A Gift for the King Read online

  “I showed you the view off a balcony on the backside of the castle. I will show you the rest today. You and I must ready to visit the city. We will change and put you in the typical garb of a human servant, so that you do not incite further attention from the masses.”

  “What do you mean? I didn’t notice anything unusual about what the women wore here in the castle.”

  “The nobles living here in the castle generally don’t have our females wear anything special, but the outside towns are very traditional. If we brought a human female who was treated differently from the others, we would anger the Erassans outside the walls. Each of the tribes has different cultures, and humans are a very important part of that.”

  “Well, what do I have to wear?”

  Dante pursed his lips and rose from the bed. He made his way over to a dark cherry wood armoire and opened it. Inside, a multitude of thin, gauzy red fabrics were hanging. He pulled one out and presented it to her.

  “In addition to this, I must collar you as well.”

  “Really? Collar me?” she muttered, her eyes locked on the sheer fabrics in his hands.

  “A collar marks you as owned, and no one will lay a hand on you, especially since you have the king’s mark as well. My tattoo is well known in the city.”

  He walked over to her and ran his hands down the sides of her body. Although she was afraid of what might happen outside the walls of the castle, she nearly purred at his touch. Before she could realize what was happening, he had pulled her dress over her head. His movements were insanely fast, and before she knew it, he had unclipped her bra. Gasping, she brought up her hands to cover herself, and he knocked them away. He slowed when his fingers reached the hem of her panties, and he looked into her eyes. Instinctively, she grabbed his wrists, trying to prevent what was to happen next.

  “Please do not fight me on this. I need to keep you safe, and you have to follow tradition in order for me to do this. You do not yet understand our ways,” he said softly, a hint of fear deep in his own eyes.

  Lana felt her own fear melt away, and she took her hands away from his. His admission of fear for her safety broke something in her, some form of resistance she always had deep within her. For some reason, he actually cared for her. She closed her eyes as he took hold of the flimsy fabric of her panties and whisked them down her legs. She nearly jumped when she felt his lips kiss her lower abdomen, but she lifted one leg and then the other as he pulled down her underwear, freeing them from her feet. Lana blushed, knowing she was completely naked in front of him. With the sunlight streaming in through the window, there was no hiding a single inch of her body from his view.

  “Good girl,” he said softly, pride coming through his voice. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes so she could see him. He knelt before her—her completely nude, him fully clothed. There was something about it that was empowering, yet utterly vulnerable. His eyes glanced up at hers, and then he stood up, towering over her. She felt so small, so helpless, but oddly safe. His eyes smoldered, ice blue intermingled with glimmers of fire.

  “I could stare into your eyes all night,” Dante whispered, his hand smoothing a wisp of hair out of her face. Reluctantly, he looked to the sheer fabric he had put aside, and picked it back up. Taking the dress off the hanger, he slowly dressed her, pulling it over her head and down her waist. When it was in place, she looked down at her body. It was shaped like a halter dress, the fabric hugging and lifting her breasts like a bra. The sheer fabric draped over her hips, fitting snugly over her curves, down to the tops of her feet. The material was so sheer that she knew there was no part of her body hidden from view.

  Dante slid a pair of sandals gently onto her feet before he turned her and adjusted the fabric around her bottom.

  “These dresses have a slit going down the backside, which is kept closed by a simple tie. If a human female misbehaves, she can be quickly bared for punishment, which is always immediately applied no matter where she is.”

  Lana nodded, before glancing at her backside in a nearby mirror. The dress draped over each shoulder and dropped to an impossibly low back that very nearly showed the tops of her buttocks. The red fabric cupped her bottom, flowing down to the floor. She could see every detail of herself: each cheek of her bottom, the curves of her thighs, the muscles in her back. Turning forward, she gasped at the front view. Her nipples stood at attention, a dark rosy hue clearly visible through the fabric. She could even see the trimmed hair surrounding the apex of her slit and even the hint of an outline of her lower lips when she parted her legs. The fabric gathered in such a way that her charms were shielded from view, unless she looked closely. She was fully dressed, but completely and utterly exposed.

  Dante came up behind her and placed a thick, black leather collar around her throat. Lana moved her hair out of the way and heard the collar click as he closed it.

  “This is a locking collar, and the only thing that will open it is my power. It is linked to me. It will keep you safe, and bonded to me in all ways.”

  He moved her hand, and her dark hair fell back into place, completing a picture of sensuality like she had never seen before. Knowing that she was totally visible from head to toe, even she had to admit that she had never looked more enticing than she did at that moment. She noticed, as Dante pulled her into his chest, that she could feel his hardness against the curve of her lower back.

  Taking her hand, he pulled away, leaving her feeling bereft. How could it be, in such a short time, that she craved his touch so much? The feel of skin, his soft touch, even the smacks of his hand on her bottom made her feel whole, and truly cared for. She knew she was falling for him, and hard. Trying to push those thoughts away, she followed as he led her toward the door of his bedroom.

  He stopped momentarily, looking back at her, his face sad.

  “You will notice I may treat you differently when we are in the company of others. I will be much harsher with you. If you do not obey my every command, I will be expected to spank you immediately. I will be as understanding as I possibly can since this is all new to you. You are to speak when spoken to. Follow the lead of the other human females and you should do fine.”

  Lana nodded, keeping her eyes slightly downcast.

  “Yes, sir,” she said quietly, and he smiled back at her. A slight nod indicated his approval. A tiny thrill of happiness passed through her at the prospect of pleasing him, even just a little.

  “This will be much more important when we leave the confines of Eridell. Tonight, we will see some of the city, and tomorrow, we will make our way to some of the surrounding villages. Wes and Emma will be traveling with us.”

  Lana allowed herself a small smile, excited to at least have someone she might consider a friend along on the trip with her; someone else who might try to understand this new world with her.

  She followed Dante out of his bedroom, through a series of hallways and doors that she was positive she would never remember. They walked down corridors of stone lit with torches of a strange fire that glimmered with every color of the rainbow. There was something magical about it, something decidedly unnatural. It drew her toward it in a strange way, almost as though she was familiar with it. Something inside her seemed to swell, but was quickly forgotten when Dante reached a door more massive than she had ever seen before, even the one he had shown her earlier that day. Intricately carved wood towered above them.

  With a wave of his hand, the door slowly opened. She watched in amazement at the range of his powers and thought about what else he was capable of. Shock registered on her face when the city fully came into view.

  The bustling city was an intoxicating sight. It was like something out of a dream. Lana almost expected a dragon to come swooping in from the mountains in the distance. She saw white stone everywhere, so white that it nearly sparkled. Each building was like a piece of art in and of itself.

  The bleached buildings stretched on for miles, some many floors high with towers,
others short with only a floor or two. Roads also made of white rock extended away from the castle to a far distance. She could see the massive stone wall surrounding the city, and trees lined the horizon, looking lush far off in the vast expanses of the unknown planet. Erassans wandered the streets, some pulling carts of merchandise, others walking in and out of the castle. She spotted some human females dressed just like her, following several Erassan men and women. Surprised when she spotted the first human male, she took in his state of dress, which was much less revealing than what she was forced to wear. The man, tall with hard muscles and tousled blond hair, wore a pale desert-colored tunic and black pants. A collar at his throat indicated to her that an Erassan owned him, just like her. Upon further inspection, she realized all of the human men she could see were dressed exactly the same.

  All of the human males and females kept their eyes down, not meeting the eyes of any Erassan. When given an order, they obeyed immediately, as if it were a natural way of being.

  Dante urged her forward with a gentle tug, and she followed him, trying to mimic the other humans by keeping her eyes on his feet, but failing miserably. There was so much to see! They walked down the road together and turned down the first bend. Lana gasped as she gazed on what came before her. A massive building that seemed to sprawl down the entire length of the road took over her entire vision.

  It was almost grander than the castle itself. Intricate architecture curved in smooth lines, and elaborate patterns emerged through the stones themselves. A glorious entrance made the vision even more enticing. A tall flight of stairs led to a solid, white stone set of doors that remained open so that people could exit and enter as they wished. Humans milled around the building in very strange robes in a variety of colors. Strangely, she realized that they were not wearing the traditional garb she had come to expect. Even odder, no Erassans milled around the building. Lana gawked, and very nearly lost her footing as Dante pulled her on ahead.

  “What is that place?” she thought aloud, once she was again close to him.

  “That is the Hall of Magic.”

  “Magic?”

  “It’s a special place for some of the humans who come here to Terranovum. I will explain more at a later time; that is, if you are still curious. Now, hold your tongue, we are to convene with my royal guard in a few minutes.”

  Lana closed her mouth, swallowing any further questions, and followed silently behind him. She glanced back at the Hall of Magic one last time before they turned another corner. Deep inside, she knew that wasn’t the last she’d see of that place. Something had awakened inside her just by looking upon it.

  The two of them came up on some sort of stables. It actually surprised her to see horses on this new planet. She nearly jumped when she saw what could only be described as massive wolves and lions kenneled in the stables next to the normal-looking horses. Confused, she watched as the lions, wolves, and horses were outfitted with reins and saddles and lined up along the road. She glanced at Dante. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but she kept silent, for fear of repercussions. Continuing to watch the strange beasts, her initial fear gradually morphed into respect as the wolves nuzzled their handlers, and the lions stood regally tall with riders upon their backs. The pride within these massive beasts could be seen in the way they handled themselves, and their riders seemed to trust them without fail.

  Dante strode up to one of the nearby Erassan riders, causing the man to pause from climbing atop of a beautiful black wolf. The man’s ice blue eyes appraised Lana before focusing back on Dante. He bowed his head and pounded his right fist to his chest. Dante nodded in recognition, and the man relaxed, standing tall.

  “Where is Wes? Has he arrived?” Dante inquired.

  A hand clapped on Dante’s shoulder as Wes came up behind him. Lana turned back toward him, his presence surprising her as well.

  “I’m right here, your majesty,” Wes said, reverence blatantly clear in his tone, without a single hint of sarcasm. Lana’s eyebrow wrinkled, confused at his drastic change in character. Wes also bowed his head and pounded his chest with his right fist, just like the other man had done. He then stood tall, hands straight at his sides.

  “What news of Eriborough?” Dante asked.

  “The rumors of unrest in the south are beginning to reach them. They are calling for your guidance, and promise of our protection. They require our assistance in local matters as well.”

  Dante uttered a soft grunt in acknowledgement. Lana noticed a figure behind Wes, and moved forward a step to realize that it was Emma. She was dressed in the same attire as Lana. Her blond hair cascaded down in waves and her head was bowed, eyes firmly on the ground. Wes must have told her how she was supposed to behave outside the castle walls. Lana tried to mimic her, but felt silly.

  “Come, we must ready the carriage for the journey,” Dante said, and Wes nodded in agreement.

  “We should get that accomplished very soon, sir, as the journey will take most of the night.”

  Lana’s mind burned with questions. Why, on such an advanced planet, were they taking a carriage to their destination? Why was magic a real thing, and why did only humans venture in the Hall of Magic? Why had something seemed to come alive within her when she had seen that strange fire, and why had it grown when she had seen the Hall of Magic?

  The questions swirling through her mind were making it hard to concentrate on what was happening around her. Trying to focus on Dante, Lana gradually calmed herself and tried to still her thoughts, storing away her curiosities for a more convenient time. Watching him was almost hypnotizing in and of itself; he was so commanding and regal as he carried himself. He directed some of the riders toward the front and sent orders down the line, keeping some of the powerful wolves and lions to form a protective ring around whatever they were to be traveling in. She followed him submissively, observing and analyzing what was happening around them.

  Every soldier who talked with Dante had an extreme reverence, especially upon first acknowledgement. Every single one of them pounded their right fist to their hearts and stood tall and silent before Dante recognized their salute. After that, they relaxed and reported whatever news they had and stood still, resolute, and respectful with every word. It was fascinating to watch. As they continued to make their way down the line, she noticed a large carriage that must be meant for them.

  It looked like something out of a science fiction movie. The hull was silver metal, with small ship-like windows and four large thick black rubber wheels. Two large lions were being fitted into harnesses at the front of the carriage. The passenger area was long, so that she imagined inside there was a place to sleep. It was simple in its design, but looked extremely well protected. When she really studied the strange contraption, it looked like the carriage from Cinderella and the mother ship from Star Wars had had a baby.

  Dante continued talking to his soldiers, and Lana made her way closer to Emma, who still was staring straight at the ground. Soon enough, Lana was standing next to her, and grasped the girl’s hand quickly. Emma jumped at the sudden touch, but soon wrapped her fingers around Lana’s in a gesture of support. Lana soon realized her friend’s hands were trembling slightly, and she squeezed back, hoping to give the girl some semblance of encouragement. The two of them stood hand in hand, Emma’s eyes cast down while Lana watched as Dante and Wes organized the royal guard as well as soldiers from the city.

  When the four of them reached the end of the line, Lana could contain herself no longer. She let go of Emma’s hand and slowly approached Dante, who happened to be turning back toward her. She took his cold fingers into hers and looked up at him expectantly.

  “Can I touch one of the big wolves?” she asked softly, so that no one else could overhear. Dante looked upon her, his eyes lenient, if a little tired.

  “Come, my pet. I will introduce you to my own personal steed. I call her Tala.”

  “She is a female?”

  �
��Yes, the wolves on our planet live in packs, and are led by an alpha female. She is extremely intelligent, and protects those she leads. My Tala is the most loyal I’ve ever seen, and one of the strongest of her kind. Come. Follow me.”

  Lana tailed him into the stables, as the lights around them seemed to be darkening by the second. The sun was setting, and brilliant colors bloomed across the sky, but she was too excited to pay attention and nearly skipped behind him to keep up. They approached a massive stall, off toward the front of the stables. Dante swung the stall door open. Squinting her eyes, Lana tried to see into the darkness.

  She was able to discern something moving, and tried to focus in the dim light even more intently. Slowly, a massive animal emerged into the soft light and Lana gasped. Light shimmered off her shiny coat, a brilliant red and brown that put even the sunset to shame. Deep yellow eyes shifted from Dante to her, distrust immediately apparent within her gaze.

  “Kneel for her, Lana,” Dante whispered, and she slowly complied. Falling to her knees, Lana stared down at the floor and lifted her hands, almost in offering for Tala to assess her. She felt the wolf’s soft fur graze her fingers, and she forced the trembling within her body to still.

  “Tala, meet my pet. Her name is Lana. I expect you to protect her as you would me. She is very important to me.”

  The wolf sniffed her, her nose grazing the skin of her neck and the tattoo on her collarbone. Seemingly accepting of her, Tala nuzzled against her, and Lana relaxed, letting her hands smooth against the giant wolf’s neck. Tala stepped back and looked into Lana’s eyes. A feminine voice sounded inside Lana’s mind, unnervingly loud and ominous, but strangely protective.

  “I will keep you safe, pet of my master.”

  Lana bowed her head in reverence of the giant beast.

  “Thank you, Tala.” She stood, rising slowly to her full height next to the wolf, which still towered over her. Reaching up, she scratched behind Tala’s ear, and ran her hand down Tala’s back, feeling the powerful muscles hidden beneath the fur. Resting her head against the giant’s shoulder, she felt Tala’s heartbeat pound through her. Such a beautiful creature, Lana thought.