze at her. There was a brief knock at the door before it was
swung open and servants started to walk in, carrying the morning preparations and
morn break meal. Penny gasped, clutching at the sheet, her face flushed.

"Are you ashamed to be seen with me, Penny?" he asked, curious to her reaction.

"No, I

…um, am just not used to people walking in like that."

"I would not allow anyone to see you unrobed, my little red," he chuckled. "Come." he
pulled from her arms and climbed off the bed. The servants placed the breakfast on the
table, giving a respectful bow before making a swift exit.

"See they are gone, come." He watched as Penny hesitated, glancing around. Adalardo
was amused that she wished to cover herself.

"There is no one to see you but I, and I wish to see you as you are, while we enjoy our
morn break meal."

Her eyes widened. "I'

ve never…" she started. He saw the change of thought and

expression roll over her face, accepting his wish to keep her de-robed.

"Hummm, I see I have created a dilemma for myself," Adalardo commented, as he
could not hide the reaction of his body, watching her stride in all her naked glory
towards him. "See how you affect me? Now I must decide what to dine on first, you or
the food."

Her body flushed almost crimson at his words. He laughed.

"I best feed you first. I have no wish for you to fade away on me."

Penny gave a rather un-lady like snort. "I hardly think there is any chance of that."

He could see she was finding more confidence in being naked around him. As she
walked, he watched her lovely round ass move, her soft skin temptingly beckoning to
him. She sat down at the table where the food had been laid. "But I am hungry."

Adalardo joined her. "The decision is made then my lady. Sate your body with food then
I will sate your body with pleasure. Tis' a fine way to start the day," he declared,
enjoying Penny's laughter.

"Your majesty is a cad."

He raised a quizzical eyebrow, reaching for the sweetened stag milk.

"Cad?"

"It's an old earth term for irresistibly charming man."

"Then I am indeed a cad. But only your cad, my little red." His heart sang in his chest as
her smile brightened the whole room. Indeed, he had found his perfect queen.

~ * ~

Penny learned that the Kell people were divided into casts and each cast was
represented by a head. There was the warrior cast, royal cast, scholar cast, then there
was the tradesmen cast who built the buildings made the weapons and armor. There
were crystal gathers, and the servant cast who tended the needs of everyone, and the
food cast, who saw that crops were grown and animals tended to. Penny was amazed
to see that not one of the casts thought themselves above or below any of the others,
but more to the point, they were all vital parts of a whole that helped the kingdom
function. They were all proud, honest and hardworking men.

She watched as Adalardo conducted the affairs of his Kingdom, talking to the cast
heads about certain matters which had arisen within each circle. Adalardo listened to
and offered ideas to help sort out each cast's problems or issue.

Penny later rode with Adalardo on strange moose-horse like creatures that had curled
horns coming from the top of their heads. Wherever the king went, he was always
shadowed by two or more guarding warriors.

The Crystal palace itself was set high on a mountainside completely overlooking a deep
emerald ocean. Trees were shades of blue, pink and silver, mixing in the dark brown of
the earth, and everywhere she looked crystals of so many different colors sparkled and
shone. Penny could never have imagined a more beautiful and magical place.

She saw more Kell men as they rode through the town. Adalardo explained it was a
newly established village. Penny couldn't help but notice there were so many Kellmen
and quite a few young teenaged boys. One youthful looking Kell male held a small girl in
his arms. Penny guessed she couldn't have been more than three or four years old.

"One of our few surviving Kell females," Adalardo explained quietly, as he helped her
dismount from the stag. Penny approached the teen and child with a smile.

The young man gave a polite bow to the King.

"This is the Lady Penny and future queen of Kell," announced Adalardo in a loud voice
to those who had gathered to see why the King had come.

Nerves rattling, Penny kept herself calm and smiled. She glanced around at expectant
faces.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. What is your name?" she asked the tall Kell boy.

"Carlum, lady. This is my sister, Krysta. He held out the chubby, dark haired and dark
eyed little girl. Penny took her into her arms. Instantly the little girl cuddled into her.
Penny held her tightly against her breast, rocking her in her arms.

Desperately, she wanted a child of her own. But that was something she had yet to tell
Adalardo about. She had been with Darrel for five years, and in that time she had never
been able to conceive. Although she had never seen a doctor, she was certain that she
couldn't. She knew he would want children.

"Our mother was murdered in the Drac raid," Carlum explained.

"I am deeply sorry for your losses," she responded with heartfelt sadness.

"Thank you," Carlum said, looking longingly at Penny. To have mothers, sisters and
wives taken in such a way must have been devastating on the whole population.

"Mummma," the little girl said clinging onto Penny.

A few of the men gasped. Penny glanced up startled, wondering if she had done
something wrong.

A more elderly looking Kell man, with streaks of silver in his black hair, stepped forward.
The older Kell male was almost as tall as Adalardo.

"You have a healing touch, Lady Penny. Little Krysta has said not a word since her
mother was taken."

She felt Adalardo's hand on her shoulder; she glanced up to see the look of pure pride
and adoration on his face.

"It's going to be alright, Krysta," Penny told her softly then kissed the top of her hair.
"You have a big brave brother to take care of you." She moved to hand the child back,
but the little girl clung to her like super glue.

"I tell you what, Krysta, you go back to your brother now, and I promise to visit you
again very soon. Perhaps you could show me some games you like to play, or I can
show you some games I like to play." The little girl looked up at her with her big dark
eyes. "What do you say?"

She nodded, "You come back?"

"Yes, I will come back." Penny smiled. Krysta untangled her fingers from around her
neck and kissed Penny's cheek, before reaching out for her brother, who took his sister
back into his arms.

"Your majesty, you have made a wise choice for a queen." The elderly Kell man spoke
his approval.

"Yes, I thank you, Eimar; she is a fine lady and will indeed make a fine queen. I beg
your patience. Although never will we erase the memory of those we have lost, we are
working to bring every man a new future," he told the assembled men. They gave a
cheer at his words.

He escorted Penny back to the large stag and lifted her up onto the saddle before
mounting behind her.

"I always know when something is troubling you, my sweet. You may as well tell me,"
he said as he turned the stag pushing it into a trot heading back up long path that led to
the Palace.

"I guess nothing gets past you." Penny smiled. She liked the fact he was so observant
and attuned to her moods and thoughts.

"The children, I know you are going to want one."

"One, my dearest Penny, we are going to fill the Palace halls with them, many fine sons
and daughters, Princes and Princess of the royal cast." There was complete confidence
in his tone. "Do you not wish this also?"

"Yes, yes I want nothing more than to give you children, but I've never been able to
conceive with my past Earth-mate." Penny mused, how easily she was slipping into their
way of talking.

"If ever there was something wrong within your body, you need not fear, my sweet little
red. You have been healed by the Kell healing crystals. They heal everything from the
inside out, and every Kell male knows how potent their seed is." He said the last few
words with a chuckle.

Penny gasped. "We had unprotected sex after you healed me. That means I could
already be pregnant?"

"I would not have come inside you if it was not my wish. I know I have gone against
customary law, as you are not yet my protected or my queen. But I could not stop
myself with you. Your softness, you're warmth and passion inflame my heart, body and
soul. If we have created life, it will be an occasion of great celebration. Mayhap I shall
have to make love to you over and over."

Penny couldn't help but laugh at the teasing tone and smile in Adalardo's voice.

"Gee, if that's how you choose to celebrate, I may have to think of many other things to
celebrate as well." How light hearted she felt. To have a child with Adalardo would be
truly wonderful.

Chapter Nine

Tamara wondered into the Kell gardens to find Jane sitting and singing to her rounded
belly. Tamara smiled. Jane paused to glance up.

"You know, I don't think my little niece or nephew is going to appreciate you singing
Spice Girls' songs."

Jane laughed at Tamara's comment. "Hey, each to their own, I see it didn't take Tuthal
too long to get you back." Jane was staring at the bracelet encircling Tamara's wrist.

"I forgave him, with a few conditions attached." There was a chill in the Kell air. Tamara
gave a shiver and rubbed her arms.

"Why am I not surprised? But are you truly okay?"

"Yes, more than okay, I feel great for the first time in a long time."

"Hummm, I know what you mean. This place, these people have that effect on a
woman, and don't get too surprised when you find yourself sporting one of these too."
Jane rubbed her tummy again. "Drystan says boy but I feel girl."

Tamara laid her hand on Jane's stomach. Feeling wistful, Jane had always been a
beautiful girl, but now Tamara could see the happiness and love in her life made her
radiant.

She turned her thoughts to children and her own body's cycle counting back the days
since she had been with Tuthal. Not once had they used protection, nor had she really
thought about it until now.

"Well, speaking of one of these, I'm more than a few days late for my period."

Jane's face brightened. "Really? You know I've got a heap of pregnancy tests back in
my chambers. I brought them over during the last Earth-Kell trip. A few of the other
women have been requesting them, as the Kells have no real for sure way to tell if a
woman's pregnant other than a round tummy and several missed periods." Jane
climbed to her feet.

Nervousness mixed with excitement over the possibly Tamara could be pregnant. Jane
seemed more excited than she did, though. Tamara laughed then linked her arm with
her sister as they went back inside.

~ * ~

A short time later Tamara sat in Jane and Drystan's chambers watching as two small
pink stripes appeared on the strip. Yup, guess she was up the duff after all. They had
created a child together. The thrill of finding out she was pregnant ran through her; she
knew Tuthal would also be thrilled to discover he was going to be a father. She also
wondered if Tuthal's powers would be passed on to the child. He was of what he called
the sorcerer cast, as Drystan was of the warrior cast and so on and so forth. The males
took on the cast titles. But as for the women, they were free of any title other than
protected and mate.

"Oh my god!" squealed Jane. Bubbling over with excitement, she hugged Tamara
tightly. "When are you going to tell him?"

"Soon, I guess." Tamara blinked, realizing she was still staring at the pregnancy test.
Tamara felt her stomach flutter with both nerves and excitement, wondering how Tuthal
was going to take the news that he was going to be a father.

She sighed, thinking it was a good thing Tuthal had insisted she become his protected.
Tamara liked the simple process of slapping a bracelet on; she lifted her wrist to look at
the shiny gold band. She enjoyed the simplicity and uncomplicated way of life in Kell
and was happy she would be raising her child in such a wonderful place.

"You're not excited?" Jane asked.

Tamara laughed. "Yes, but I think you have enough excitement for the both of us." The
sisters laughed. There came a knock at the door.

"Come on in," sing-songed Jane. The door swung open and Vanora's smiling face
greeted them.

"The ladies have assembled for afternoon tea. Will you be joining us?" Vanora asked
hopefully.

"Yes, we're on our way." Jane smiled rising to her feet. "Tamara, come meet some of
the women who now live in Kell."

A group of six women Tamara hadn't met before sat talking. They glanced up as Jane
and Tamara walked in.

"Jane!" they all greeted with wide happy smiles.

"Ladies, let me introduce you to my sister, Tamara, and newly Protected of Tuthal."

"Ohhh, I've heard of him, the sorcerer. If you ask me, all these Kell men are magical."

Jane smiled. "Tamara, this is Sara," she introduced a large blond woman, "Elly, Lucy,
Rachel, Breanna and Kristy."

"Is it true? That the King has someone now?" Sara asked.

"Well, kind of. Her name is Penny, but there are a few complications."

"Huh, I knew it. She's married, right?"

"Yes, but I hear her husband is a real bastard and used to hit her."

"Oh, so did mine. I got away from the smarmy son-of-a-bitch," Lucy, a long curly dark-
haired brunette said. "But I couldn't be happier with my Merlon."

To Tamara's amusement the women gave a collective sigh. "Nor I with Anyon."

"Jane found you all through that match making service?" Tamara asked, taking a seat.

"Yup. I was shocked at first, but once I got a look at the Kell men, the hunk-o-meter was
off the charts. I said fuck Earth, Kell's the place for me and I haven't looked back since,"
said Elly, with a dreamy smile.

"Ladies." The deep voice of the King startled all the women present. "Jane." The King
smiled at her. Penny stood by his side. "May Penny join you for the afternoon? I have
pressing business in the northern sector of the village."

"Of course, we were just discussing hunk-o-meters." Jane laughed. Penny looked
bewildered, and Adalardo chuckled.

"I have no desire to know that that is. I bid you a good afternoon." He placed a kiss on
Penny's cheek before swiftly making an exit as the women burst into a fit of giggles.

~ * ~

Penny found herself surrounded by women who were peppering her with all sorts of
questions about the King. What was he like in bed? Was he married? What was going
to happen?

"Ladies, ladies please." Jane cut them off. "Are you okay?"

Penny was touched by the concern in Jane's face. "I'm okay. Still getting used to being
here, so much has happened in such a short time."

"That tends to be the common story around here. Don't worry though, I'm sure you
wouldn't be in Kell if you weren't meant to be."

Penny smiled at Jane and glanced at the thinner woman, who she remembered as
Jane's sister Tamara.

"Could you tell me how you all came to be here?" Penny asked the women. They were
more than happy to relate their stories. The young male servants had brought them
drinks and little sandwich-like food. Penny found she was at ease among these women;
each and every woman was more than happy to be living in Kell and in love with their
Kell warriors. These women lived in the Palace, but more lived down in the village they
had visited earlier.

A few of the women were newly pregnant and were excited over the fact. One woman,
Breanna, told her how she had suffered three miscarriages with her ex-husband. This
time she wasn't worried about losing her new baby as she had confidence in the power
of the Kell healing crystals. They told Penny how much better their lives were now they
were in Kell, and they adored the men they had chosen as their Protectors.

All too soon some of the Protector husbands came to claim back their wives. The
women were more than willing to be dragged away from the group, until only Jane and
Tamara were left.

"Tuthal's out getting our stuff from his tower," Tamara said. "We are moving into the
Northern part of the palace. I've yet to see it."

"Why don't we go find Vanora and check it out? It's going to take me years before I stop
getting lost, while wandering around this palace," said Jane with a half smile. Penny
was happy to roam around with Tamara and Jane.

Chapter Ten

Tuthal felt an uncommon, yet not unwelcomed emotion of contentment as he sat with
many other men of Kell in the palace dining hall. Most of the mated men wore the same
expression of pleasure in having their protected by their sides. The merriment was high
as the women added to the growing happiness of the Kell people.

Tuthal knew he would be required to create many more portals through to Earth,
collecting many more human women, before the Kingdom could be once again assured
of a healthy population growth.

He also knew the King wanted to know the secrets of his cast. Some secrets he was not
willing to give up, just yet. Nor the origin of the sorcerers cast, a line that would be
eventually passed on to the children he would have with his Protected. She glanced up
at him, regarding him with a small smile.

"Your smile holds secret thought's, my beauty," he leaned down to whisper.

"Yes, and you're not going to find out until later."

Tuthal chuckled, loving his fiery mate's boldness as well as the acceptance and love
shining in her beautiful blue eyes.

"I hope you've left the bed in the tower," Tamara said when Tuthal had returned to find
her helping the servants make their new chambers clean and tidy. "I kind of like the idea
of having a seaside holiday place."

"But of course." He thanked the servants who had assisted in moving many of his trunks
into the North Tower and their new dwelling. As soon as the door had closed, he pulled
his woman into his arms. She accepted his kiss. But when he made to tug her towards
the bed to ravish her, she squirmed and tried to pull away.

"No, no you don't."

He didn't want to let her go but he needed to relieve his aching cock.

"You deny me?" He was wounded that she would reject him. "I have great need of you
my beauty."

"Yes, baby I know. You hurt, you ache, and you need my body," she teased like a
temptress. "But you are going to wait until after the meal tonight. Wait for your
punishment." Tuthal wanted to toss her on the bed and take her. He knew she wouldn't
resist. But the thought of this punishment she wished to put him through had him even
more curious.

"As my lady wishes," he conceded. He knew whatever she had in store, it was going to
be good.

It felt like an eternity had passed before they were able to return to their new chambers
in the North Tower. Once the door closed, Tamara ordered him to disrobe and lay on
the bed. When he complied she removed her clothing, crawled up over him, and he let
her place his arms where she wished.

Tuthal fought the urge to grin like fool. He tugged at the silk tie that held his left wrist.
Although firm, he could break them if he desired to. Why would he wish to move when
Tamara's naked breasts hung above his face? She was forced to lean over him in order
to secure his right wrist to the slats at the head of their bed.

He glanced up at the wicked, seductive smile on her face. It was a pleasure to behold.
Allowing her to have power over him as his 'punishment' had him thinking he should
have let her 'punish' him long before now. His cock already strained, aching for her
touch.

"Hummm baby, looks like your little sorcerer is eager." She glanced down at his
throbbing length. She slid her body down over his, to focus on his cock. Air hissed
between his teeth as her tongue darted out, giving his head a long wet lick before she
pulled back to blow, sending spiked pleasure and pain coursing through his cock. She
gave him a wicked smile.

"Fire demon," he growled.

"Uh, huh baby, it was the demon that got you into this in the first place. Now you are
going to endure until I take mercy on you."

She traced a finger over his abdomen; he watched her take delight in his body, loving
the way her eyes gleamed with admiration and pleasure.

"What are you going to do?" He was curious as to her next action.

"Shhh, baby. No talking, just feel." Tuthal was more than happy to oblige his sexy little
mate. Like a screel cat she stalked up his body, lightly tracing her fingers along his skin.
His muscles clenched at her touch when she lowered her head, licking across one
masculine nipple then the other while her hands explored him. It was maddening not
being able to touch her in return. Tuthal was now beginning to understand the
'punishment' part in all this pleasure. Lightly, she traced another of his scars. He tensed
when she pinched his left nipple between her fingers. She placed open mouth kisses
over his abdomen and side, wetting his skin, before blowing it with the cool air.

Tuthal growled low when her leg brushed against his cock. She sat up, appearing
delighted.

"Baby wants to come?" she teased, sliding herself lower until the crack of her ass rested
along his angry swollen cock.

Tamara raised her beautiful curved body to rub against it, before sitting up again. Tuthal
watched as she started playing with her own body. Never before had he beheld such a
sight. He had only known women to be pleasured by their men. In no way had he seen
them take self-pleasure.

She squeezed and pumped her breasts, pinching her own nipples between her fingers,
letting her head fall back, moaning loudly.

"Oohhh yes, mummm feels soo good."

He groaned again, watching as she splayed her fingers, running them down her body
and down between her open thighs. He could see the heat of her desire, glistening with
her juices.

She slid her finger over her clit and started rubbing, panting and moaning. Tuthal tugged
against his restraints. He was near to the breaking point of his endurance, watching his
woman pleasure herself when he should be the one making her writhe and moan.
Combined with the fact her ass was rubbing against his painful cock.

He growled. "Tamara."

She opened her eyes, glancing down at him. "I'm getting close to coming. Do you want
to make me come, baby?"

"You know I do." His voice was strained.

"Want me to sink my tight body down onto your little sorcerer?"

"Aye!" he almost yelled. Her hand found his cock, stroked and squeezed, loving the feel
of her soft flesh surrounding him.

"Do you want this punishment to continue?"

"I want you, now!"

Tamara gave a resigned sigh. She licked her lips and slid down further to lick his hard
shaft in long slow licks before opening her mouth wide and sucking the tip and the first
few inches of him into her mouth.

She could hear him growling, deep moans of pleasure, chanting her name over and
over. There was no way she would be able to take the whole length of him down her
throat. She swallowed what she could, letting her throat muscles work the head of his
cock for a few seconds before having to pull back. Tuthal gave a guttural moan of
pleasure.

"I want to be inside you when I come," he growled impatiently. Tamara sighed and
pulled off him.

"Alright, I think you've learned your lesson. You

can…"

Tuthal never gave her time to finish her words. Breaking the ties, he grabbed her by the
shoulders and flipped her, placing himself between her legs then thrust into her. He
screamed as her inner walls clenched around his cock.

Tuthal relentlessly thrust into her as deeply as he could go. Over and over, harder and
faster. He closed his eyes, feeling the incredible pleasure come shooting through his
cock all over his body. He shouted Tamara's name as he came. His body shuddered as
he spilled into her before collapsing onto his side.

"You are the most amazing woman," he managed to say after a long moment. Tamara
snuggled into his body. "I love you too, baby, and I have something else to tell you."

"What be that my beauty?"

"You're going to be a father."

Tuthal glanced down at the woman in his arms as her words began to register.

"You are with child?"

"Isn't that what I just said? I am pregnant with your child. We're going to be parents."

He gazed into her beautiful blue depths, seeing the love she had for him shining
through. Joy of this news spread through him. Never could he have believed such
happiness existed. Deep within his regained soul, she completed a part of him. And it
was something he could never lose again. A child--it heightened the pleasure rippling
through his heart.

He crushed her to him, kissing her with reverence and love.

"My beautiful Tamara, you bring me such joy. Without you even my soul is worthless. I
will prove myself a worthy Protector and father," he promised solemnly.

"Well, you can start by not crushing me to death."

He loosened his hold, chuckling slightly.

"Apologies, my beauty," he kissed her face.

"I love you too, Tuthal. I love you so damn much." She sighed, snuggling into his
warmth. Gently he stroked her back, holding her close to his heart, a place he would
always keep her.

Chapter Eleven

"The time has come," Adalardo had informed Penny. She sat in the meeting room and
gave them the information they wanted in order to retrieve Darrel. She was as nervous
as hell and wished they didn't have to do this, but it was their way and she would
respect that.

"We have an address." Drystan, Jane's husband was studying a map of the Hobart
streets. Jane pointed to the street.

"I will open the portal on that street and hold it open until you both return." Penny gave a
worried glance to Adalardo.

"Are you sure you have to do this? I mean can we just leave him there to rot and
consider myself divorced?"

"Be at ease, Penny. He cannot harm you. This is the way of the Kell. It must be done in
order for us to be mated and I to become your protector."

Penny nodded. "Alright, I trust you Adalardo."

"Thank you my sweet." He took her hand, raising it too his lips.

The thought of Darrel being here was not appealing. But Penny had a new found sense
of self worth. She knew she could face her now ex-husband without fear.

"Drystan, Tuthal, let this be done, now."

The sorcerer turned his attention to her.

"Do you see the place of your dwelling in your mind's eye, lady Penny?"

In her mind she saw the little white weatherboard house, her neat living room with the
two dark blue two-seater sofa and the arm chair Darrel sat in.

"See the street outside your dwelling," she heard Tuthal say. "Do you see it?"

Penny closed her eyes. In her mind she saw the quiet street in which she had lived. She
pictured the small park just across the road where she knew a portal wouldn't be so
noticeable.

"Yes, I have it." Tuthal touched her forehead with the palm of his hand. When he
removed his hand, Penny opened her eyes, watching as Tuthal waved his long gnarled
staff.

Before their eyes, a huge portal opened. It stood eight feet tall and five feet wide.
Glowing blue mist swirled out, evaporating into seemingly nothing. Penny stared in
amazement. It was hard to believe this blue portal was a gateway between alien worlds.
All she had to do was step through it and she would be home on Earth. No, Earth was
no longer her home. In a matter of days she had fallen in love and found a new home.
Penny had no desire to step through that portal or ever see Earth again. She had no
family, she had no friends. Everything she now held dear was here in Kell.

Jane's husband had removed his sword but placed a few deadly looking daggers in his
boots.

"It's the white house just across from the park." Drystan nodded and motioned to the
warrior by his side to follow him through the portal.

~ * ~

Nasten growled and paced the confines of the small house. The body he was using was
in need of fuel, so he had consumed the contents of a cold box the humans called a
refrigerator. He had been waiting for three days. The human law had come to question
him over his wife and allegations' of abuse due to a long list of reports from the human's
neighbors.

Nasten had no care for such matters. He ignored their questions, by asking questions of
their investigation into the missing women. Nasten knew of course where they were, but
he wasn't going to let that piece of information past his lips. He doubted these limited
minded humans would believe where their women had been taken.

He was quite enjoying these human creatures. Their souls were unlike anything he had
encountered before, so many choices of innocence and darkness. Very few humans
had the same evil and greed as the soul of Darrel. Nor did he feel the presence of
magic or any other demons. The humans had their own forms of worships, deities he

knew nothing about, but mostly they seemed to worship things, such as money, sports
and themselves. This world was ripe for the taking.

Nasten would gorge on the souls he could tempt into giving up then he would indulge in
the pleasure of the females on Earth. But there was one female he wanted to take.
Nasten knew the way to make someone suffer was to take what they valued the most. It
was clear that Tuthal valued Tamara, or he would not have betrayed him and re-claimed
the woman.

He would have to remember to thank Tuthal before Nasten destroyed him. After all it
was Tuthal who had introduced him to the human world and all the wonderful human
souls ripe for the taking.

Darrel still paced the corners of his mind. Every time he whined or complained he sent
jolts of pain shooting through the man's conscious mind. Darrel had quickly learned to
keep silent.

Nasten kept glancing out the windows. The night air was cool and the streets had
stilled. He was using every demon sense he possessed to stay alert to signs that a Kell
might be near.

As the night deepened, the more Nasten's anger grew. Not only would he make Tuthal
suffer, he also decided to make all those around him suffer as well.

Nasten had taken the human body back to his Hell Realm and had collected the
necessary items he would need in order to break free of the confines of this human.
Once he arrived in Kell, he was certain he would need it.

Then he sensed it, felt the power used to open a portal between worlds. A smile crept
upon his face. They were coming-for the human Darrel. Predictable Kell. Nasten had
chosen his target well. Nasten sat down on the sofa, pretending to be unaware of the
Kell men approaching.

The flimsy door of the small dwelling suddenly burst inwards, the fragile timber
splintering and crashing to the ground. Two large Kell warriors barged through, one at a
time, swiftly advancing on him.

"Are you Darrel Summerton?"

"I am," he declared. They reached down, seizing him by his arms and dragging him to
his feet.

"What is the meaning of this?" Nasten kept up the pretense of being human.

"You have been summoned to Kell by the King, human," rumbled one of the warriors as
they pulled him out of the house, hastily down the street and across to the isolated park.
Behind a few tall bushes, Nasten could see the glowing blue portal waiting for them. He
let himself be dragged through and into the land of the Kell. Revenge would soon be
his.

~ * ~

"Is that him?" Adalardo asked her.

Penny stood, staring down at the man she had known for six years as her husband; the
man who had beat her, demeaned her and kept her in a constant state of fear. She
didn't fear him any longer.

"Yes, that is Darrel." She drew in a slow breath; all she felt towards him now was pity.
He was a sad, pathetic man.

"We shall get this over with as quickly as possible," Adalardo said, his eyes on fixed
Darrel.

"I want to talk to him before you issue your challenge."

"Are you sure? You never have to be near him again." Adalardo frowned in concern.
Penny offered him a reassuring smile.

"I understand, but I need to do this, please."

Adalardo gave a nod. "I shall have him brought in here."

"Thank you."

Adalardo bent to give her a comforting soft kiss before turning and leaving the room.
She could hear him barking orders, to bring the 'unworthy human' to him.

~ * ~

Nasten, under heavy guard, was issued into a large chamber where a small red headed
woman waited. She lifted her pretty brown eyes. Nasten knew this woman from the
images imprinted on Darrel's mind. She was his mate.

"I'll be just outside, Penny, have you need."

"Thank you, Adalardo." She smiled fondly at the King. This was very curious. He liked
the lush curves of this female better than he did the thin Tamara.

She would do very well to breed his demon off-spring.

"Who can blame you for wanting a Kell king over a little human such as me," Nasten
spoke.

The woman pursed her lips. Darrel thought he had control and complete power over this
human woman, but by the angry gleam in her eyes, not any longer.

"Consider yourself divorced, Darrel. I know the King has to challenge you, but do
yourself a favor and just concede."

"Why? You are a prize, little Penny. One I would not give up readily."

"You're just full of shit. You always have been." She stepped boldly up to him. "You
don't frighten me anymore. I was an idiot to put up with you for so long, but not
anymore."

Nasten liked this one's spirit. She had a strong soul. Yes, he would take her, as well as
Tuthal's human. Two for two.

"What makes you so sure I will lose you?" Nasten goaded.

The woman gave a snort. "You lost long ago, even if by the rare remote chance you
could beat a Kell warrior. There is no way you can ever have me again. It's my life, and I
will choose how I want to live it."

Nasten smiled again. "Your human was unworthy of you, but I will not be so. I will beat
the king and claim you as my prize."

Chapter Twelve

Nasten glimpsed Tuthal, who had come to watch from the sideline. Now Nasten was
here in Kell, he had easy access to Earth and Kell. But first he had to ensure that once
the challenge battle started, he would not be interrupted. To those who observed, it
would soon become clear he was not what he seemed, especially when he started to
use his powers and demonic strength against the King.

The hand full of men who had gathered to witness the challenge would be nothing to
shove out of the way when it came time to taking the women. He noticed Penny and
Tamara were standing together; Tuthal was standing behind the women.

Inwardly Nasten smiled, he had what he needed, and it was more than he could have
ever wanted. He had access to both the human and the Kell Realm. Now he could
travel to and from each of them. How convenient of Tuthal to do this for him.

Nasten stood waiting in the large courtyard as the king of the Kells strode forward with a
fierce look of anger on his face.

"Do you know why you are here human?" the King snapped. Nasten glanced up at the
warrior King, deciding to play the fool just a little longer.

"No. Who are you and where am I?"

"I am Adalardo, King of Kell. You have been brought here on the matter of your mate,
Penny."

"Ah yes, my little red haired wife. Quite a tasty morsel isn't she. I'm sure you've already
sampled her delights. Is that not the right of a king to taste the delights of his kingdom?"

The King was a thundercloud of rage. Nasten smiled in amusement.

"You are an unworthy creature. I have given my word not to kill you. So I give you the
choice of relinquishing your claim upon her or fight for the right to keep her."

The King motioned to one of his men who stepped forward and threw a sword down at
his feet then backed away to join the ranks of the warriors. Nasten glanced down at it
briefly.

"If I decide to accept your challenge and win?" Nasten could see the arrogant
confidence in the King's eyes. The King assumed he would win easily against a smaller,
weak human male.

"If you win, then you are, by Kell law, free to take your woman and leave in peace."
Nasten knew the King would not give up that easily.

"This whole thing hardly seems fair. What are you, six foot four? And I am a mere
human. You are skilled with a sword when," he held out his hands to show the soft
human skin, "I am not. Do you not believe in a fair fight, King of the Kell?"

Adalardo frowned.

"I will grant you hand to hand combat, if you so wish, but the outcome will still be the
same. You will lose, so forfeit now, and relinquish your claim."

Nasten backed away before bending down to pick up the sword, pretending to handle it
clumsily, dragging the blade drag through the sand of the area that had been set up for
this challenge. Nasten made a complete circle. He had yet to use his magic to seal it, so
no one and nothing could penetrate unless he wished. He dropped the sword in front of
him and reached into his pocket.

The King tensed as if he was going to pull out a weapon. When the King saw he only
had sand in his hand, he relaxed his stance.

"Are you going to fight me with sand, human?" Nasten tossed the sand in a wide arch
within the circle.

"Conplentum sclus cirkeus." Nasten began to mutter under his breath.

"Speak plain, human."

"So, if I kill you, does that make me King here?"

"My warriors would never obey such a vial creature as you. To beat a woman is an act
of a coward."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Yes, I agree. His soul is a dark one, weak and greedy. He is a lost cause. But I, on the
other hand like your pretty female. I have decided to take her. I am not going to beat
them, but enjoy their womanly pleasures. Mayhap watch as the one you desire grows
round with my sons. I must thank your sorcerer for introducing me to the human world;
once I am through plundering their world, I will come after yours."

The King was again frowning in confusion. "You speak strange words for a human."

"Ahhh, not as dumb as I had assumed, are you, King of the Kells. You can thank your
sorcerer for my presence. This human body is only a shell of what hides beneath. The
human within is dead. I can not possess a body without killing it."

Darrel took that moment to scream in betrayal. Nasten killed off the mind of Darrel, and
the voice faded; only the soul remained, keeping Nasten strong. As soon as he shed the
body, it too would die. Before the King could turn to call forth his sorcerer, Nasten raised
his sword and attacked.

~ * ~

Adalardo was surprised by the strength behind the human's sudden attack. All his words
were still echoing around in his head. The eyes of the human began to glow then it all
snapped into place. This was no human. This was a demon disguised as a human. This
was the very demon Tuthal had dealt with and betrayed.

"Demon," he hissed, deflecting another attack and was pushed further back. "I have no
quarrel with you."

"Lay blame where it belongs. Tuthal, along with everyone around him shall suffer by my
command. I will take your woman along with Tuthal's. Learn that I do not take betrayal
lightly."

No! Adalardo could not allow such a thing to happen. It was his duty to protect his
subjects against any danger, even if their own foolishness had been the cause.

Anger surged through Adalardo. No one threatened to take his woman and live. He
leapt forward with all the strength he could muster, yet he only managed to push the
demon back a fraction. Nasten mocked his efforts, swinging his sword faster than he
could dodge. He felt the blade slice through the shirt of his arm and into the flesh of his
shoulder. Automatically, he clutched at the wound with his free hand, rolling out of the
way before Nasten could strike a deeper blow.

"I am going to make you all pay for his folly, through what you hold most dear," Nasten
continued to torment.

Adalardo jumped forward again, trying to strike from under the demon. Nasten was
prepared, blocking his blow, swiftly kicking his undefended right side. Nasten's demonic
strength was a formidable force, as he was shoved a good four feet backwards.
Adalardo would not give up, nor would he surrender.

~ * ~

"Something is wrong."

Tamara glanced up at her husband; she saw his hand was gripping his staff so tightly
his knuckles were white. His whole body was ridged and tense. His miss-matched eyes
focused on the King and Penny's soon to be ex-husband. "Look at the human."

Tamara did so. His ease, his confidence, he hardly seemed afraid to be on an alien
planet about to get the crap beaten out of him. Darrel swung the sword and attacked the
King with a power she knew he couldn't possibly possess. She gasped in shock as
Darrel's blade swung so fast it sliced into the king's arm.

"That's not Darrel."

"Nor is he human. Stay here," Tuthal commanded firmly, broke rank and stalked
forward.

The human saw him coming. He jumped back and a sudden lightning bolt shot out from
the palms of his hands into Tuthal's chest, knocking him back. His body hit the ground
with a sickening thud as his head hit the stone floor.

"Holy shit!" Tamara scrambled over to her husband. She saw Drystan swiftly unsheathe
his long blade along with several other warriors.

"Nasten," moaned Tuthal in pain before passing out.

"No wait, you step in there and he will kill you," Tamara warned Drystan, as she cradled
her husband's head. Penny knelt down on the other side, looking bewildered. Drystan
and the warriors ignored her warning and raced in to defend their King. Running smack
into some kind of invisible force field, they were all thrown back and knocked down.

"What's going on? I'

ve never seen Darrel like that, I…" Penny stammered in confusion.

"It's not Darrel." Tamara checked her husband's pulse, relieved to feel his heart still
beating.

"I don't understand."

"Your ex-husband has been possessed by a demon. The demon, Nasten, is the same
bastard Tuthal stole his soul back from."

~ * ~

"Why do you not relent, King of the Kells? Is she worth the pain and suffering I am about
to put you through?" Nasten charged, his powers in one hand while swinging the blade
in the other. "You know you cannot win against me."

Not while there was breath in his body would he let anyone take Penny away from him.
She was his and she belonged to him. Adalardo would protect her with every last ounce
of strength he possessed.

"I will not let you take her! The woman is mine. This is my Kingdom. You do not belong
here. Return now or be destroyed," Adalardo growled in warning. Nasten laughed at
him.

"Human's are weak, and Kells are weak. After I have taken the human realm, I shall be
unstoppable. I shall come after your people. I shall enjoy taking their souls one by one."
The king watched stunned as the body of the human man began to shake. A red
shimmering light burst out from the center of the man. He screamed for a split second
and convulsed before dropping dead to the sand of the training ground. Adalardo was
forced to look up at the large red demon.

Nasten picked up the blade and advanced. Adalardo did not fear this beast. He could
see the red shimmering flame in his hand as he moved forward. He managed to avoid
the blade but not the fire bolt that hit him in the left shoulder, paralyzing his entire body.
It felt like a thousand needles stabbing through every nerve-ending, making him want to
scream in agony. Adalardo wobbled and collapsed, panting in pain. He would not give
up. He would not give in. Nasten walked forward and kicked him hard in the face then in
the stomach.

"Pitiful, I expected a better fight than this," Nasten sneered.

Adalardo struggled to climb to his feet, his face now bleeding. He turned to shout a
warning to his men. But Nasten punched him before he could utter the command.

"Say good bye to your woman. She's mine now." Adalardo could see his warriors trying
to get to him, held back by Nasten's demonic power. Penny was crouched next to
Tamara and an unconscious Tuthal.

Nasten turned and stalked towards the women. Adalardo, ignoring the searing pain,
struggled to climb to his feet. Nasten easily cleared the blockade his warriors had
formed around the women. The warriors watched helplessly as Nasten bore down on
them.

~ * ~

Penny glanced up. Her eyes grew wide at the huge red man-like creature that
approached. Tamara jumped up, gabbing at Penny.

"Run, Penny. Get the hell out of here, now."

"Oh no, you two won't be going anywhere, except with me." Tamara had pulled a blade
from Tuthal's robes, standing protectively in front of her. The beast moved fast to grip
her wrist. Tamara cried out in pain as he yanked the dagger from her, throwing her
down. Penny's fear melted into anger. She jumped to her feet.

"Leave her alone, she is with child," Penny blurted out, standing up to the beast.

"You see, that is why I choose you; I will let the men live only as I know it will cause
them more suffering to know you are now at my mercy." He smiled evilly. He turned,
raised his arms and a swirling red portal appeared.

"And a child, how charming. Do not fret, little human. I will see it is raised as my own."
He reached forward and grabbed Penny's wrist before taking ahold of Tamara's,
dragging them back towards the portal. More warriors burst into the courtyard. Nasten
tossed the women through and followed after them.

Chapter Thirteen

"What the hell just happened?" Jane held a cloth to Adalardo's wound. Men were
scrambling for crystals to heal their king.

"Nasten used a human body to escape his realm." Tuthal had regained consciousness.
He looked weak and strained.

"He was strong," said Adalardo, struggling to get up. "The demon has our women."

"And I shall get them back," he snapped at the King. Tuthal stood in a daze. Why hadn't
he seen it, and why hadn't he felt Nasten's presence in the human? He growled as he
rose to his feet. He was going to get Tamara back and kill the soul dealer once and for
all.

Through all the commotion there was a voice yelling for them to part the way. Everyone
glanced up.

Escorted in by Anyon and Merlon, the elderly Kell man had flowing silver hair and grey
robes. The lines on his face and hand showed his advanced age. Tuthal was
momentarily stunned to see him.

"Let him pass," Tuthal told the guards. "He is known to me."

"We do not have time for this," Adalardo growled, in anger and frustration.

"We shall make time to listen to Riagan. He is a wise sorcerer of my cast." Tuthal
moved towards the old man to grip his arm when he extended it.

"Tuthal, your majesty, too long has it been since I have come to the palace, not since
the youth of your father." His dark eyes gleamed with past memories. "But I have not
come to recollect days past. I have been watching you Tuthal. When I saw the demon
breach our lands, I came to offer my help. Despite the foolishness of your youth, I see at
last you have become the man I hoped you would. Your protected has been a blessing
in your life and in your soul."

"She is my life; there is nothing I would not do for her, even if it means I must give up
my soul again. I will do it."

"He has my lady; there is no other I want as my queen," Adalardo stressed.

"Then listen well, your majesty, only you and Tuthal must go, any other will be just
fodder for the demon to devour. If you value your warrior's lives, you will not allow
anyone to cross the threshold into Nasten's hell world."

"What are we to do? Nasten is strong and powerful, beyond anything I have ever faced
before. I barely escaped the first time."

"You must combine forces, the King's strength and a sorcerer's power. The secret of
Nasten's power and strength lies in the souls he has harvested. With each one his
power and strength grows. He has taken your protected. If he takes her soul and the
soul of the child she now carries, it will make him invincible. You must act quickly to
save the women. You must destroy his vessel. This will weaken him."

"How will we know what this vessel is?" inquired the king.

"It will be something he keeps close to him at all times, something he never goes
anywhere without."

Drystan came into the room brandishing swords and daggers. Adalardo raised his hand
to stop his commander. He paused and waited for the King's command.

"You have the power of our line, Tuthal. Draw on your demon side to defeat Nasten."
The old sorcerer placed his hand on his shoulder. I give you what power I have left. You
will need it to defeat him."

"Why would you do this, why help us?" asked the king.

"I have seen the future of the Kingdom, your majesty. For one there will be no Kingdom
without Queen Penny, and why would I not aid my own son. I am proud of what you
have done, seeking to right the wrongs of your past."

Tuthal saw the raw emotion in his father's eyes, the kind of emotion he had not seen
since he had been a child. "I have not long left on his plain; soon the goddess of the
moons will come to escort me to the beyond. It is time to pass on my knowledge and
power to my son. Take it, and go with my blessings. I will pray to the goddess I may live
long enough to see my grandchild."

"Thank you, father. I know you will be here to see our child into the world."

He suddenly felt the surge of his father's power as it flowed into him. Tuthal closed his
eyes, taking stock of the old powers that made his entire body hum. He knew what he
had to do.

Tuthal opened his eyes, looking directly at his King "Your majesty, give me your sword
and shield." The king motioned to Drystan with a nod. The Commander had been
watching and listing to everything. Drystan handed over the King's sword and shield.
The armor was inlaid with Monyo crystals, which added strength to anything it was
imbued with.

He placed them on the ground, laying his hand over them, muttering the ancient
language of spell casting.

"Strike true never fail, shield be strong and never weaken, hasten your master's
triumph." He stepped back, picking them up to hand to the king.

"Prepare your mind and body, we go into battle."

Adalardo nodded.

"Sire, we must escort you," Drystan insisted.

"Nay, Commander, you are to remain. This is an edict. If anything should happen to me,
you will continue to will rule in my stead. You are my brother, Drystan, in everything but
blood, and I would have no other."

A brief flash of emotion crossed the commander's face. Drystan placed his hand on the
King's shoulder.

"May the goddess of the moons protect you and help you return victorious. If not, may
your death be one of honor." He could see it was hard for the commander to say the
common battle prayer.

The commander turned to Tuthal.

"Bring back Jane's sister. I would not have her irate at me over your foolishness."

"I shall. Tell Jane her sister will be returned. Together our families will grow and be
strong," Tuthal promised him.

Drystan gave a curt nod, turned and left, barking orders to the assembled men.

"Ready for hell, your highness?" Tuthal summoned the power he needed to open the
portal.

"Ready, Sorcerer," Adalardo growled, gripping his sword.

Tuthal focused his mind and threw open the portal. The king's expression was one of
determination as he stepped through the swirling red mist. Tuthal followed close behind.

Chapter Fourteen

Penny screamed as she was tossed on a bed. She found Nasten's weight pinning her
down.

He had tossed them through the glowing red portal and into a hot, smelly hellhole.
Above them the sky was a shade of deep red, tuffs of black clouds moved slowly across
the smoky horizon. Penny had jumped in fright when streaks of white lightning flashed
above their heads.

Nasten had dragged her and Tamara across the cracked, barren ground, past deep
canyons, glowing with flowing red lava; up a long black ramp and into a scorched black
marbled palace carved into a red cliff wall.

The planet seemed devoid of life, apart from the horrid twisted demonic creatures
Penny had glimpsed as Nasten pulled them along.

"Welcome to the planet of the soulless." Nasten had laughed at their fear. "Your planet
is nice, cool and blue, so full of living souls, ripe for the taking. Count yourselves
honored to be the first of my human slaves."

He was damn strong. Even as Penny and Tamara fought, kicked and bit him for all they
were worth, he was a hundred times stronger than they were.

"Get off her, you sick bastard." Tamara managed to knock him sideways. Penny twisted
and scrambled off the bed as quickly as she could.

Nasten recovered and advanced on Tamara. He snapped his fingers and heavy chains
suddenly appeared, clamping around her wrist.

"Wait your turn, I want to play with my red haired pet first." Tamara squealed in pain as
she was yanked savagely backwards, slamming into the wall. He snapped his fingers a
second time. Suddenly her arms were wrenched apart and secured above her head.
Tamara twisted and kicked; her breathing was ragged with the effort. She was trapped
and helplessly chained to the wall.

She screamed her frustration. "You're going to pay for this, you big, red bastard!"
Nasten grinned at her and patted her cheek.

"Master, is what you will call me from now on. Oh, and I do not approve of my female
slaves wearing clothes." He swung his red glowing eyes to Penny. Penny turned to run
towards the entrance of what was obviously Nasten's bedchamber. She was suddenly
caught by an invisible force and flung backwards onto the bed. She struggled against it.
The force yanked her arms above her head and kept them pinned there. He waved his
hand and her legs opened. She lay spread-eagled and helpless, held down by Nasten's
demonic power. With a wave of his hand, her Kell clothing was torn from her body,
making Penny flush with embarrassment and anger. She glanced up to see Tamara's
clothing received the same treatment. Nasten's eyes swept over them approvingly.
"Yes, much better."

"You're a slimy bastard. You touch me and I will kill you," Penny threatened in all
seriousness. She didn't know how but she was sure going to try any chance she got.

"You can try; I always have enjoyed a challenge. But once you are nicely rounded with
my demon sons, there won't be much fight in you left." He paused at the foot of the bed,
staring down at her. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I can make you want me, you
know. Yes, I think I shall enjoy you begging me to take you, watch you suffer and
scream, only then will I take pity on you and relive your suffering."

"Never!" she spat. He gave a menacing smile again and snapped his fingers. A golden
goblet suddenly appeared in his hand. Penny stared at it in fear.

"Here my little pet, drink."

Penny slammed her lips shut. No way in hell was she going to drink anything he gave
her. He crawled up over her, slipped his fingers through her hair, lifted her head then
yanked. Her lips automatically parted on a pained gasp. At the exact same time, he
tipped the goblet pouring the liquid straight into her mouth. Penny coughed and
spluttered but most of it slid down her throat. It was actually sweet and tasted good. But
she knew it had to be something sinister.

"I will leave you to think about your new situation. Soon you will be writhing and begging
me to fuck you, my little red pet." He climbed off the bed to where Tamara was chained.
"Don't worry, when I'm done with her, it'll be your turn. There is no escape; you are mine
now and always." He laughed as he strode out of the bedchamber.

"We are so fucked," Tamara said with fear. Penny unable to move anything but her
head, glanced over at her.

"They will come for us, I know it." Penny let her head fall back; a sudden warmth was
starting to slowly spread through her body. She moaned.

"Are you alright? What did he make you drink?"

"I don't know,

but it feels…oh god I feel it moving though my body, like it is on fire, my

skin…" She moaned; her body shuddered. Her body was becoming aroused against her
will. An empty ache was beginning to make her pussy throb. Her breasts here heavy
and throbbing, her nipples were hard, her stomach clenched and her clit began to pulse.
Penny started panting and writhed on the bed, trying to relieve the ache, as if she
desperately needed something inside her body to relieve the suddenly unquenchable
desire to be fucked. Oh god no, no! She squirmed again. She wasn't going to give in.
Her skin pebbled and a sweat broke out over her body.

"Penny, hang in there," Tamara encouraged.

Penny moaned and writhed, "

If they are to come…" she panted shifting her hips. With

her hands, pinned she couldn't even touch herself. "

It had better… be…soon, I won't be

able to hold out...I.

..ooh…god!"

"Fight it, whatever it is, fight it. We'll get out of this together." Penny could hear the panic
in Tamara's voice.

Penny wanted to scream at how badly she needed to come. She needed something
thrusting inside of her. She needed to be fucked. She gritted her teeth, fighting the
sensations. She wouldn't give Nasten the satisfaction of begging him to fuck her. She
needed her man, needed Adalardo.

~ * ~

Sword and shield at the ready, Adalardo marched forward, Tuthal by his side. He was
angry this situation had occurred. He was angry he had been blind not to see Penny's
human mate was not what he appeared and angry at the man beside him. Although
Tuthal had infuriated the demon into pursuing revenge, Tuthal could not have known to
what lengths the demon would go to seek his retaliation.

"Are you going to tell me about the demon blood in your veins?" Adalardo kept his gaze
on the path before them; he also glanced about, scanning the darkened, glimmering red
horizon of Nasten's Hell Realm. The air was hot, smelling rancid and smoky, as fire
burned deep below in crevices.

"I am one of a long line of sorcerers. Our magic has been passed down from the first,
who claimed to be the son of both a Kell woman and demon. T'is not know what kind of
demon, or where it had come from, but it had given him great power."

"Why keep this secret?" Adalardo was confused as to why he had no knowledge of this,
why his father had not told him anything about the sorcerer cast, other than it was
cowardice to use magic in battle.

"A thousand years ago the first Kings did not readily accept the difference and power
my forefathers had. Most were banished and exiled, but as the years passed, some of
the rulers found uses for our powers and magic. It was the sorcerer cast, who divined
the knowledge of the Kell crystals and the power they possess."

"Why did I not know this? Why did not my father tell me these things?"

"Much knowledge was lost when the war with the Drac began. I cannot say as to why,
but your great grandfathers knew this. Why it was not passed on? I hazard a guess you
will now never know."

"But I know now. I have no prejudice against you, or your cast. I welcome your magic,
but only if it is beneficial to the people. What angers me are your mistakes which have
lead to the women being taken."

"Do you not think I feel the pain of my mistakes? Nor that he has taken the one thing I
hold more dearly to me than the breath I breathe? She is carrying my child, "Tuthal said,
his voice tight with emotion. "I shall never forgive myself for putting my Tamara in
harm's way, nor will I survive if she does not."

"I do understand a man is nothing without his soul, and I understand you wanting it
back. If anything, now is the time to believe in yourself, believe in your powers and
believe that we will bring our women back safely." Adalardo turned to meet Tuthal's
gaze. "Everyone deserves a second chance; this is the time where you prove yourself to
me, to the kingdom and to our women."

The sorcerer gave him a look of determination.

"Your father would have been proud of the King you have become, Adalardo. It is an
honor to serve you."

"Then let us take back what is ours and stop this demon."

Tuthal nodded, his gaze scanning the rocky smoky horizon. "This way, we must hurry."

~ * ~

Nasten was enjoying watching the woman writhe on his bed; she tried to clamp her legs
together in an attempt to relive the pressure the sexual stimulant was causing in her
body. She jerked against the power that held her pinned to the bed. Nasten toyed with
the idea of releasing her hands and watching her pleasure herself as he knew she
would. The drug would start to wear off three days from now, but until then her only
relief would be his cock imbedded in her, fucking her until she came. Only then would it
ease, but only temporarily. After that it would start all over again.

But his cock was aching and the lush curves of this frail pink and red haired human on
his bed was too tempting. Nasten grinned, his cock was big and she was small. Her
tight sheath was going to be a pleasure to impale. He walked into the room.

Tamara was hanging limply as she watched Penny writhe on the bed. Tamara was
smaller, with less meat on her bones. Yet her soul was so pure. It was not a wonder
Nasten had easily given Tuthal back his soul in exchange for hers. But it was just a
taste of things to come; he would take her soul and the soul of their child.

The human world was now his. One by unsuspecting one he would devour their souls.

Tamara's hate-filled gaze met his. "What did you do to her, you bastard!"

He enjoyed her anger; walking up to her he caught her face between his hands.

"What I will soon do to you, if you're not more pleasing. Address me correctly even
when attempting to insult me."

She pursued her lips together; her eyes were like lovely deep blue pools of water. It was
a rare thing on this barren world, a world which belonged to him.

He watched her shudder as he slipped his hand down her throat, caressing her soft
skin, toying with her breasts. She tried to jerk away when he slid his hand lower, pulling
away just before she could kick out at him. He laughed; he would tame her, but first
things first.

He turned to the writhing woman, crawling on top of her. A gleam of sweat covered her
body as she tried to fight it. Amazingly, he'd seen stronger creatures give in only after a
few seconds of this. But still she fought.

"Beg me to relieve your suffering. I can make you feel good, so good my little pet."
Penny's eyes widened. She shook her head franticly.

"No," she gasped. "

No…I…won't."

He cupped her breasts, squeezing them, molding the plump flesh in his hands. She
moaned louder, no longer holding in her cries. Her hips shifted. She was staring at him
with horror and fear. But the ache would prevail. It always did.

"You know the only way to ease your suffering my pet, beg me." He could see her
struggling, fighting still. His hand skimmed over her heated flesh and she whimpered.
"Beg me, my little pet, beg me."

Her head thrashed from side to side. "

I…I…need."

"Yes, you need me, tell me."

Her big brown eyes held his gaze. "I need you to

…." Nasten gloated triumphantly until

she screamed, "

…to go fuck yourself."

His smile fell and Nasten clenched his teeth. His patience was at an end.

~ * ~

At her words Penny saw his face twist in anger. She knew she shouldn't have made him
angry, but she wouldn't give into the agony he was inflicting upon her. Her mind warred
with her body. She teetered on the verge of breaking; only the thought of Adalardo kept
her from falling over the edge and surrendering. She was not weak; Adalardo had been
right about her inner strength, and she drew on it now in desperation.

Penny screamed rather than say the words he wanted to hear.

"I have you; I do not need your words." He crawled over her body, positioning himself
between her naked thighs. She felt her legs freed from the invisible force that had them
pinned. Automatically she kicked out at him. Nasten had anticipated what she would do

and grabbed her ankles. He pulled her legs apart, keeping her vulnerable and open.
There was no way she could stop him from raping her.

Penny screamed and twisted, growing more tired the more she struggled. She was
starting to lose her strength as she panted for breath. Her body was ablaze and her
pussy ached with an empty hunger.

Something howled, making Nasten pause as he positioned his large dick at the
entrance of her pussy. Another noise of screeching and a high pitched screaming made
Nasten pull away and leap off the bed. Penny saw the amulet that hung around
Nasten's neck glow and she felt the surge of his power. Suddenly, he was clothed and a
sword appeared in his hand.

"Humm, seems we have company. Stay where you are, my pets, and we shall pick up
where we left off once I dispose of your lovers." Penny gasped. Adalardo and Tuthal
had come for them.

"He'll cut more than just your arm off this time, you son-of- a bitch," Tamara said, with a
sinister smile of her own. Nasten glanced at her briefly, waved his hand, and a gag
suddenly wrapped around her mouth.

"You will learn obedience and silence when in my presence, slave," he said menacingly
before stalking towards the door.

Nasten was suddenly flung backwards as he reached the entrance of the bedchamber.
His body slammed into the opposite wall.

Penny twisted her head and whimpered in relief, seeing Tuthal and Adalardo storm
through. But Penny had other problems as she screamed and writhed again. Adalardo
glanced at her. A thundercloud of rage, he ran forward as Tuthal waved his staff
towards the demon. For a moment he seemed pinned to the wall.

The force that held Penny in place suddenly vanished and she was free. Penny twisted
her body. Her hand moved down her body and between her thighs. She moaned as she
started to rub her clit in fast furious circles. She desperately needed to come.

"Make it stop, make it stop. Ohhh

…" she moaned, trying to gain relief from what Nasten

had done to her.

Chapter Fifteen

Adalardo blinked in surprise to see his woman pleasuring herself out of desperation.
The distraction cost him as he felt the power of Nasten hit him in the side. If he hadn't
turned to look at Penny, he would have caught it full on in the chest. Pain exploded
through his body. He collapsed onto the floor, momentarily stunned. Tuthal leapt over
the bed and shot a power bolt of lightning at Nasten.

"I see you've learned a few more tricks, sorcerer," growled Nasten, deflecting the bolt
and returning fire.

Adalardo climbed back to his feet, pushing the pulsing pain to the back of his mind.
Again he raised his shield and gripped tightly onto the hilt of his blade. Adalardo lunged
forward, swinging his sword.

Nasten barely had time to deflect with his sword; he was damn strong as one single
blow made Adalardo stagger backwards.

"The amulet," panted Tuthal. Then he began chanting. Nasten was trying to counter
Tuthal's spell. Penny cried out, but he couldn't afford to look at her. Not now, he would
see to her once Nasten was dead.

~ * ~

Tamara dropped free of the chains then crawled over to where Penny lay.

"We've got to help them," Tamara whispered. Penny rolled over and sat up, glancing to
where their men were battling Nasten. Adalardo was flung back when Nasten's sword
hit Adalardo's shield, his head thumping into the stonewall. Nasten swung around and
fired a bolt at Tuthal, clipping him in his right side.

"What can we do?"

"The amulet around Nasten's neck--I heard Tuthal tell Adalardo to get it. It must be the
source of Nasten's power," explained Tamara.

Penny glanced around the room, looking for a weapon but saw none apart from those
that their men were using to battle Nasten.

"We'll trip him up and give our guys an advantage." Penny fisted the sheet and Tamara
nodded.

Penny ripped the sheet off the bed, tossing the other end towards Tamara. They both
charged at Nasten while he prepared to send another fire bolt at Tuthal. Penny and
Tamara caught him by surprise as they dodged and rolled, pulling the sheet tightly
around his legs. He stumbled and gave an almighty bellow of anger as he fell heavily
when they yanked the twisted sheet.

~ * ~

Adalardo was recovering and climbing to his feet. Penny gripped onto Nasten's right
arm as Tamara leapt up onto Nasten's large chest, her fingers curling around the
amulet. Tamara gripped the amulet tightly, yanking with all her strength. Nasten roared
in rage, twisting under Tamara, making her stumble backwards, holding the glowing
blue amulet in her hand.

"Smash it, Tamara," Tuthal yelled. Without a second thought she pitched it at the wall
with all the force she could muster. Nasten roared in rage, his free hand suddenly
swung over his body and gripped Penny's throat. Adalardo, bleeding heavily from one
arm, raised his sword and slammed it down into Nasten's chest. Penny coughed,
gulping down air as Nasten's hand fell from around her neck. Penny scrambled away
from him as fast as she could.

From the broken amulet, blue streaks of light began to rise up and out through the
ceiling. There were so many of them, so many souls that Nasten had taken. Both
women moved to the side of the chamber as Adalardo whipped out a dagger from his
boot, slicing open Nasten's chest. With his bare hands he reached into the demons
body and ripped out his black heart, pitching it at the wall. Adalardo moved back, raised
his sword and beheaded the beast. He was dead. Penny climbed shakily to her feet,
Adalardo turned towards her. Whimpering she fell into his open arms. He sheathed his
bloodied sword. Despite the pain in his arm, he lifted her up.

Tuthal already had Tamara. It had not taken the strength of the two of them to defeat
Nasten, but also the strength and power of their women.

Adalardo turned towards his sorcerer. "Get us from this unholy place, Tuthal."

Tuthal nodded, sweeping his staff to open a portal.

"It will not take us back to the palace, but we will be in Kell once again."

It was good enough for him. With Penny secure in his arms, he carried her though the
portal.

~ * ~

"Ahhh, baby?" Tuthal glanced down at his Tamara, never had he been so proud.

"What be it my beauty?"

"I think we'd better give them some time alone. Whatever Nasten gave her, I think only
the king can cure." Tuthal turned his head to see Penny tackling the King and tearing at
his clothes, despite his bloodied state. Tuthal realized Nasten must have used a
powerful drug known as Zaznar. It intensified and stimulated sexual desire. Penny
would be consumed with complete hunger and need.

"Agreed." He gave her a half smile. "As long as he keeps her satisfied over the next few
days, she will be well." Tuthal almost chuckled.

Indeed, the King and his new queen would be very busy. Tuthal carried Tamara down a
hillside. He could see the rolling San-Ra River in the distance. They were south of the
Kingdom.

"Are we safe this time? I mean truly safe," Tamara asked. "You have to tell me if you
have made anymore enemies who are going to try and pull that kind of shit again,
because quite frankly I won't put up with it. This baby needs a home to grow in peace
and safety."

He sat them down on the soft sandy bank of the river and placed his hand over her
stomach.

"There is nothing to fear my beauty; our child will grow up in peace and harmony. It
pains me that you have suffered because of my youthful folly and foolishness." A smile
snaked cross her face.

"How about another round of punishment?"

Tuthal laughed. "My beautiful, sexy Tamara, that kind of punishment will always entice
me to misbehave."

"I know, baby. The games are fun, and we are going to keep doing them for a long time
to come; maybe I'll misbehave for you sometime."

"I do not deserve such a wicked beauty such as you."

Tamara gave a soft sigh, "Oh, I know, and don't you ever forget it."

~ * ~

Penny threw back her head, crying her releases and relief. Adalardo clutched her hips,
thrusting up into her tight channel. A second later she felt him shudder and groan in his
climax, jerking his seed deep into her belly. She collapsed on top him. They both
struggled to bring their breathing under control. At last, her body felt calm; her ache was
calmed, for the moment.

Penny was comforted by his strong arms around her as he held her tightly to him. It felt
good to breathe in the clean sweet air of Kell.

"We are home, we are safe," Adalardo comforted her.

"This is my home," she said, raising her head to look into his beautiful dark eyes. "Here
in your arms is the only place I ever want to be." He gently stroked her cheek with his
thumb; she could see the love shining in his dark depths. "You risked your life to save
me."

"And I would do it again and again. You are my world, my heart, and you are my Queen.
Never have I been so proud to call you mine."

She smiled, feeling the warmth of her love for Adalardo in her heart. "I'm glad you love
me, darling, because you're going to need to love me a heck of lot in the next few days.
Already I need you again. I need you to fuck me, Adalardo."

"I may not like what he did to you, my sweet, but I am enjoying the way you need me
like this. I will always see to your needs." She could feel him growing hard inside of her;
he rolled them until she was under him and began slowly sawing in and out of her hot
channel.

"Oh, Adalardo, I love you," she breathed on a sigh of bliss, feeling him moving his large
thick cock in and out of her. "But enough talk, more sex, harder, faster!"

She felt the rumble of her Adalardo's laughter against her body.

"As my lady wishes." He obeyed the command of his future queen.

Chapter Sixteen

Tuthal generously had given the King and Penny the use of his tower for several days
until the drug began to dissipate from Penny's system. Tamara was calling it their pre-
honeymoon.

Tuthal was making good on letting Tamara 'punish' him again and it amused her that
Tuthal struggled not to let his dominant side take over. But she also teased him until it
was her time to be 'punished.'

Several days passed peaceably in the kingdom. Life was moving about at the normal
Kell pace. Jane sat with Tamara in the meeting room, a large map of the Earth spread
out on the table before them as they decided where to take the matchmaking service.
Since they couldn't go back to Tasmania, they had to find a new location to set up shop.

"How about the United States?" Tamara glanced over the map on the table. "It's a big
place; for certain we'd find plenty of lonely hearted women looking for a hunk to sweep
them off their feet," Jane said.

"I agree, but there are so many different cities. Where would we start the new
company?"

Jane jabbed her finger down to the southern coastline. "California. All sorts of weird and
wonderful people live there, and men like ours wouldn't get noticed as much. We have
to make certain when the women leave Earth for Kell, that friends and family are notified
they have left of their own free will. Not abducted, or murdered for that matter."

Jane had a point, and Tamara smiled. Drystan strode into the hall looking gorgeously
handsome as usual but nothing compared to the man who walked next to him. Both
sisters heaved a collective sigh then glanced at each other and grinned.

"What mischief be you making, my blue fire?" Drystan questioned. Smiling at his Jane,
he wrapped his arms around her as his hand smoothed over her more pronounced
pregnant belly.

"Not as much as I would like to," Jane replied with a grin. "But we have decided where
to set up shop next."

Tamara felt the warmth of her Protector's arms surrounding her. "Have you been to this
location?" Tuthal asked, as Jane pointed to the spot on the Earth map.

"No, but I've got photos." Tamara knew Tuthal could open a portal in that location from
just looking at an image.

He gave a nod.

"The King has returned and it is time for the official ceremony to crown Penny as
Queen." Jane was practically bouncing in her husband's arms in excitement. He
chuckled, offering her his arm to escort her out.

"My dearest protected, may I have the honor?"

Tamara couldn't contain her smile as she took her husband's arm. "Yes, my protector,
you will always have the honor."

"Have I told you how ravishing you look today?" Tuthal wiggled his eyebrows
suggestively at her. Tamara fought to hold back her laughter.

"Yes, twice before morn break but not since noon day."

"Then I shall have to re-show you after the ceremony." His secret smile told Tamara
what pleasures and delights he had in store for her. Tamara couldn't have found a
better life than she now had here with Tuthal. Living on an alien planet, in love with an
alien man, was the best thing she had ever done. Tuthal complemented her in every
way, and she him. Tamara knew she was going to enjoy the fruits of her decision for the
rest of their lives.

She smiled up at her husband with a seductive smile.

"Hummm, baby, yes, you shall."

~ * ~

Penny glanced down at the flowing soft blue and silver robes. Her hair had been curled
around a silver inlaid crystal band. Queen, she was going to be a queen.

Vanora drew in a breath, "So very beautiful. It fills my heart with pride to see this day.
The King has chosen well. It will be an honor to serve you."

Penny gripped the taller woman hands tightly. "No Vanora, I have no desire to be
served, but to serve."

"The true heart of a Queen," she said, and Penny hugged the older Kell woman. "Come,
I can hear the assembly. Our King will be waiting.

Penny gave a nod and followed Vanora out.

Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she walked the long empty hallway towards the
throne room. The guards opened the door for them and Penny strode through with a
feeling of belonging. It felt as if somehow every step she took towards the dais was
predestined. She passed the assembled citizen's of Kell. She could hear the murmurs of
approval and whispers of her beauty, but she blocked it all out, her eyes focusing on
only one. Adalardo stood tall and proud in his regal robes. His love for her shone in his
eyes as he held her gaze.

When she reached the dais, Adalardo stepped down. Holding out his hand to her, she
slipped her trembling hand into his, feeling his warmth surrounding her as he walked her
up the dais and stood her in front of all present.

"Under the moons of Kell and before all assembled, do you Penny Summerton accept I,
Adalardo King of Kell, as your Protector?"

"With all my heart I do," she answered. Adalardo produced a jeweled inlaid bracelet.
Penny extended her wrist to allow him to snap and lock it in place.

"As King, I here proclaim Penny, Queen of all Kell." Upon her head he placed the most
beautiful crystal crown; it sparkled, catching every aspect of the light. A cheer roared
through the hall and Penny found herself caught up in Adalardo's tight embrace, his
mouth on hers, kissing her deeply. She clung to his arms, kissing him back with all the
love she felt inside.

"My protected, my queen." He murmured against her lips.

She smiled. "My protector, my king."

Penny had gone from the depths of despair to a wondrous future she never could have
dreamed possible. Yet, it was not just her future, but the future of the whole kingdom of
Kell.

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