The Crimson Z
Robert Cloud
Lee Rush
Richard Savage
Abby Blythe
Kara Elsberry
ISBN 0-9774682-8-3

Collection Paranormal
Stories
688 paperback pages
Multi-format ebook $6.99
Paperback $29.99
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The Crimson Z has it all, contemporary, historical, sweet, sexy, erotic.

The Crimson Z Includes:

Love of a Pendant's Heart
A Short Novella
by Lee Rush

The Anniversary
A Short Novella
By Richard Savage

Incorrigible
A Novella
by Abby Blythe

On The Wings of a Dream
A Novelette
by Kara Elsberry

The Blood Ritual of the Crimson Z
A Novel
by Robert Cloud

The Awakening
A Long Novella
by Robert Cloud

Chapter Two

William rode into the village just as he did every other
month. It was the way he kept in touch with the people in his
kingdom. A few days spent here and there brought problems
to his attention and kept the gentry happy. If they were
happy, he was happy because it made his rule that much
easier to accomplish. As he rode into the center of the village,
his eye was caught by a quick flash of bright red billowing in
the breeze. He drew closer to the central well of the village
and spotted what was under the billowing red. She was quite
comely ... buxom, fair of face and small waisted. Just the sort
he usually found pleasing to his senses. Unbidden, a picture
of her face gazing up at him, hair spread out on a pillow
flashed into his mind and he felt a twitch in his groin as a
broad smile split his face.

He stopped at the well to water his horse and was
surrounded by the villagers greeting him and begging his
attention as he dismounted. While he answered their
questions and listened to their minor complaints, he turned
from side to side to address each villager in turn but he could
always see the redheaded woman from the corner of his eye.
He was glad that he had worn a loose doublet for riding today
and that none were aware of the twitching of his breeches
under it whenever she came fully into his view.

He kept his hand on the horse's bridle to keep him calm
and had to lean to the side now and then to look around the
horse just to see the woman again. He wasn't sure later what
he had promised the villagers when they spoke with him; he
had been too involved in keeping his eye on the woman.

There she was, always at the back of the small crowd, just
watching him with a soft smile on her face. The smile seemed
at times to hold an innocence and at other times perhaps a
bit of lasciviousness ... directed at him! Even in her
homespun clothing she was a vision of loveliness, and that he
would have remembered if he had seen her before.

Finally, when the other villagers had spoken with him and
gone about their various businesses ... she was the only one
left. He swept off his hat and swung it across his body as he
bowed at her approach. When he stood up again, he smiled
broadly.

"And what, lovely lady, did you want to ask of me?"

As he spoke, he reached out and took hold of her elbow,
directing her to the wall surrounding the well so she could sit
comfortably while they talked. He put his booted foot on the
wall beside her and leaned forward to hear her better. The
scent of flowers that emanated from her filled his senses.

"I bid you good day, Sir. I have but a small favor to ask."

"Speak then and let me grant your wish."

"I would not so readily agree were I you, Sir ... until you
have heard me out."

"Such a lovely lady as yourself ... What could I possibly
have to fear from granting a request?"

She smiled slowly, her voice dropping to almost a whisper
as she gave him her request.

"'Tis been told to me, my lord that a wedding would be the
future here and I would ask that it be sooner rather than
later."

He was taken aback at the audacity of such a statement,
and his head jerked up and away from her. When he saw the
expression on her face, he chuckled softly. She was serious
but there was a twinkle in her eye. This close to her he could
see the light sprinkling of freckles across her face and he
longed to reach out and trace a pattern between them. Then
he shook his head ... what was this? He had seen beautiful
women before ... why was this one so special? He couldn't put
his finger on the reason he was so attracted to her, but his
shaft certainly had no problem discerning her charms.

"A wedding, is it? Between..."

"Why ... between you and I, my lord. It has been foretold,
I assure you."

He laughed aloud at her words, never thinking of such a
thing himself. A wedding, indeed!! He had bed many a lass as
comely as this one and had never been wed. What made her
think it would be different now? And there was the proposed
wedding with Princess Elena to bring two realms together ...
this woman was beautiful but obviously a bit daft.

Cara jumped to her feet when he laughed at her, anger
coloring her features.

"Do you not find me comely enough to wed?"

"Aye ... you are that, lass. It's just that you have caught
me completely unawares. I had no such thought when I first
saw you."

He smiled, trying to back up a bit, surprised at her anger
and a bit chagrined that he had let himself react in such a
manner. When she saw the expression on his face, it was her
turn to laugh, her anger forgotten. She turned around,
swirling her skirts saucily and laughed heartily. Head thrown
back, the deep throated heartiness in the laugh gave her an
earthy appearance more than her clothing.

"No ... I would guess not, my lord. But ... you did think
something else, did you not? Something to do with pleasure
and passion? I could see it in your eyes, my lord. There is no
sense in denying it."

A sharp shard of annoyance shot through him at the nerve
of the wench and brought color to his face. Telling him what
he should and shouldn't deny? Who did she think she was?

"I do not deny it, woman ... I have no need to deny it. I
am the lord of this kingdom and what is here ... is mine for
the taking."

"Taking? But surely it would be much more pleasant if it
were freely given, my lord?"

She had stepped closer to him and lowered her voice as
she spoke and he again felt that twitching in his loins. He
could take her ... who would stop him? He could have what he
wanted and who was to tell him nay? His father, long gone,
had never bid him to deny his wants and his mother had diedat his birth ... there was no one to deny him, least of all this
wench before him. In truth, it would be better ... more
pleasant if she came willingly to his bed, but deny him?
He couldn't hold in the laughter as he heard her speak.
"A cheeky wench, aren't you?"

"I think you like cheeky, my lord. I see that wicked twinkle
in your eye," she said as she stepped even closer to him, her
breasts just barely brushing against him as she winked up at
him, a devilish twinkle evident in her eyes.

He was aware of her firm breasts against him, aware of
the heat of her flesh through his shirt when she stepped back,
another innocent look on her face. Teasing him with her body,
the saucy wench was teasing him! But Gods, the way those
pert breasts felt against him! Even through the thin material
of her dress and his shirt, he could feel the hardness of her
nipples and he wanted more.

He stood there grinning from ear to ear and looking her
over from the top of her head to the tips of her sandaled toes.
Then he reached out a hand and before he could grab her
wrist and pull her close, she was already in his arms, standing
on tiptoes to kiss him.

His arms were around her though he did not remember
making that move. Soft lips pressed against his, gently at
first and then with more pressure. His tongue flicked out and
tasted strawberries and something else. A momentary flash of
memory shot through his mind before he realized what it was.

As he savored the taste of strawberries, he also inhaled the
scent of her and it was as if he were in a field of freshly cut
grass. Again, her breasts were pressed against him but more
urgently this time. He was becoming even more aroused by
the girl who wanted to claim his heart and future and
indecision taunted him. As much as he knew in his head that
it was wrong to want her, that his future should lie with the
alliance with Elena's father, his loins betrayed him. She was
pressed tightly against him and it was not possible for her to
be unaware of his desire.

He was surprised at the audacity of the wench and
delighted as well. Most women these days were quite a bit
different from this one. Most were staid and stuffy ... not
admitting to feelings such as this. But this one ... it was
obvious that she enjoyed the fruits of lust as well as he did.

She drew her mouth back from the kiss, licked across his lips
sensually and chuckled softly. Even after she leaned back
from the kiss, the taste of her lingered and was as arousing
as her actions.

"I think that you have seen that twinkle in my eye, my
lord."

Was she bewitching him? If so ... he was a willing subject.
With difficulty, he looked beyond her hair, slowly taking in the
surroundings. Was anybody watching them? Could any of
them see the lord of the realm quaking in his boots at the
closeness of this woman? There were others there, but they
didn't seem to see them and that was odd as the two were
enjoying their lustiness in the middle of the square, lolling
against the well in the center of the village. A fog of lust
surrounding him he didn't understand why no one was looking
at them ... what they were doing was simply not done in
public.

"Are you a witch," he gasped out.

"No my lord ... only one who has seen herself in your
arms."

He was gasping for breath as she wiggled against him; his
arms were tight as they clutched her to his chest. Her full
breasts pressed against him, her nipples hard as pebbles
rubbing across his chest. Her soft belly was tight against his
hardness. The throbbing need in his loins was growing,
becoming more insistent and his voice was raspy with desire
when next he spoke.

"What is it you want, wench?"

"Only you, my lord ... forever as mine."

"Yours?"

"Aye, my lord ... mine and only mine. I am foretold to bear
your sons and I would begin now."

This wench? The mother of his sons? The wife he would
take? Somehow that didn't seem quite right but he knew he
wouldn't be able to resist her. His loins were aching with
desire for her.

"Name, woman. What is your name," the words were
gasped as he sought breath.

"Cara, my lord. Surely you have seen me in your dreams?
Dreamt of my touch and my kisses? You have ... haven't
you?"

Before he could think to deny it, her visage in his dreams
was foremost in his mind, though he had not realized it
before this moment. He was almost panting for breath as the
freshly mown grass scent filled his senses, his loins pulsing as
the heat of her body pressed against him.

She leaned back in his arms and gazed into his eyes and
he felt as though he were drowning in a pool of blue water,
deep and unfathomable. Her smile warmed his heart as the
rest of her warmed his body.

"What is this, wench? What are you doing to me?"

"I? I do nothing, my lord, except offer myself as the
prophecy foretold. It is said that I will bear you many sons,
though only one of them will become renowned, the others
will carry on your name and your heritage, my lord."

He moved his hands to her shoulders to push her back as
he heard her words. He wanted to push her back, but his
fingers closed on her shoulders and simply held her there. He
gazed down at her, indignation flashing in his eyes.

"You take much for granted, woman."

"Nay, sir ... I speak only the truth as is foretold. I will be
the one to share your life and times. Can you not feel that
truth?"

As she spoke, her hips pressed harder against him,
swaying sensuously from side to side, causing his shaft to
twitch under his clothes.

"Gods, you incense me, woman."

Her smile was sweet and wicked at the same time and she
stepped back, her body no longer pressing against him. His
body ached at the absence of warmth and he almost grabbed
her and pulled her tight again.

He seemed to fall further into that pool of blue as he
fought to regain his senses. His hand reached out and
grasped at her plain gown to pull her closer, but she danced
out of his reach.

"What say you, my lord? Do you believe the prophecy as I
have told it? Or do you think me merely a slut who would
have her way with you?"

The certainty of her words speared into his heart and
mind. Was it possible? Did she speak the truth?

"Who has foretold these things, woman? Who has made
you so sure in your mind that I should consider this
'marriage'?"

"The Witch of Wolstad has said it, my lord and she is never
wrong. She has cast the bones and read the leaves and each
time it is told the same. I am to bear your sons and continue
your blood into the future."

"A witch, is it? Of Wolstad, you say? I've heard of the witch
but never that she did fortunes of future happenstance.
You're sure of this? Sure enough to wage your future on her
words?"

The red hair fluttered in the breeze as she nodded her
head, a serious expression on her face.

"Aye, 'tis true, my lord. I am the one."

He laughed heartily and caught her wrist, pulling her back
against him. He leaned down and nuzzled against her neck,
inhaling her scent again, getting dizzy again with the swirling
aromas ... berries, newly cut hay and overshadowing it all ...
her arousal.

"Come to the castle, wench and we shall see what we shall
see."

"I come for a wedding, my lord ... naught else."

"You'll come for whatever I say, woman. I make the laws
here. I make the decisions, not some witch from the outer
reaches and not some village wench either ... even if she is as
comely as you."

Surging desires squelched his sense of decorum and
propriety, though he had use for neither in his position. He
was the lord of the realm and what he wanted ... he took and
enjoyed. Yet ... this one ... this woman was something he had
not encountered before. His loins were enflamed with need
and his soul was singing as it never had before. He was
breathing faster and harder as her scents filled him. His shaft
was throbbing and he groaned aloud as she stepped back
from him again.

"A wedding, my lord?"

He could only nod his acquiescence for she had stolen his
breath as well as his senses. He had to have her and
consequences be damned. He pulled her close again and
tightened his grip on her, holding her as he kissed her deeply
and passionately. He groaned in the kiss as his shaft throbbed
against her.

Almost thrusting her from him, he remounted his horse
and then pulled her up to sit behind him. The warmth of her
pressed against his back and her arms around his waist
seared his skin with heat.

The ride back to the castle was interminable and difficult
beyond belief. All he wanted was to leap from the horse, take
her into the fields and ravish her over and over again. Her
nipples were hard as little buttons pressing into his back, the
fullness of her breasts squashed against him, teasing him to
greater heights of need. It was all he could do to actually ride
to the castle and dismount his horse in the courtyard. He was
sure all could see the rampant shaft beneath his clothes, but
none appeared to take notice. Before his feet hit the ground
he was bellowing for the priest to be summoned and a feast
to be prepared.

He lifted the woman from the horse and stared into her
eyes, trying to determine if she had indeed bewitched him.
"Say it, woman. Tell me you have bewitched me so I can
understand this need."

"I cannot, my lord for I have not bewitched you. I have
simply spoken the truth as it has been told to me."

"Now, woman. Get to my rooms now."

"Nay, my lord ... not until the wedding is done."

He stood there before her in his courtyard, shaking with
desire. His legs were weak and trembling, his heart was
pounding in his chest and he had no breath to speak. He
roughly shoved her away and rasped his commands.

"Prepare yourself then ... the wedding shall begin as soon
as the priest arrives."

He could barely walk as he turned away and entered the
castle, waving at his aides to assist the woman in what she
needed.

In his rooms, surrounded by advisors, he was in a daze ...
his shaft was pulsing and hard although apparently invisible
to his advisors.

"My lord, you cannot..."

"I will."

"But my lord ... who is this woman? Why would you..."

"Silence!!"

"My lord, the constraints you put upon me make it
necessary for me to point out that..."

"I said silence!!"

He stalked his quarters, pacing like a deranged lion in his
den.

"I will have this woman."

"Aye, my lord, but as a wife? As the mother of your sons?
You know nothing of this peasant and your plans to wed the
Princess Elena? What of your plans to meld the two realms?"

"Damn the two realms."

"My lord!!"

Faster than a cobra striking, his hand was enveloped in the
ruffles around the aide's throat.

"Enough!! Bring the priest and the woman to me. Now!"

Moments later, the peasant woman was standing before
him, dressed in a gown of silk that he recognized from his
mother's closet. The color of the material brought out the
deep blue of her eyes ... eyes that sparkled with trust and
lust as she gazed at him. Her creamy breasts overfilled the
bodice of the dress and taunted him. His hands twitched with
the need to rip the bodice from her and fondle her breasts.
His breath was coming faster again and just as he reached for
her, the priest rushed in ... breathless from his hurried
journey from the nearby abbey.

He barely heard the words the priest spoke as he blessed
the union of the lord of the realm and his new found bride. As
soon as the final words were spoken, he spread his arms,
gathering the witnesses in a loose grasp and hurried them
from the room. When he turned back to his bride, he smiled
and moved toward her quickly, pulling her into his arms and
gazing down into her eyes.

"I'm not sure I believe you when you say you aren't a
witch, for you surely have bewitched me."

"I swear to you, my lord ... I am no witch."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly ... but the
kiss turned from gentle to passionate as she pressed her
tongue to his lips and then between them. He suckled her
tongue, holding her tight, then slipped his arms under her
and lifted her. In only a moment he had her next to the bed,
unfastening the back of the gown she wore and then letting it
fall to the floor. Under it, she had been dressed with a tight
corset and pantaloons; he grumbled under his breath as he
undid the laces of the corset.

"Never again, woman ... you will never wear one of these
again."

Then the corset was around her ankles, his hands fumbling
with the pantaloons and then ripping the top of them in his
haste to see her naked. She gasped as he pulled them, the
material digging into her tender flesh, but she stood there,
smiling up at him and reveling in his obvious yearning for her
body. Then she reached up and caressed his cheek lovingly.
"My lord ... we have all the time in the world now. Your
haste is unnecessary. I am here and yours for all our days. It
has been foretold."

She winked up at him as she said the last and leaned
against him, her fingers sliding up his chest and unfastening
his shirt. He pulled the shirt over his head and threw it down,
grabbing at the top of his pants, pulling the tie until it came
loose and then pushing them down. His eyes were locked to
hers as she stepped back to give him room to move. He was
almost naked and then he tugged at his britches to loosen
them and let them fall to the floor. He kicked off his shoes
and shoved the chausses down until he could kick them off as
well. When the pants fell, his shaft stood out from his body,
dark pink and suffused with the blood of his lust.

Saucy though she was, yet she was a virgin and gasped at
the sight of him, throbbing and bobbing before her.

"Woman, you enflame my very soul. On the bed with ya.
I'll wait no longer."

She trembled as she climbed up onto the high bed and lay
back, watching every move he made. She wanted him,
needed him ... and feared him as she had no other. He would
take what she had kept all her life and though she gave it
willingly, she knew the pain it would cause ... she had heard
from her friends.

He almost fell on top of her in his haste to take her, not
thinking of her virginity or her pleasure ... only his own need.
Without as much as a kiss, he thrust himself into her and
plunged deep, ignoring her cry of pain.

She turned her head as he thrust into her, pressing her
mouth against his arm as she screamed. She had heard of
the pain, but was quite unprepared for this onslaught. Her
teeth were buried in her lower lip and a tiny droplet of blood
seeped from her sharp tooth, the metallic taste of blood filling
her mouth. She lay there under him, suffering and telling
herself it would be different next time ... he would be gentle
next time.

Looking up into his face, she could see that his eyes were
closed tightly as he concentrated on his pleasure. Five thrusts
... six ... seven ... and then a loud groan as he tensed over
her, spilling the seed of his loins into her virgin belly. She was
weeping under him as he collapsed on top of her, gasping for
breath as his shaft continued to empty itself into her.

He lay atop her for several minutes as he regained his
senses, feeling her treasure twitching around him and feeling
something else ... something strange. He lifted his head,
opened his eyes to gaze down at her.

"Bloody Hell!!"

Cara looked up at him, tears still streaming down her face
and was stricken with fear as she saw the look on his face as
he leaped from the bed.

"Explain yourself!! Witch!! You ARE a witch!! Naught else
could explain this!"

"I don't understand my lord. Explain what? What's wrong?"
She lifted her hand to him questioningly and then she saw
her hand and screamed, fainting dead away.

He stood there in shock.

There was a sudden pounding at the door.

"What? Who dares to knock upon this door in such a
manner?"

He jerked the door open and stood towering over an old
woman dressed in black from head to toe, completely unfazed
by his angry shout. Her body was slight and leaned forward,
half supported by a walking stick. Her face was a mass of
wrinkles. What hair he could see peeked out from under the
shawl that completed her black covering. It was stringy and
gray and there was a smirk on her face as she stared at him.

Her eyes moved from his face down his body and she
chuckled softly as he stood there naked with his shaft limp
and damp. Then she seemed to gather herself and glared up
at him before she spoke. Her voice was a mixture of rasping
and the croaking of an old frog as she made her
pronouncement.

"'Tis the Witch of Wolstad and if ye don't want me here, I'll
go and be damned with yer questions!"

She turned slowly and began to walk away. She didn't get
very far before he grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her
into the room, almost jerking her off her feet. Once the door
was closed again, he put her down quite unceremoniously. He
was seething with anger at what he viewed as a huge joke ...
and at his expense! Who would dare to embarrass him like
this?

"You surly pup! Dare ye not to lay hand on me again, else
ye repent in sorrow."

He stood back and looked at her, his mouth fairly hanging
open.

"Sorrow? I already have the sorrow, crone! Look at my
wife!"

Sense stolen from him by his shock, his hand shaking, he
pointed at the bed.

The old woman turned slowly, for it was the only way she
could move, and gazed at the bed. She began to laugh aloud,
finally holding her belly and braying like a donkey.

"You!! 'Tis you the great one fooled! Aye, this will be a
good story around a campfire on a cold night."

William's hand snaked out to grab the old woman again.
Before his fingers could close around her skinny arm, he felt a
force slam against him and found himself flat on his ass,
sprawled across the floor, the noise of his bare ass slapping
the wood as intense as the pain it produced.

"Warned ye ... dinna touch me again."

"What the hell IS that? Where is the woman I married?"

She stepped closer to the huge bed, looking down at the
creature laying there in a faint.

"That is your wife? Aye, 'twould be, wouldn't it?"

"I said it was, dammit! Now what the hell is wrong with
her? Do something, you witch!"

He felt as if everything he had ever believed was falling in
ruins around him. This was not something that was supposed
to happen! Especially not to him! He was the lord of the
realm, dammit and these things did not happen to the lord of
the realm! He wanted his wife back and he would have her!

She stepped closer to the bed as he got to his feet again,
his hands twitching to throttle the answers from her. The
witch looked as though she were muttering the words of a
curse as she leaned over the creature on the bed to see
better. She was nodding her head and there was a crooked
set to her mouth as she turned to speak.

"Well ... you've run afoul of the dragon from North
Pambleton. 'Tis a shame, it is. I read the leaves for this one
and it was truly foretold that she would bear you many sons.
P'raps at the time of the reading she had not yet been
cursed."

"Cursed? Bloody hell, woman ... undo the curse then!"

She craned her neck to look up at him as he stepped
closer to her, careful not to touch her again. She looked at
him as though he were a dolt and needed everything
explained to him.

"Can't be undone except by him who put it there. Not a
likely thing to happen, Lord William. He wanted her for
himself and when he couldn't have her ... he cursed her."

It was more than he could bear and he turned from her,
pacing a few steps away and then back, his fists clenched
tightly at his sides.

"What the hell are you talking about? Who wanted her?
Who cursed her like this? What is she supposed to be, any
way!!??"

"'Tis what they call an anthrofox, me lord. Looks kinda
human, don't she?"William looked at the bed again, this time with a different
eye. Still shocked at what had happened, he now began to
see the fox like features that had replaced the freckled sunlit
face he had kissed repeatedly. Her face was almost human
but her skin was now covered by a fine pelt of reddish fur.
Her ears were the most fox like thing about her ... pointed
and tipped with black. Her body still looked human, though
smaller than it had but it too was covered with that pelt of
fur. Then he spotted her tail ... tail?? Before he even realized
it, his hand was pressed to his forehead as if to stave off pain
and he was shaking his head. His wife had a tail ... his wife ...
a tail.

"I heard tell the curse would begin when ye spurted yer
seed inta her. And I can see from the disarray that the deed
has been done. Foxy she is and foxy she will stay. 'Tis naught
to be done.

"As for who it was ... I said it oncet, didn't ya hear me?
'Twas the dragon from North Pambleton what done it. Fancies
himself a ladies' man, that one."

Not able to believe the words from the witch's mouth,
William stumbled back a few steps and fell awkwardly into a
chair set against the wall, oblivious to his nakedness.

"A dragon? A dragon put a curse on her? Because he
wanted her for himself? What kind of thing have I wed?"

"'Twas not her fault, me lord ... she believed the leaves
and came to ye."

"Mmmmmm."The flabbergasted lord and the wizened old witch turned to the bed just as her eyes fluttered open.

She raised her hand and looked at it, hoping that what she
had seen before was an illusion of some sort, then her gaze
fell lower and she saw the rest of her body.

"No ... what is this? What has happened?"

She gasped loudly and gripped the bedcovers tight to
steady herself with a bit of reality. Her eyes were wide open
as she turned her gaze to him.

"My lord, what have you done to me? Why would you do
this to me on our wedding day?"

"I?" he roared. "I had naught to do with it, wench. Yon
witch says 'twas a dragon that did it."

Cara stood up beside the bed on shaky legs and looked at
herself in the large mirror across from the bed. She wasn't as
tall as she was before. There was a fine layer of red fur
covering her skin. Quite a pretty creature ... if ... it hadn't
been her looking into the mirror. Her ears were pointed where
they poked out from her long hair, the black tips twitching
from side to side. She turned, watching in the mirror, hoping
that it was an illusion and when she realized it was not, she
crumpled to the floor in tears.

"My lord ... I don't understand. The dragon did this? But ...
why? I have done naught to the dragon."

Despair and confusion filled her mind as she wept for what
had happened. Cara was crumpled into a weeping ball of fur
on the floor and felt his heavy tread in the boards under her.
She peeked up to see him towering over her, glaring his
anger at the diminutive witch.

"Do something, witch! Fix this! Make her my woman again
instead of this quivering ball of fur!"

The witch craned her neck and looked up at him.

"Did ye not understand me words? I can do nothing. 'Tis
the dragon that must remove the spell. 'Tis the dragon that
must give ye back your woman and I doubt it will happen in
this lifetime. What he wants ... he takes, by hook or by
crook."

William stood there with clenched fists, glaring at the
witch, then at her and back again. His gaze burned into her
as she sensed his anger building. She trembled as she
watched his face turning redder by the moment.

"Call the physician then. Perhaps he can..."

"He can do naught. 'Tis the dragon only can remove it."

His arm swept across the top of a nearby table, sweeping
aside the vase of fresh flowers brought for the wedding and a
tray laden with spirits and goblets. Broken glass spun
upwards as it hit the floor, almost striking her and making her
cry out.

"I'll have my woman back!"

"Nay, Lord William ... you will not. He will not permit it and
there is naught you can do to change that."

Terrified at what he might do next, Cara gained her feet
and backed away from her angry husband as tears streaked
down her furry face. Her heart longed for his arms around her
to soothe away her fears but the look of disgust mingled with
anger on his face kept her from leaping into his arms.

His great stature seemed to melt away before her eyes as
he understood. She would not be his woman again ... but
would stay as this ... creature that stood trembling before
him. She sobbed as he shook his head, not wanting to accept
the facts.

"Get out, woman. Seek out this dragon and find out what
he will take to return my woman to me."

"Stubborn man. Are your ears filled with beans, then? He
will not release her. He wants her for his own."

The despair showed on his face as he gazed at Cara. The
look of great sadness that took the place of the anger almost
broke her heart. Fresh tears streaked down her face as she
saw the disbelief in his eyes ... the betrayal as tears filled his
eyes.

"This cannot be," he whispered.

"My lord ... can we not continue? Would it be so difficult for
you to have me thus?"

Her voice held a pleading note as she gazed up him,
drawing closer to him in her desire to somehow make this
work ... to somehow make him accept her as she now was.
The foretold future was not the only thing that had brought
her to him in the village square. She had often admired him
from afar and been drawn to him, relishing the strength she
had seen in everything he did.

He stood taller and snorted at her suggestion.

"I am a lord of the realm, woman. Would you have me
shamed before the king?"

A stab if pain shot through her heart as if he had struck
her. Cara stumbled backward, only catching her balance as
she was pressed against the side of the great bed ... the one
she had hoped to always share with him. Shamed? She would
shame him? All she had wanted to do since the first time she
saw him was be with him, the fortune she had been told was
only an added bonus and now he was throwing away
everything that could have been. The children she had hoped
to bear him would be lost. The love she felt in her heart was
dying more with each of his actions and with each word of
betrayal. As she stared at him in shock, her dignity was
assailed and she reached for the clothes piled at her feet.
Grasping the heavy dress, she pulled it up and held it against
her furry breast.

"A shame for you? I would be a shame?"

She was shaking from head to toe as the meaning of his
words sunk into her. She pulled the ill fitting dress around her
as best she could, covering herself from his gaze.

"I would not think to shame you. Would that I could undo
what has been done and also undo the pain in my heart."
She stepped closer to him and she saw him wrinkle his
nose, as though he had smelled something bad. Then she
stepped even closer and leaned into him.

"You don't seem to like the scent of me now, William. You
couldn't get enough of it this morning at the well."

She smirked at the look on his face ... at least he had the
decency to appear abashed at his actions. He stood his
ground and at least didn't step back from her, though his
nose did stay wrinkled in distaste.

"You know, William ... there are other magical creatures to
be found in this kingdom and I daresay they have not been
shunned as you have shunned me. Your ears have a bit of a
point at the tips, William ... have you never noticed that?
Perhaps there is even some magical creature in your past.
But then again ... if there were, mayhap you wouldn't be so
upset about my appearance now."

His nose twitched again and he stepped back, giving her
further cause for anger.

"I did not cause this, my lord. Nor did I choose it, but I do
choose this."

The anger and betrayal were evident in her voice as she
spat the words at him.

"Your line dies here, my lord. You will live your life alone
and it will die here, for you are sending away the truest love
of your life."

She gathered what was left of her dignity and walked to
the door, opening it slowly, facing the courtiers waiting in the
hall. Amidst the gasps of surprise, she pushed her way
through them and walked away.

William was aghast at the way things had happened and
he could only stand there and watch her leave. Then he
glared at the courtiers in the hallway and slammed the door
as they gaped at him.

His footsteps were heavy as he stamped back and forth
across his rooms. He had been so taken with her at the well
... so desirous of her that he had changed all his future plans
for the kingdom, just to take her to his bed. If there was
anything he could do to change her back! If only there were
magic spells that could be cast to bring her back to him the
way she had been! He stared down at the witch as he came
to a stop in front of her ... he was so angry at the turn of
events that he found it difficult to speak.

"There is nothing to be done? Nothing that can bring back
the woman that stole my heart with her sauciness?"

"I've told ye true, my lord. There is naught to be done lest
the dragon do it and he will not. He wants her fer himself and
'tis all it will be. His magic is more potent than any these old
eyes have seen afore."

"Witch ... I would almost give the kingdom for that to be
done. Would he not take the kingdom and give her back?"
Hope at the thought caught his breath in his throat and
then dashed it again as she shook her head.

"He wouldn't take it all? I would give it gladly to have that
silky skin against me again. She enflamed me body and soul
and naught will be the same again for me. I want her back!"
Heart pounding in his chest, he turned away from her and
stepped to the window. Looking out, he saw the furry little
creature walking through the courtyard with her head held
high. She still held the large dress against her, leaving a wide
trail through the dust as it dragged behind her. When she
reached the gate, she stopped suddenly and turned back to
the castle, looking up. The rapid beating of his heart skipped
as he saw her face and the glint of tears as the sunlight
kissed her once again. He closed his eyes and took a deep
breath to staunch the tears that suddenly filled his eyes.
When they opened again, dry as befitted the lord of the
kingdom ... she was gone and the dress lay in a pile in the
dirt.

"Gods!! Why? What have I done that this should come to
pass?!

The witch's voice was soft behind him and he turned to
look down at her again. His body was trembling with anger
and despair as she spoke.

"Methinks your line lives on, Lord William, but it will never
be quite the same again."

The words penetrated his muddled senses and he fell back
against the window sill, eyes closed as he contemplated her
meaning.

"What are you saying, woman? She is gone ... how can
there be..."

The words were barely out of his mouth, his questions still
forming and the witch was gone. She didn't walk through the
door or down the hall ... she was just ... gone.

Toy's Story:
Aquisition of a Sex Toy
By Robert Cloud

Bound By Fate
By Lee Rush

Fool Me Once
By Jessica Joy
(Jessica also writes as Abby Blythe)

1 Fan -- Books given this rating include very minimal sexual activity between hero and heroine. Sexual activity that does occur is described without the use of graphic terms. These titles will be found in our Tender Destinations line and in our Amorous Adventures line.

2 Fan -- Books given this rating include a moderate amount of sexual activity between hero and heroine, however it is described in romantic as opposed to graphic terms. These books will be found in our Tender Destinations and Amorous Adventures lines.

3 Fans -- Books given this rating include a lot of sexuality between hero and heroine. The activity may be described graphically but will not include fetish elements. Books with this rating will be found in our Sensuous Journeys line and in our Amorous Adventures line.

4 Fans -- Book given this rating include a lot of sexuality between hero and heroine and will typically include fetish elements. Sexuality in these books is described graphically but with a softer touch than our 5 Fan titles. Books with the 4 fan rating will be found in our Forbidden Experiences line as well as our Amorous Adventures line.

5 Fans -- Books with this rating include a very high degree of sexuality between hero and heroine. These books include fetish elements which are described graphically. Books with this rating will be found in our Forbidden Experiences and Amorous Adventures lines.

Tender Destinations
Are poignant stories of meeting and falling in love. They contain a minimal level of sexuality.

Sensuous Journeys
Are emotional and poignant but include explicit descriptions of the lovemaking between hero and heroine. There is no explicit fetish component in these books.

Forbidden Experiences
Are powerful and emotional love stories with explicit sexuality which includes fetish content.

Amorous Adventures
Are love stories with an element of suspense or danger.