White: Emala's Story (Ragoru Beginnings Book 1) Read online

  He rode her with great urgency, making her shudder as another orgasm built with wild intensity. He couldn’t pull his cock out far. But the tug and pull against the knot buried within her did something to Emala as he shuttled within her, moving despite being so swollen. He rubbed in such a way that her orgasm finally crashed over her, her cunt spasming around him tightly as she screamed in ecstasy. Korash’s phalluses jerked within her and his seed erupted within her as he bellowed over her. He was still spurting seed minutes later when his cock finally slipped free from her body.

  “Wow,” she whispered, her body still quaking with aftershocks.

  “That,” he growled, “is how a triad lead breeds his mate.” A bit of his semen splattered on her belly as he stood. He nodded in approval as he moved away to allow Vordri in.

  Vordri’s cocks looked almost painfully swollen, the blue flesh almost purple at the head. The male sank against her with a whispered thanks. His palms swept over her breasts, but she didn’t begrudge him the fact that he didn’t remain there longer. With a hiss of intense pleasure, he was slipping inside of her. He wasn’t as wide as Mishar, and not as thick as Korash, but she felt every inch push into her. He wasn’t rough, nor did he work toward a slow build-up. He thrust into her with the urgency that she could appreciate from a male at the limits of his need. His movements were so hasty that his frilled head set off a string of pleasure from the onslaught. He shuttled in and out of her so fast that he wasn’t even pulling out as far as he could have. Instead, she absorbed every deep tap of his phallus inside of her.

  The sparks of friction from Vordri’s cock working in and out of her so desperately ignited an inferno of pleasure that consumed the two of them. Emala arched her hips and screamed while Korash dropped his head and licked her clit just as Vordri’s cock began to jerk within her. The combined sensations sent her over again just as Vordri crested his orgasm. With the last of her energy, she stroked a hand through his mane before her arm fell limp to her side.

  Spent, they curled up together on the pile of pelts. Every now and then, one of her mates would lap at the sweat or the remaining slick on her body with their tongues. They never seemed entirely too tired to enjoy the taste of her and she didn’t object in the least. They felt good, as did their warm bodies pressed against her. Emala smiled at each of her mates.

  They were hers now. Never had anything felt so right.

  Chapter 23

  Emala was relieved when Korash and Vordri pushed the stone barricade away from their den’s entrance. Although it had been a necessity and allowed her mates the freedom to pleasure her endlessly during the Withering Days, she had missed the sun and the smell of fresh air. Despite their best efforts, their den reeked of sex. She hadn’t even bothered to dress at all during that period because every time she put something on, it was stripped off of her moments later.

  Although they would never admit it, she was certain that her guys were tired of being cooped up inside too. They were big, energetic males, and while they spent much time sating themselves with her, she knew that they were used to more activity. Even Korash, who was now responsible for the home, muttered about having so many people underfoot. That of course inspired Vordri to tease about training for when the rogs come, and the males bantered back and forth on the subject.

  The topic of rogs made Emala nervous though. Not because she didn’t want them—because she did. Having little Ragoru babies with her mates was high on her list of things she wanted to do. She was just terrified of having them before they dealt with the threat from Erik. Korash had mentioned a couple of times that they might consider finding a new territory that wasn’t so close to the mountain, but she hated that idea. Their den was their home. She’d already made so many memories in it that she did not want to abandon it.

  She was also exceptionally nervous that day because all three males were planning on leaving the den for the first time. The storms had lasted a lot longer than usual and their supplies dwindled dangerously low. After some debate, they agreed that one of them would go out to scout and see if there was any sign of intrusion over the last month and a half they’d been locked inside copulating like rabbits. For all their jokes about rogs, there was a good chance that Korash hit the mark at some point. Although she had her cycle about a week after their mating, which had interrupted things for a few days, she hadn’t had one since, and she was about due for one. The possibility made her all the more anxious.

  In an attempt to ease everyone’s concerns, they’d opened the den the day before just enough for Mishar to slip through. She’d been a nervous wreck despite the comforting presence of her other two mates. Hours passed with no word until finally they heard the loud scratch of Mishar’s claws on the stone, signaling his return. Now, with no sign of hunters—or really anyone—near the territory, her males were eager to make a supply run. Emala wasn’t happy about it but also knew that Korash wasn’t going to be far from the den. He would only be several yards away breaking the ice over the spring to collect more water for their den. That didn’t stop her from scowling as they stepped outside.

  Korash sighed at her fierce expression, one of his hands reaching up so that his fingers could run through her hair. “I won’t be far, rya, and Mishar and Vordri will be back before the fifth mark past midday. There is no sign of anyone being anywhere near our territory, You will be safe. Just stay in the den.”

  “And if someone approaches, don’t talk to them,” Vordri added.

  Be good, rya, Mishar signed impishly which somehow was just the thing to break her foul mood. She grinned at him and pulled him in for a kiss.

  “I will be good, and I will show you just how much better I can be when you return,” she promised.

  Mishar grinned, his tail swatting at her playfully as he passed. She snorted as she batted at it with her own hands. He was such a terrible flirt. He was the complete opposite of Vordri, the ever overprotective male, who was now narrowing his eyes on her. She ignored his peevish look and focused on a bundle of leathers in his hand.

  “What do you have there, handsome?”

  He sighed, but his lips quirked as he handed her the leather. “Something I’ve been working on for you, in between our matings,” he stated in his usual plainspoken manner. She flushed and turned her attention to the leather, which she unfolded and held out a hand-stitched leather dress. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

  “You made this for me, Vordri?”

  “As much as I love watching you roam around our den without your coverings, I realized that you had a point about needing them outside of indulging the desires of your mates. Though it pains me to admit it.”

  “How thoughtful! Thank you, Vordri. It is beautiful.”

  His ears tilted with bashful pleasure before he straightened them and cleared his throat in an attempt to be gruffer. He may have been a paranoid, overprotective ass, but he was also loving and generous.

  “Rya, remember: do not trust anyone.”

  Emala sighed and nodded. He’d repeated that particular instruction several times already since they woke that morning. “Of course, Vordri, you do realize that if I hadn’t trusted Mishar, I wouldn’t be here now. Sometimes trusting another brings good things.”

  “It also almost got you taken by slavers,” he reminded her.

  “Who I got away from,” she reminded him sweetly. She was determined not to be cross with him after giving her such a lovely gift.

  “By falling off the side of a mountain.”

  He had her there. There was really no argument against that.

  “All right. No talking to or trusting anyone,” she agreed.

  Satisfied, each male took his turn to kiss her. She loved their kisses and was glad that she taught them how to kiss. Their mouths weren’t the right shape to do a proper human kiss. To Emala, that just spiced things up a bit.

  “You know, I could just go with one of you. Then everyone knows I am perfectly safe,” she suggested, her tone hopeful.

/>   Korash shook his head and nuzzled her head. “It is too cold out here for you, rya. Stay inside where it is warm. We will bring you out another day when the temperatures start rising. We don’t want our mate to become ill.”

  He wasn’t lying about the weather. All three males didn’t seem bothered despite the clouds of frozen breath floating around them. Not only did they have thick pelts, but from being snuggled up between them—and sometimes scrambling away from them when she thought she was going to overheat—she figured that they must have a higher body temperature than humans that helped them to endure the cooler temperatures. Korash, in particular, looked perfectly comfortable. Naturally, he would be, since he came from the territories far north of Old Wayfairer Citadel. The clans probably lived in the cold weather a good portion of the year.

  Still, even the kisses didn’t make her feel much better when the males filed out to their various chores. She watched them from the entrance for as long as she could until the stinging cold in the air drove her back inside the warmth of their den. Closing the door against the elements, she settled down in front of the fire. Idly she picked up some of the leather Vordri stored in a basket and looked it over. She bet with a bit of patience that she could dye it. A bit of bloodroot should have an interesting result. In the Citadel, she would never have worn red, but out here, where no one cared and her mates considered it a most revered and beautiful color, she felt inspired. If she was successful, she would have to experiment more with various plants and flowers over the summer to find new hues. She could dye not only the leather but the grasses they used for their baskets.

  Excited at the prospect of a new project, Emala headed to the storage room to look for the bloodroot. Hours later, her arms were stained up to her elbows, her worn dress had vivid splashes of colors on it—she was grateful that she had the forethought not to change into her new leather dress—and the main room was filled with everything from dried grasses to bits of leather and fibers in various stages of drying. She looked upon her work with a satisfied smile when she heard a sound outside.

  It didn’t sound like any animal that lived around there or any of her mates returning. Every so often over the course of the morning, she’d peeked out in the direction of the spring, eagerly waiting for Korash’s return. They would all be back soon, and she couldn’t wait to show them the results of her labor. She smiled proudly over it, but the sound came again. This time, she scowled and walked toward the door. As she approached, she reminded herself that she wasn’t going to go out—she was just going to peek. While the door wouldn’t do much against a battering ram and was clearly visible to those who were close enough, it did latch securely from the inside. If there was a threat of any kind out there, she would be able to pull down the lock mechanism.

  Cracking open a small panel in the door that Vordri had installed at her insistence over the month they were barricaded inside, Emala peered outside. She gasped as she saw a young woman, about her age, give or take a year, crying as she stood shivering in a thin dress and tattered fur. She clutched a basket to her chest but didn’t seem to have anything else.

  Emala drew the panel open more. “Hello?” she called out. “Are you all right?”

  The girl’s head jerked up and she looked around until she caught sight of Emala watching her from the door.

  “You are human? Thank the Mother! I heard that all manner of creatures dwell in the woods. Feral people—and even worse, Ragoru. I’ve been scared out of my mind. Can you please help me? My family was traveling home from visiting my sister in her village—she just recently had a baby, you see—and I got terribly lost. Do you think you can point out the direction of the nearest path heading toward Myst Sanctuary village?”

  “Oh, certainly!” Emala said with a sense of relief. She would be able to help her without breaking her word to her mates. She’d already bent the rules a little by talking to the other woman but figured that as long as she stayed safely inside that it didn’t count. She just couldn’t leave the girl out there to freeze to death.

  The girl smiled until she shivered again, shuddering against the cold as she rubbed her forearms. Emala’s brow furrowed with concern. The girl looked at her uncertainly. “I am sorry to ask this, and I’ll understand if you say no, but is there any chance that I might come and warm myself for a bit by your fire? I swear it will only be for a moment.”

  Emala frowned. She felt pity for her. It was bitter cold out there, but she had promised not to let anyone in. “Oh, I don’t know. My ma—err, husband was insistent that I not let anyone in. I’m not even supposed to be talking to you, to be honest.”

  The girl’s eyes widened, and she nodded sagely as she crept forward. “That is wise. Do you know that just a short time ago huntsmen were all over the woods? They terrorized everyone with their questions. It was quite frightening. I do not like the huntsmen. They killed my uncle right in front of me when he refused to give them his best pig to feed them when they passed through our village once. Everyone is always scared when they come,” she confided.

  This young woman couldn’t be all bad if she was expressing such hard feelings toward the huntsmen. Perhaps it would be okay just for a few minutes then she would send the woman on her way. She thought of Esmi and her daughter, who helped her when she first escaped, and Mari, who aided her despite the risks. She always believed in returning good deeds. Not extending help when she could felt like disrespecting those who took a chance and helped her.

  “I suppose I can allow you to come in, just for a few minutes,” she said.

  The young woman’s face lit up, making her look even younger, possibly not yet even out of her teens. Poor thing! Her mind made up, Emala stepped back, shut the panel, and threw open the locks on the door. The heavy door was difficult to move as usual, but as soon as it was open, she waved the girl in and pulled it shut behind her.

  They sat together on the furs in front of the fire for several minutes, her guest looking around the main den with an expression of fascination.

  “This is really amazing. It looks like it was carved right into the rock itself.”

  “I think my husband said that it was a natural cave that he and his brothers expanded into a house,” Emala replied conversationally. Her eyes caught on the basket. “What are you carting around with you?”

  “Oh, this? It seems silly but whenever I explore, I take a few things with me in case I get hungry. I’m afraid I ate most of it. All the bread, cheese, and meat, anyway. I do have an apple left from the greenhouse in Myst Sanctuary. Not all villages have them, but given our close proximity to the Citadel, we were able to get the necessary supplies. It is nice having fresh fruit available all year round. I imagine you miss it. Would you like it? It is the least I can do for your help. Besides, my family still has a small barrel full of them in our carts so I can always get another.”

  Emala swallowed as she eyed the ruby fruit. She hadn’t eaten a fresh apple in some time. The orchards of the Citadel hadn’t produced well that year and Erik had no interest in paying the inflated price.

  “If you are certain you won’t miss it...”

  “Not at all.” The girl laughed. “Here. Take it.” She tossed it to Emala, who caught it out of the air.

  Turning the fruit in her hand, she admired it. It was almost blemish-free and brighter than any shade she typically saw. “Thank you,” she murmured. Lifting the fruit, she took a generous bite. She chewed and then paused.

  Something wasn’t right.

  She didn’t feel right.

  She tried to spit the fruit out, but she couldn’t get her mouth to move. She couldn’t even cry out.

  Her eyes widened with alarm and a mischievous smile broke out over the girl’s face as she stood up. She leaned over her and Emala could see the blue hem of a huntsman’s cloak beneath the fur she wore. She’d heard before that there were women in the ranks of the huntsmen, but it hadn’t even occurred to her that such a young woman would be a member. The face that stared at her no
w, while very youthful, was hard, her lips curved into a smirk.

  “What’s the matter, princess? Cat got your tongue? You really disgust me. You grew up in luxury and were offered everything. I don’t know what the Master saw in you. It’s unfortunate he did not discover your deceit sooner so he could seize the servant girl who helped you. She disappeared. But he did hang your mother’s corpse from the main hall of the Order for all to see. He would have enjoyed killing her if she hadn’t beaten him to it. All the same, we really did try to hunt you out. We looked for a while. We even found a rather disreputable family who’d seen you. Some traveling merchants, but they weren’t much help. Not even after the Master had us torture them. They insisted that you had fallen to your death, yet there had been no corpse, only the tracks of a Ragoru. It was easy to deduce what happened then. He wanted you until we determined that you went willingly with the beast. Then he just wanted you dead.”

  She glanced around the room with a sneer. “You know, I really thought that they would live a bit more primitively than this. I mean, it’s still awful, but there are signs of some sort of industry, which is surprising. I’ll have to report that back to the Order. You never know what information might be useful. For instance, no one but Erik believed that you would take the apple. Funny how the simple things can work against us. Once our dogs led us to where you were hiding it was just a matter of leaving me behind to wait your monsters out. I hate it out here. I really should make this more painful for you for the weeks you had me out in the miserable hellhole, but all is forgiven,” she ended on a singsong note.

  Emala gurgled, tears of grief and anger leaking from her eyes. The huntswoman pursed her lips as she watched. “What’s that? Oh, dear. Can’t talk, can you? I’m afraid you won’t be able to talk or do much of anything. That bite of apple is slowly poisoning you. I am counting on the fact that your mates,” she said that word with a shiver of revulsion, “will not even think to check your mouth until long after you’re dead... and maybe not even then. Sleep well, princess,” she said as Emala’s eyes finally drifted closed.