Viola Grace - Champions of Terra 03 - Avari Nyx - Festival of the Night

Champions of Terra Avari Nyx Festival of the Night

By

Viola Grace

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Champions of Terra Avari Nyx - Festival of the Night Copyright © 2006 Viola Grace SERIES ISBN: 1-55410-732-6 Cover art by Angela Waters All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.extasybooks.com

To the hard-writing authors of Extasy books. May they all get a vacation on a remote and tech free planet.

Chapter 1

A

nnabelle Maddox floated gently in the tank, swaying as the liquid moved around her. A soft rapping on the glass echoed in her ears and she opened her eyes to those of her visitor. Well, she would have if her visitor had eyes. A faceplate framed by a cloak embroidered with marks of the Imperial house of Haldis looked in at her. “You planning on coming out of there anytime soon, Anna?” The speakers reverberated the sound through the tank. Anna nodded and swam to the surface, hauling herself out of the top of the tank. Then, removing the breathing apparatus she tugged on a robe. Her chestnut hair dripped onto the fabric as she stepped down the ladder and greeted her visitor. “Hey, Negotiator Tyrell. What brings you to the silence and serenity of Kya Ghada?” Anna nodded for her companion to follow her as she led her through the temple halls and into the open meditation quarters. Her feet padded wetly on the cobbled stones. 1

Viola Grace A serene garden flowing with fountains and streams, stone benches, and statuary greeted them as they wandered through the pathways. They took a seat in one of the unoccupied benches and Anna waited for her companion to speak. She waited quite a while with her hands folded in her lap. “You know, you are the only other human I know who can stay still for so long.” Tyrell was compelled to admit that she was impressed. “Well, you are the only human I know who has chosen to live in a can. When do you get out by the way?” Anna was curious. The negotiator had already been in the armor much longer than Alliance standard. Three years was the limit for negotiator service, Tyrell was closing in on her fourth. “Enough about me. That’s not why I’m here.” The metallic voice was impatient. Anna smiled, after four years in a pilot’s harness and she could understand the subtle tones better than anyone. “Okay. Then am I to imagine that this is not just a visit to an old friend?” “No.” A sigh shook the speakers on the faceplate. “You know by now, that after the blast you took, you are no longer fit for service.” Anna’s face clouded, “I know. I was hoping that I could be repaired, but I know.” That part of her life had ended when they had to pry her from the seared circuitry of the Alliance battle cruiser 2

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx that she had been part of. It was a career-ending injury. “I’m sorry. I know how much you love flying.” A gauntleted hand reached out to take one of the small human ones in a gentle grip. “I’m here to give you information regarding your new assignment.” “It’s ok. So, where am I off to?” A falsely chipper tone took over. Anna pasted a bright smile on her face, practicing an expression that the link to her ship had made unnecessary. She had to force her face to take on expressions since she was decanted after the attack. When you looked through the eyes of cameras and monitors, smiling was unnecessary. “You are being sent to the planet Avari. It is tech restricted, and nothing should irritate your nerve endings there. They don’t have anything beyond Iron Age allowed on the surface.” Tyrell was all business once again. “With, of course, an exception for a communication’s center.” “So you’re throwing me alone into the wild? Isn’t that a little harsh?” Annabelle’s mouth twisted in amusement. She did appreciate the lengths that the Alliance, and Tyrell had gone too, to insure her comfort. Being around any electrical impulses after the Arena Station attack was intensely painful. Annabelle had been a pilot. She had been hard3

Viola Grace wired into the service systems and navigation controls of the ship. The ship had felt like her own body, each system was a corresponding match to her own flesh. When the Alliance ships, including her battle cruiser, attacked the Arena Station the defense systems had kicked in automatically. It had caught her by surprise. An electronic pulse had been sent into her hull and then through her. She had kept herself conscious as her body felt like it had been dipped in acid, her nerves on fire, and brought her ship around to defend the attack fleet. They had destroyed the defense systems in short order and set about freeing the kidnapped members of the Alliance. This included Anna’s friend Kyra. They had been in basic orientation together with Tyrell and a few others and had formed a bond that stretched across time and through space. Anna frantically sought more information. “Ok, so, am I on my own there or is it inhabited?” “It’s inhabited. A race called the Avari, oddly enough. They are an Alliance founding race. A village elder named Tarun Bien will meet you. He will help you adjust to your new surroundings.” “When do I leave?” Anna sat up a little straighter, and began to look forward to the journey ahead of her. “Your ship is waiting right now. I have taken the liberty of having personal items packed for 4

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx you, suitable to the tech regulations of course.” Tyrell stood, the cloak flowing around her form. The armor concealed every trace of humanity, and left only an impenetrable shell. “The Imperial shuttle is waiting to take me back to Haldis for a treaty with the Selna. They get cranky when they have to wait and start sleeping with Imperial Guardsmen.” Annabelle reached over and gave the cold metal a hug, smiling as the armored limbs closed around her shoulders. She straightened against the icy shell that encased her friend and gave a wistful smile. “Take care Tyrell, and stay in touch. If it’s even possible.” “There’s a tiny communication station there. How else do you think I could have made the arrangements?” With a laugh, Tyrell turned and strode off to the landing pad that contained her private shuttle. Anna shook her head as she watched her friend disappear and then headed off to Medical for a shot of painkillers before she went off to the main launch pad and the shuttle that would take her to the battle cruiser Stalix, her old ship. Painkillers numbed her nerves as the shuttle left the planet’s surface. Anna could only pray that they docked in time to get her into a shielded area, away from the electronic ‘noise‘ that would burn along her neural pathways. The tiny craft was 5

Viola Grace locked into place with a docking clamp and when the hatch opened her escort was ready to take her on board. “This way please, pilot Maddox. We’re going to get you into a shielded area as quickly as possible.” The ensign escorted her rapidly through the halls, and into a cargo bay with a large chamber in the center. “There is a tank inside?” Her voice was loud in the empty room, echoing off the metal walls. “Yes, as the Negotiator specified. All of your possessions are inside, as well as food, a sanitary stall and clothing for the trip. I wish you safe journey, pilot.” He stood aside and smartly saluted her as she went into the chamber, all noise and electrical impulses stopped the instant she shut the door.

6

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx

Chapter 2

S

he viewed her accommodations and then laughed. Tyrell had had them put up posters of the Terran Champions. While wired to her ship, she had kept abreast of the promotions of the Terran candidates. Five champions had been declared to date. Humans in general were adapting well, but the women seemed to be blending seamlessly into the Alliance society. Out of the two thousand humans from all walks of life and different social backgrounds, the sixty-five percent that were female were all still alive, compared to the two hundred males that had died in various parts of the Alliance. She viewed the familiar faces, grimaced at her own and then took a look around what was to be her home for the next few weeks. There was a desk and plenty of paper, along with writing utensils. She had everything she might need, including a manicure set. “Where the heck did she find all of this?” Anna 7

Viola Grace shook her head and had a seat then picked up a paperback that had been published the year before and started to read. The monograph on the Avari that was sitting next to it could wait, it wasn’t going anywhere. She made it through ten paperbacks, the Avari monograph, wrote seven eight-page letters, and did her nails seventeen times before the klaxon went off to indicate that they had reached their destination, the planet Avari. They were there. She was at her new home. The ship went silent beneath her feet. They must have made land-fall. Odd, normally a shuttle would have been the best means of transport. It would have been uncomfortable for her to run through the starship with all of the electric devices on, then onto the shuttle for the torturous trip to the surface. It would have been painful, but she was prepared for it. “What the heck are they doing?” The silence continued to tick by. When close to an hour went by she started to pace, her bags had already been packed when the brassy alarm went off. It had been a daily ritual for the last five days to pack all of her things and take them out only as she needed them. A polite knock on her locked door echoed in the chamber. “Come on in.” She disengaged her locks and the door slowly swung in. 8

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx She blinked a few times and let her eyes adjust to the difference in light levels. A hand reached through the door and took her arm to escort her out of her erstwhile quarters. “Pilot, in honor of your service, these few members of the crew would like to show their respect.” Captain Lathrop took her arm in his and began a slow pace through the phalanx of crewmembers who had come out to wish her luck in her new life. “How many members of the crew, Captain?” She gave him an arch look from under her perfectly tweezed brows. Another gift from Tyrell, all the grooming accessories she could want. “All of them pilot Maddox. During the Arena attack we are all aware that it was only your quick thinking that saved the entire ship from complete annihilation.” The Captain had a grim tightness around his mouth. “No, the fail safes would have kicked in quickly. I only rushed the process. It was an honor to serve on this ship.” She gave him a wistful smile. “Your current pilot does not know how lucky it is.” “Shall we go?” Lathrop began to move through the crowd. “Yes, I need to start adapting as soon as I can.” She left his arm for a moment, then lifted her duffels onto her shoulders and nodded to the astonished Tival captain that she was ready to go. 9

Viola Grace He shook his head and then began to lead the way to the hatch on the outer hull. Passing her ex-crew mates, tears came to her eyes as she remembered her years as pilot on the ship. One by one a wave of the Alliance salute swept through the ranks, until all of the members of the crew had one hand, or appendage pressed against their hearts, wherever they happened to be located. She wandered out into the sunlight and walked away from the ship. When she was a few hundred meters away she turned to look at her old home. The captain gave her a salute and sealed the hatch. Anna broke into a run and kept going as she felt the power switch back on within the great ship. The bulk of it had begun rising into the tree line as she struggled to get outside of its electromagnetic radius. She collapsed onto the ground and watched the silvery-blue expanse of the Stalix rise higher in the sky, the half-kilometer expanse casting shadows on the verdant greenery below. Tears tracked down her face, partially from the pain searing her nerves, and partially from the pain searing her heart as the ship, her home, slowly disappeared into the bright diamond of the sun. The scent of pine was strong, her hands had crushed leaves beneath her and the acrid herbal aroma reminded her of home. The leaves were broad but the memories of camping in the woods 10

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx triggered as the oils released their signatures into the air made her smile. She could almost hear hawks screaming and her friends laughing if she closed her eyes. The silence finally began to unnerve her. She looked around her carefully. The trees were thick and there did not seem to be anyone in the vicinity. Anna wondered briefly if this was the correct planet after all. If not, she would probably starve to death or die of exposure. The Stalix had left a large scorched mass on the meadow below, and she felt regret that her arrival had caused the damage to the local flora. An hour passed. Finally, she saw what she thought was movement in the tree line. A figure appeared on the edge of the wooded area, it saw her, and began a course directly toward her. As he got close, she was able to take in the features that she had been led to expect. Based on the species specifications that she had read about he was a typical Avari, deep brown skin, dark brown hair and eyes of swirling rainbow. He had the physique of a college athlete, all lean muscle and sinew. By human standards, he seemed to be in his early twenties, very early. His clothing was simple but appeared to be made up of various types of leather. Tight trousers outlined the contours of his thighs and a wide vest covered a large portion of his chest. His arms were bare with the exception of black tattoos circling his 11

Viola Grace biceps in a thorn pattern, drawing her eyes to the bulging muscles contained by the bands, and a wristband of scored leather. In a voice that was surprisingly deep he said, “Greetings. My name is Tarun Bien, an elder of the Zenas clan. You are Annabelle Maddox?” She smiled and nodded. “You, are a clan elder? You seem terribly young for being an elder anything.” “Things on Avari are not always what they seem. You will get used to it.” He held out his arm and a large bird of prey landed on the wrist pad. It was obviously there for exactly that purpose. “This is Hesper, she’s my eyes and ears. A better friend could not be found.” He stroked the feathers of the bird with his knuckles and with a flick of his wrist sent her airborne. “Wow. If that is an example of local wildlife I am definitely going to like it here.” She watched the silhouette of the bird disappear into the sky, and then blinked to clear her vision. Tarun gestured to her bags, “Is that everything you have brought with you?” “Yep, everything that I can comfortably use. They should not cause any problems with the tech restrictions here. You can go through them if you wish, but am I imagining, or is the sun going down?” The light was taking on a reddish cast. “Of course, how rude of me. We’d better get going to your cottage. A meal has been arranged.” 12

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx With one hand he swept her duffle bags together and gestured for her to precede him on the path that led into the depths of the forest. It was a relatively clear track, and Anna was able to navigate it easily. Suddenly, the path ended and she found herself in a marketplace. She stopped in her tracks. “Wow, neat.” The quiet bustle of commerce was occurring before her, colors everywhere and trade goods she could not even name were displayed. She tried to look everywhere at once and her head swam with the plethora of items that were available. A laugh sounded from behind her, enjoying her amazement. “You’ll get used to it. The market is the main social hub for the entire village.” He tugged her arm and turned her around. “Your meal is over here.” Tarun walked over to a woman who was watching Anna with an extremely focused intensity. She held out a basket to him with a smile and he took it in the hand that was not occupied with her luggage. How he was managing to carry it all with one hand boggled her mind. She guessed that things were really not as they seemed here. “This is Ilyssa, wife of Nayef Tay. She is a jeweler by trade but can occasionally be persuaded to bake a few things for special guests. Like you.” He shot her a beaming grin and Anna 13

Viola Grace walked forward to introduce herself. “Hello, Ilyssa. I am Anna. Thank you for your hospitality.” She extended her hand and was profoundly grateful when the woman took it in return. “You are welcome here, Anna, although I doubt that everyone will think so.” Ilyssa chuckled at her own wit and Tarun steered her off onto another path leading away from the market. When Anna glanced at Tarun she noted a distinct flush on his cheeks, and wondered who the comment had been aimed at. “What did she mean by that? Is my presence here going to cause a problem?” Annabelle was genuinely curious. She did not want to cause any difficulties in the village, but her options as to accommodations were severely limited by her condition. “Nothing of consequence. I will deal with any trouble as it arises. If it does.” His voice was firm and she had to follow him as he strode ahead of her on the path. It was only a matter of minutes, walking through the leaves painted red in the setting sun, until they reached a small cottage. It reminded Anna of a pacific yurt, a large single room dwelling, circular, with a hole in the roof. Walking inside the cottage, she noted the Spartan surroundings. A bed, a stove and a table took up most of the space. There was a small craft area to 14

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx one side with some supplies, but nothing that she could make out in the failing light. Tarun flipped her bags onto the bed and lit the fire in the hearth. Anna watched him carefully, knowing that she would have to learn that skill for herself. As light bloomed beneath his hands she looked at the careful construction of the house that he had brought her to. The wood was cinched so tightly together that not a hint of air passed through anything but the windows. The floor was immaculate, not one trace of dust or dirt was anywhere. “Did someone tidy up for me? This place is so clean.” She tried to fill in the silence with idle conversation. Anything to take her mind off of the view of Tarun’s firm backside as he bent over the fire. “Yes, the guest quarters are usually where we put visitors. But as you are going to be living here we allocated you to a house for a woman alone.” “Is it unusual, for a woman to live alone that is?” She was attempting to get a handle on their culture and every bit of information was precious. “Not very. Most women choose to marry, or are worn down by suitors.” He flashed her a laughing look. “My own mother often complains that if my father had not been so persistent, she would have lived a nice quiet life.” Anna giggled, but stopped in surprise at herself. “Ah, but then you would not have been 15

Viola Grace born.” “And there you have the only reason that she laughs and admits that perhaps a quiet life was not for her.” He finished with the fire and laid out the food he had collected from Ilyssa. Anna sat across the table from him and viewed the food laid out before her. It seemed to be a joint of meat and a loaf of bread, with a few fruits and vegetables tucked to the side. She sighed in relief at the sight of the meat. She had been terrified that they were vegetarian. “As the guest, you must go first.” He gestured to the food and sat back to wait. “Do I have to eat everything or just one thing before you start?” Erring on the side of caution she grabbed the bread and tore off a piece. It was crusty, fluffy, and very tasty. “Just one is sufficient.” He reached forward and tore a few strips of meat off the joint, then popped the meat into his mouth. Anna dove into the meal with gusto, carefully trying everything that was on the table, and making notes in her head as to flavors. When her belly was groaning with food, she stopped eating. As soon as she stopped, so did Tarun. “Is this another custom? You can’t keep eating if I don’t?” Anna was exhausted from the stresses of her day. It was making her cranky, and it showed in her voice. He swiftly cleared the remains of the meal from 16

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx the table. “No, but you are tired. You need to sleep. I will see you tomorrow.” “Oh, goodnight then.” Anna stumbled over to the bed and was out before her head had even hit the pillow. Tarun looked over at the little alien. She certainly was not what he had expected. Given the communications that he had had with the Negotiator, he was expecting a mouse. She was instead a predator, hesitant but determined. The ship suit that she wore did not do her justice. Her breasts pushed against the fabric in a way that even the unflattering cut of the suit could not disguise and the flare of her hips made his hands clench with the effort to restrain himself. The Nyx festival was only seven days away, if he worked quickly, they might just make it. But he was going to have to push the bounds of their attraction faster than he wanted to. He grinned and walked down the path to his own home, what a challenge. This was going to be fun. **** Over the next two days, Tarun came to her house every morning, took her out into the forest to orient her in her new environment. She learned to set snares, find edible roots and what berries were safe to eat. She learned where the clean water 17

Viola Grace flowed out of the rock beside her cottage, and the most efficient way to heat it. This came in very handy for bathing but she missed a full sized tub. On the third day a knock sounded on her door and Anna poked her head out. “What is it to be today Tarun? Hunting? Fishing? Something else that would be incredibly uncomfortable?” Tarun leaned casually on the outside of her cottage, looking at his nails as he replied to her verbal barrage, “Bathing.” “Bathing? Oh…great.” Anna flushed scarlet and stepped out of her cottage, closing the door behind her. “You’ll need soap. And a change of clothing.” Tarun kept his face neutral and gazed out at the forest around them as he waited for her to go back in and get her supplies. “Ok, ready.” Tarun led the way down the hill behind her cottage and she followed silently. Once again she marveled at the wildness of the world around her. It was like going into the mountain ranges on earth, but with almost no chance of running into another sentient being. It was only half an hour later that he swept aside branches with a murmured, “Here we are.” A waterfall spilled from twenty feet above into a steaming pool one hundred feet across. The flowers surrounding the pool were a fantastic mix of jewel tones and Anna surmised that the dyes of 18

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx the marketplace may have had their origins in those very blossoms. She was about to remark just that to Tarun, when she stopped in her tracks at the sight of him disrobing with complete disregard to his fascinated audience. Broad, lithe shoulders led to narrow hips, tapering into an ass that she could bounce a coin off of. Suddenly the furious color in her face was back. Anna had never been fixated on a guy’s butt before, but now, she finally understood the obsession. Wow. He dove into the water and the splash woke her out of her contemplation of his…assets. He took off with a strong stroke, cutting through the water without making a ripple. She waited until he was halfway across the pond and quickly began to shed her own clothing. Dropping the ship suit into a heap at her feet, she tried to kick free of her boots, to find that they were securely fastened to her feet. He was three quarters of the way across now. Frantically, she pulled at the laces. Working at the knots with her fingers, darting glances to Tarun’s progress in the water. Any moment now he would turn and look at her. And find her naked and tangled in her own shoes. From behind her Hesper let out a cry. Anna looked over at Tarun’s bird and smiled at her predicament, seeking comfort from the avian. 19

Viola Grace “It is bad enough to be naked with a stranger; much worse however is being caught on the shore. I feel like a fish, snarled in my own net.” She laughed and resigned herself to the thought of Tarun catching her in the open, scars and all. The marks that she bore from her stint as a pilot were unsightly to say the least. Hesper swooped down in front of her and pecked at the laces. With a few deft motions of her head, she had loosened the laces and Anna could pull her feet free of the boots. “Thanks Hesper! I owe you one.” Anna stood, stretched luxuriously and slipped into the water before Tarun turned around. Fortunately she had left her bag within easy reach, and she began to soap herself quite thoroughly. She brusquely moved her hands from neck to breast, then belly and between her thighs, the warmth that had been generated by looking at Tarun‘s backside was fading. Each leg was soaped in turn. Then.. she ducked her head below the water to rinse and lather her hair. She looked over and saw Tarun on his returning lap and quickly rinsed the last of the soap from her body. Confident that she had managed her ablutions unwatched, she leaned back against a rocky outcropping made smooth by eons of water swirling past it. She glanced down to make sure that the water covered her completely. It did, barely. 20

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx Ah, finally clean. The pool was the offspring of a hot spring and thus pleasantly warm. Gentle pulses in the water relaxed her to the point where she didn’t even notice when Tarun slid up beside her. “So, Anna, enjoying your bath?” Tarun hitched himself out of the water and up on a rock near where she sat. This gave her the option of meeting his eyes when she spoke to him, or ogling his entire body. Tough decision. She opted for eye contact, but it wasn’t her first choice. “It beats heating up water in the kettle.” She dropped her gaze slowly and looked around her. Enjoying the view as it drifted over his body and over to the landscape around her. “This is beautiful. Is it a popular place for people to visit?” “No, the majority of people here have their own bathing spots. This one is a little out of the way.” He stretched luxuriously in the sun and Anna’s flush crept across her breasts beneath the water, watching the play of light on his skin. In the midst of the bright morning light, he was a dappled gold. Feeling warmth spread throughout her belly and gather between her thighs again, she hunched down even further until her jaw was even with the level of the water. “Anna, if you keep going, you’re going to drown. Unless your species has an undisclosed 21

Viola Grace ability to breathe water.” His eyes were closed, but his voice was wry. He continued to lie supine, completely relaxed as he absorbed the sun’s rays. She sat up quickly, “I’m going to swim for a bit. I can find my way back. You don’t need to wait for me.” “That’s alright, I don’t mind the wait. Take your time.” Frustrated and thwarted, she slowly stroked out into the center of the pool moving easily through the water. The years spent as a pilot in the tank had made her an excellent swimmer. She dawdled as much as she could, swimming and treading water until her body was heavy with fatigue. With no other choice, she pulled herself back to the shore where Tarun was still sunning himself. He had flipped to his stomach and his head was turned towards the water. With a start, Anna realized that he had been watching her swim. Hesper had flown over her several times, crying out to her and then circling back to a branch near Tarun. The bird was currently preening her ebony feathers after taking her own dip in the warm water. “Ok, Tarun. Let’s go.” Steeling herself, she pushed herself out of the water on shaking arms, and walked, dripping and blushing, to her clothing. She tugged on her ship suit making no effort to 22

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx make eye contact with her guide. It went slowly on over her dripping skin, but finally she was able to fasten the front closure. Her boots were even harder to apply, but they did get laced up. By the time she had finished, Tarun had put his leather trousers and shirt back on, laced up his boots, and was leaning against a tree with his back to her. “I’m ready. Thank you for waiting.” She felt it was only proper to be polite, even though getting dressed in front of an attractive guy that looked far too young for her had been a source of extreme embarrassment. Especially since the sight of him had caused all of her hormones to surge into full alert. “Follow me. Ilyssa’s husband Nayef should have delivered your lunch by now. He said he would drop it inside some time in the morning.” He paused to let her catch up to the quick pace he had been setting. He watched the careful steps that she was taking to make her way up the slope. “Are you alright?” “Yes, just a little stiff. I haven’t swum for a while. The sun has probably scorched me to a crisp.” She wrinkled her nose and felt a slight tingle in the skin, letting her know that the pale skin in the water was pale no longer.

23

Viola Grace

Chapter 3

“Y

ou have completely changed color.” Tarun stopped and stared at Anna. Looking her over from head to toe. “Just wait, it’s going to get better. Do you know any merchants who make lotions?” “What kind of lotions?” Tarun was curious and very concerned. He watched her careful steps on the path. “Lotions to moisturize my skin after the burn. Same as you would if someone scorched a hand in a kitchen fire.” She continued her stilted progress up the hill with legs that felt weighted with lead. “You’re tired. I should not have let you swim so long.” With that he flipped her into his arms and carried her through the path and back to her cottage. There was indeed a meal waiting for them. As soon as she was set on her feet, she crossed the room to her bed and ripped out the top sheet. The suit was pressing against her burned skin and pain was prickling through. 24

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx Feeling that he had already seen all that there was to see, she stripped out of the uniform and boots and wrapped her body in the sheet from her bed. When she sat at the table and began to serve out the food for them both, he was just standing there bemused. She began to eat her snack of bread, cheese, meat, and fruit. “Tarun, please have something to eat.” She looked over at him, and his gaze was on her. He took the other chair and began to eat his lunch, still bemused. “Where do your scars come from? I hadn’t noticed them before.” Tarun tried to keep his tone conversational, but he was genuinely curious. She froze for a moment, and then realized that there was no point in hiding them. “They’re not something that I am particularly fond of. They are the points at which implants were sent through my nervous system and linked me to the ship that I piloted. When I was injured, they removed the implants and the marks will fade in time I am told.” Anna shifted slightly in her chair. She was hot, burning up. The stupid swimming in the unprotected pool had caused her full-body sunburn. The next few days were not going to be pleasant. “What? What’s wrong? Anna, you look flushed.” Tarun was suddenly kneeling by her 25

Viola Grace side as prickles of pain raced up and down her skin. “Tarun, the faster you can find the burn lotion, the happier I will be.” She sighed and stood, walking to the window and staring out at the amazing vista. She was surrounded by mountains and forests, her favorite styles of wilderness. “I‘ll be back as soon as I can.” He walked up beside her, grasped her chin in his fingers, and kissed her. At first it was hesitant, seeing if she would reject him, then his tongue swept in to tangle with hers. She felt her body sway to his, she moaned. He tightened his fingers on her and his tongue continued to thrust into her in a steady beat as her body began to fit itself to his. His head lifted and his lips were shiny and swollen. He gave her a smile and a tiny peck on the forehead and then left the cottage. She would have sat down heavily, but her butt was one of the areas that was making itself known with alarming speed. So she waited, with one hand to her lips and her breasts tingling from where they had met the hard planes of his chest. It seemed like hours to her, but it was only a few minutes later when Tarun came through the door, with a jar of something in his hand. “Over there, and lie down.” His tone brooked no opposition, nor was she in any state to argue with him. She shuffled over to the bed, keeping 26

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx the sheet tucked around her and stopped. She glared at him for a few moments, and when he had turned his head, she unwrapped the sheet and lay down on her stomach. The fabric still covered her from ribs to ankles and her arms tucked in at her sides to shield her breasts. “This cream is meant for burns suffered from heat, so I don’t know how well it will work, but here it goes.” She heard a popping sound as the jar was opened, and a pleasant smell, like mint and cucumber wafted past. She felt rather than heard him put the jar next to her on the bed, and felt again, the sheet being whisked off of her body in one sharp tug. For a few seconds she welcomed the cool air against her lightly burned flesh. Then, she felt his hands touch her skin with the soothing salve. “Oh, Tarun, that feels wonderful. Thank you.” She sighed as the cool lotion was swept down her shoulders, across her back and between her buttocks. Each inch of flesh was caressed with the slick substance, and Anna let out gratified groans and moans as the release of pain washed over her. Her body was warming in a way different from the burn at his touch, she moved against his hands lightly and moaned with relief and pleasure as he smoothed the cream over her. Tarun was having less fun. The noises she was making sounded like intense sex, and the sight of her in the pool was hovering behind his eyes at all 27

Viola Grace times. The scars that she feared were hardly noticeable against her pale skin. Her eyes were her most notable feature. They were huge, the dark green of the silent forest, framed with lashes in a thick tangle. Those lashes were closed now as he gently smoothed the cream over the angry red of her skin. He had never seen anything like it. The Avari darkened slightly in the sun, but nothing like this. He had, in fact, enjoyed displaying for her on the rock. He had known she was looking. Based on the way her nipples had hardened and the bolt of lust that had shot through her eyes, she found him attractive. The feeling was mutual. He had not yet found a mate and transformed, thus he retained the appearance of a new adult, and would until the next Avari Nyx. “Turn over.” His voice was low even to his own ears. Stroking her flesh had caused a response in his trousers that was rapidly becoming uncomfortable. He shifted to take the strain off the leather, and watched her struggle to maintain her modesty as she lay naked before him. Given her sunburn, he should not have noticed her blush, but he did notice the signs in her breasts once again. As he drew his fingers across her hot pink flesh, she shuddered in response to his touch. Her breasts tightened and lifted as he rubbed the cream into them. The hard little points of her nipples prodded at his palms. 28

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx Pretending that nothing was amiss, he continued his exploration downward across her ribs and then rubbed the lotion in a circular pattern across her belly. He noted that her thighs parted slightly. He could see a hint of moisture gathering in the tight curls at the junction of her thighs. Each leg was treated, swirling his fingers in a manner that caused her feet to flex and her belly to suck in violently. Finally, his fingers traveled up between her thighs. He watched her eyes widen as she realized where he was heading, and one of her hands shot down to stop him. Since his hand was covered in lotion, and hers was as well, she was not successful. Two fingers carefully explored her. He marveled at the texture of her skin here, silky and delicate, yet as hot as a furnace. As his fingers became familiar with the territory, the wetness that he had noted before was beginning to leak from her in earnest. Dragging one finger through it, he brought it to his lips and tasted her. He heard her groan and noted that she had covered her eyes in embarrassment. “There is no need to be embarrassed, Anna. The Avari are completely open about sex, it is a natural occurrence, and we have no need to hide it.” He paused for a moment. “You may have realized by now that I am attracted to you, but until Avari Nyx, I’ll make no effort to get you into my bed. 29

Viola Grace Although, I am going to spend the next few days trying to convince you to spend the festival with me.” He gave her a gentle smile his hand returning between her thighs. She arched at the touch on her clit, and he made a note for the next time. One finger slipped into her and she hummed with pleasure. He stroked the single finger within her until her hips squirmed, then added a second. By this point, her thighs had fallen wide open, and he could see the slick petals as his fingers pushed her higher on the path to her release. His other hand brushed against her clit at the top of her sex, and she squealed while her body pulsed around his fingers. The fingers brushed her clit again, and her hips lifted, the pulsing continued. When she was finally still, and could not meet his eyes, he stood up. “If you need anything more, tell Hesper and she’ll come and get me. I am leaving her with you to make sure you’ll be alright.” Tarun flipped the sheet back to cover her and practically ran from the room. Once outside, he went deep into the forest and took the swollen shaft of his cock out of his trousers. Leaning back against a tree, he relived every moment of her arousal and release, lifting the hand that he had had inside her, sucking the last of her juices from his fingers as his other hand worked at his cock. A few strokes were all that it took, and he was leaning heavily against the tree 30

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx as he spent into the leaves and bracken. Thank the stars that it was only three days to the Nyx. Then she would be his. But it was going to be a long three days.

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he next morning, he took her into the market. “Ok, Tarun. Why are we here? I don’t need anything today, and really don’t feel like letting everyone get a good look at my burn.” Anna was a little sulky and it showed in her voice. “Anna, your clothing is causing you discomfort. The burn is only part of it. We’re going to get you some clothing more suitable to a lady of Avari.” He tugged her past Ilyssa and to a booth draped in fabric. “Ailis, are you here?” He called out to the back of the shop. “Yes, of course I am, Elder. Where else do you think I would be?” A very pregnant and very irritated woman appeared from one of the back rooms. “Ailis, this is Annabelle, the new lady that is in the cottage at the end of the lane.” “I have seen her, but not met her yet. Someone has been monopolizing her company.” Ailis 32

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx looked her over from head to toe as she chewed out Tarun. “Ailis, I am pleased to meet you.” She attempted a smile at this woman who had a personality that dwarfed everyone in the vicinity. “You are too skinny, and that outfit does nothing for you. Come in back. We will get you sorted out.” She grabbed Anna by one elbow and led her around through the panels of fabric that made up the back of the stall. It opened into an airy and open tent, sunlight streaming through the open panels in the roof. A dais in the center of the room was where Ailis led her victim/customer. “Tarun, make us some tea. This is going to take a while.” Those were the last words that she spoke as she efficiently bullied Anna onto the dais and began to strip her. “Uhh, Ailis. Maybe we could do this without an audience.” She looked over to where Tarun was making the tea. He turned to her and winked one rainbow eye. “He is your keeper until you are trained to survive out here. He goes where you go. Or he sends his bird after you, so he can still see where you go.” The boots had come off, and now the dexterous hands were working at her suit closure. With a sighing hiss it parted. Ailis began to ease it off of her burned shoulders. “You went out to the waterfall pool, didn’t you? And your species is sensitive to the sun. I 33

Viola Grace wonder whose bright idea that was?” Derision was hard in her voice. Across the room Tarun flushed with embarrassment, both for the comments about his taking Anna to the waterfall, and for the reference to Hesper. He had not mentioned to Annabelle that he could see whatever Hesper saw. Eventually he would tell her, but not right now. Things were much too delicate at this stage to tip the balance by scaring her with the thought that she was never alone. He set the tea on a nearby table and then sat on some low cushions to watch the fittings. He was definitely enjoying the beginning of the process as Anna stood completely naked in the center of the room. Her shoulders were back, stomach pulled in and hands stiff at her sides. Ailis pulled her arms away from her sides then walked around her several times. “I have it!” She darted away with amazing speed for someone so far along in pregnancy. Moments later she emerged with lengths of gorgeous fabrics draped over her arm. She draped first one, then two fabrics over Anna, and began to pin the drapes in place. Scissors came out, a needle appeared and two hours of standing in place later, Anna stepped down from the dais, fully clothed. The fabric was feather light. It did not feel like she was wearing anything at all. The design was very similar to that of a roman toga, gauzy and 34

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx concealing at the same time. “This is wonderful Ailis, how much do you want for it?” “Tarun will be paying for it. He gets a stipend as an elder. He can afford it.” Ailis gave him an arch look. “Ailis, she will need a few more articles of clothing, and a dress for Avari Nyx. You have her measurements now. Send the bills to me.” Tarun took Anna’s arm and practically dragged her from the stall. “Tarun. While I appreciate your hurry, I think we need to get me some shoes.” Anna was stumbling barefoot behind him. As she spoke, he stopped and cursed. “I’m sorry. Of course. This way.” He scooped her up in his arms and walked with her to the shoemakers stall. She felt a bit conspicuous, make that extremely conspicuous, being carried through the marketplace with everyone smiling at them. Vorna was the name of the shoemaker. In only five minutes he had fitted her with lace-up shoes that left her legs bare, but for the crisscross of laces that held them in place. Extremely comfortable and easy to walk in, she decided that these light clothes and shoes were perfectly acceptable while she was recovering from her sunburn. “Thank you for the new clothes Tarun. But I cannot in good conscience continue to monopolize your time.” “It is no trouble to me. I have enjoyed spending 35

Viola Grace time with you.” Tarun looked slightly hurt that she would reject his able guidance. “I enjoyed my time with you as well.” Her face flamed as she recalled his hands on her the night before. “But I think I would like to meet Ilyssa again, and this time have a conversation. I swear, I won’t take off, but I do need to look around on my own.” Tarun took her arm and pulled her to him, “Fine, but avoid talking with any ‘young males’ or I’ll paddle your behind when I find out.” His head dipped down for a kiss and as they clung together, tongues dueling, all conversation stopped in the market. When he clued in to the silence, Tarun slowly raised his head and looked around him. Every eye was on them, his hands were on her ass, and her arms were wrapped around his neck. She blinked at him in astonishment as she tried to marshal her scattered wits. “Wow, ok no talking to other boys, anything else?” Annabelle got control of her tongue and looked into his heated eyes, feeling the press of his erection against her belly. Unable to help herself, she rocked against him, her hips rolling and causing a fluttering of excitement within her at the contact with the rigid length of him. “Yes.” His voice came out in a hiss, He gripped her hips to still them, “Don’t do that again until the Nyx festival, when I can do something about 36

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx it.” He set her away from him, “Talk to Ilyssa, meet Nayef, but stay away from any other men is all that I ask. Please.” “I will, I promise.” One hand was raised to his jaw and caressed his cheek. She smiled as he leaned into the small caress. Then he was gone. Annabelle looked over to find Hesper sitting on one of the market stalls. She winked at the bird as it watched her with a fixed gleam in its eye. She wandered through the stalls until she reached the jewelry stand. “Ilyssa, are you in there?” She called out to the back of the stall. “Yes, yes, here I am.” Hair askew and blouse sliding off one shoulder, Ilyssa came out of the back of the stall with a harried and distracted smile on her face. Based on the flush of her bronze skin and the hickey blooming on her neck, it was pretty obvious what she had been doing. “Oh, I am sorry to disturb you.” She flushed and started to walk off. “No! No, it’s alright. You’re Annabelle, right? You’re the one I have been feeding for the last few days.” Her smile was welcoming and she gestured for Anna to come in the back of the shop. “Yes, I just came by to thank you.” She slowly stepped forward and carefully moved the curtain aside, almost afraid of what she might find given Ilyssa’s dishevelment. 37

Viola Grace With relief she saw that whoever the male was, he was fully dressed and sitting at a design table, creating some of the fantastic jewelry that was on display out front. “Nayef! This is Annabelle, the alien that we’ve been feeding for the last three days.” He reluctantly looked up. His rainbow eyes looked Anna up and down and then he nodded and returned to his designs. “He is a man of few words, but remarkably talented with his mouth regardless.” Ilyssa grinned over at her new companion and laughed as Anna blushed again. “Have a seat. Nayef, why don’t you go for a walk for a few minutes? Or mind the storefront.” Nayef looked up once again, then shrugged and stalked off to the front of the shop. “Ok, you obviously have some questions that only a woman can answer, so go ahead.” Ilyssa served some of the tea that was in a pot nearby and gestured for Anna to sit. “I’m really sorry to ask you this kind of thing. I mean I don’t even know you.” Annabelle took a deep breath and went ahead. “Ok, why do all of the men here seem to be only two ages? By my standards, they are in their early twenties and mid thirties, aside from the kids that are running around, of course. But there don’t seem to be adult men of any other ages. And the women, they seem to be of varying ages, but not anyone past the age 38

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx of thirty-five physically. Do your people choose the ages at which they would like to stay?” Her host laughed. “Whew, that is quite a few questions. Have some tea.” Then she proceeded to tell Anna about the details of Avari life. The aging process was halted at the age of complete maturity. The younger versions of the adult males were in fact fully adults (like Tarun) who had not yet mated. The mating triggered the final maturing process. “You should have seen what Nayef looked like before we mated. He was extremely handsome but all knees and elbows. He turned out alright.” She gave her audience a grin and continued. The Avari did not age in the same manner as humans. The mating bonded the two life spans together to make one extremely long life. As a result they did not have more than two children per couple, to avoid overpopulation of the delicately balanced ecosystem. It was not uncommon for four generations of the same family to be alive at the same time. Sex among the Avari was encouraged once the participants were fully mature. An actual mating was somewhat different, Ilyssa assured her rapt audience. “You are going to have to ask Tarun for any specific details. By the way, that dress is stunning. Ailis’ work?” “I admire how you changed the subject.” Anna 39

Viola Grace smiled at her and sipped the last of her tea. “But yes, it is her work. Tarun ordered some clothing for me this morning, to help with the sunburn.” “Ah, I thought that that was your normal coloration. When we last met it was sundown, your skin had the same reddish cast. What caused it?” She seemed genuinely curious. “Generally, when not exposed to sunlight, my skin is extremely pale. If I go out into the sun for an extended period of time without a sunscreen, the tissue dehydrates and the skin takes on this reddish cast while my body repairs itself. When the skin under the surface recovers, pigments are brought to the surface to defend against any subsequent damage. The new skin will be a golden to dark brown. And in a lovely twist, the damaged surface occasionally peels off in lovely sheets. Like a lizard.” Anna grimace and shifted. “Eww. How unpleasant for you. Will it happen often? It looks quite uncomfortable.” Ilyssa leaned forward and touched the surface of Anna’s shoulder then drew her hand back as Anna flinched. “Sorry.” “It feels similar to a burn that you would get from an oven, or from applying heat. As long as I keep it moisturized it should not peel to badly. Keeping it hydrated helps a lot.” She leaned back in her chair. “Ok, so tell me about Avari Nyx, is it some kind of festival?” “Ok, I can’t tell you everything, but it is a 40

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx chance for the young men of mating age to display themselves to the community, and the girls of course. They dance, using every means available to get the women to look at them. Nayef even danced using fire. He burned one of the tents, but I did go home with him that night.” The smile she had held memories of that night and gave her otherwise stern and no-nonsense look a warm overlay. “But why do I need a special outfit for the festival?” “Hey, around here, any excuse to dress up is welcome. Embrace it.” She shook her head. “Hmm…I think Nayef has fallen asleep up there. I had better go rescue him. What will you do for the rest of the day?” “Thank you for your hospitality. I think I’ll try to find that waterfall again, and enjoy it from a shaded perspective.” She smiled and left out the same flap that she had entered by. Nodding at Nayef, she wandered through the market place, greeting people that she had not yet met. Looking at the variety of wares that were on display. All too soon she was alone on the pathway home, so she bypassed her cottage and continued into the forest, being careful not to snag her new clothing on the local flora. It seemed to take only minutes until she was there, looking over the inviting pool and the teasing roll of the waterfall. With an eye to protecting her skin, she spotted 41

Viola Grace a rock that would give her an excellent view of the area surrounding the pool, but still keep her in shadow and prevent further burning. Her clothing was carefully shed, and the sandals came off easily. She dipped one toe into the churning water near the falls, and when it was confirmed to be warm, jumped in cannon-ball style. She swam back and forth, doing laps until her limbs felt ever so slightly tired, then pulled herself out and up onto her perfect rock. The sun had warmed it earlier in the day so it was extremely comfortable to lie on while the shadows caressed it in the late afternoon. Annabelle hummed with contentment. She was warm, relaxed, and happy. She also had a really cute guy who wanted to get under her skirts. Life was good. Her hands slowly began to caress her skin, trailing over her breasts, across her belly, around her navel and back again in an absent pattern. A twinge of arousal began between her thighs. She sat up to look around and to make sure she was alone, and she was, with the exception of Hesper watching her raptly from an overhanging branch. “You won’t tell anyone, will you, Hesper?” She smiled and lay back against the wonderfully warm rock.

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ne hand continued trailing aimlessly over her torso, as the other found her clit and began to slowly work itself in circles around it. She lay with her thighs spread and hands pleasuring herself for over half an hour before her fingers on her clit picked up the pace and took her over the edge. Her hips lifted against her fingers and gasping cries came from her throat. She drew the fingers that were now slick with her juices and lifted them to her mouth. One by one she sucked them clean of the slick residue, enjoying the tangy taste that was her distinctive flavor. The sun was setting, so she sat up and swiftly got dressed again. Her sandals were tied in moments and she set off down the path as swiftly as she could. She reached her home just before sundown transformed into night and she breathed a sigh of relief. She walked into her cottage and was surprised to see Tarun there. “Oh hey, how are you? Did 43

Viola Grace you have a nice day without the little alien tagging along?” He walked forward to where she stood against the closed door and brought her against him. Her hips cradling the erection that his leather pants did not conceal at all. Her breasts were mashed against the hard planes of his chest and she shuddered as her nipples came to sudden points at the contact through the thin fabric of her clothing. His fingers threaded through her hair and held her still for his kiss. She moaned at the heat that rippled through her and when he finally broke the kiss she was shaking with reaction to the hormones that flooded her. “I missed you. How was your day?” His voice was a low rumble in her ear as he held her to his chest. “Uh, fine. But it is definitely taking a weird turn right about now.” She mumbled into his chest, but had no interest in turning him loose as she breathed in his scent and reveled in his warmth. God, he was warm. He would be great to cuddle up with on a cold winter night back on earth. Or maybe they had winter here, hmm. “Tarun, what are the seasons like here? Does it get cold here?” Her nose burrowed against the warm skin of his chest, and she flicked her tongue out to taste. She felt his shiver and smiled. “Not very, there is occasionally some snow in 44

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx the high mountains, but not usually in the village.” He tugged at her hair and drew her head back so he could meet her gaze. “Why?” “It’s silly really. Just thinking about warm fires and cold winters.” Her lips were swollen after the enthusiasm of his ‘hello’ kiss. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips and his eyes darkened, the rainbow irises almost shooting sparks. With a groan he put his hands on her arms and gently pushed her out of his embrace. “Nayef brought dinner again. It is on the table. I’ll start the fire.” That was the end of the touching, for the moment. They had dinner, he asked her about her day, and she told him that she had spoken with Ilyssa and then gone back to the pool. She asked him what he had done, and he replied that he had met with the organizers of the Nyx festival, then did some chores around his house and came back to her cottage to wait for her shortly before sundown. “So you went back to the pool, did you burn yourself again?” He raised an eyebrow and she blushed as she remembered what she had been doing at the pool. “No, no I didn’t. I found a spot that was shaded and chose that one for my resting area. It really is a lovely pool. I’m surprised that more people don’t frequent it.” “It is a little out of the way for most.” He stood 45

Viola Grace and stretched. “Well, I think that you should go to bed now. Do you need more lotion? Your skin still looks extremely red.” “I’ll put it on after you leave.” She stood and collected the plates and wandered over to the sink and began to fill it with water. “I’ll take care of the dishes, you go and lie down. I’ll also help you with the lotion.” He took the plates from her hand and shooed her over to the bed with one hand on her backside. Once again she found herself being rubbed down by Tarun, first her back, then she rolled over and he stroked his hands all over her front. Her skin was covered with gooseflesh and she felt a distinct wetness growing between her thighs in anticipation. But nothing happened. His hands finished stroking the cooling cream across her skin then he wiped his hands off on a linen towel. He drew the sheet up over her and gave her a sweet kiss on the forehead, his own forehead beaded with sweat. “Good night, Annabelle.” Then he was gone. Annabelle fell asleep bewildered and empty. The next day was a day of personal exploration as he took her through the craft center on one side of her cottage. She had an aptitude for both leather weaving and metal work, and on her first day managed to produce a very interesting belt that made a gentle chiming noise as she moved. She giggled and twirled as she wore the belt, then 46

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx began to rack her memory for the belly dance class lessons that she had taken before leaving earth. She would practice as soon as Tarun left. After discovering her creativity within, she went into the market and had tea with Ilyssa once again. Ilyssa was impressed with the design, and asked her as to its purpose. When Anna demonstrated, Ilyssa asked for lessons after the Nyx festival, Anna agreed. While there, Ailis came to find her, to deliver the clothing that she had promised. She also stayed for tea. During the course of conversation, Anna found out that the gestation period of the Avari was close to that of Terrans, and Ailis was due any day now. She was occupied with the standard preparations of a mother who was about to deliver. As the giggles and talk turned to sex, Anna found herself actually feeling at home, for the first time since she had left the earth. Girl talk was still girl talk, and her face flamed as her two new companions gave her the intimate details of their sex lives and the most graphic descriptions of their husbands’ endowments. Techniques were also discussed, and by the time the ladies were finished, Anna could not look Nayef in the eye when he returned. Ailis’ husband came in to collect her. Ciqala was a cheerful man. His good nature shone out of his easy smile as he herded his wife out of the 47

Viola Grace shop and down the street. Her acid tongue was completely ineffective against her husband. He just let her insults slide off of his bronze hide. Laughing, Anna went back to her cottage, and was relieved and a little disappointed to find Tarun nowhere in sight. Hesper was outside her door however, preening her feathers on a tree. “Hey Hesper, how is life treating you?” She darted inside then came out with left over shreds of meat from the night before. She fed it to the avian and was gratified when the bird seemed happy to have the snack. She tentatively reached out to the bird and smiled when Hesper allowed her to stroke her feathers in a steady motion. The feathers were warm and smooth, satiny under her fingers. Hesper began to shift from foot to foot on the branch, so Anna extended her arm and then had to brace herself as the full weight of the bird came to rest on her wrist. “Wow. How cool is this?” Her voice was a hushed whisper, afraid that anything louder would cause her new friend to take flight. She stood motionless for a few minutes, with the raptor balanced on her arm, then grunted as Hesper launched herself into flight. “So you’ve been making more friends today, I see.” The voice behind her caused her to shriek and jump straight into the air. “Holy cow. Don’t do that!” She turned and 48

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx swatted him with her hand as her heart tried to stop its frenzied gallop. Tarun was leaning against the tree that Hesper had previously occupied. He laughed and ducked as she took a second swing at him. “Hey, don’t strike the one who’s feeding you.” He gestured to the basket on the ground. “Fair enough. C’mon inside.” He followed her into the dim interior of her cottage. “No, I’m afraid that this won’t do.” He walked over to her bed and removed one of the blankets. “Come with me.” They picnicked in a small glade in the woods. Anna was so relaxed that she nodded off while they were watching the sunset with his arms around her. She woke up in the night, surprised to be in her own bed. She stirred and felt his arms grip her more securely. She craned her head to look at him and a gentle smile crept over her face as she watched him. His dark lashes shielded his multicolored eyes, and the purity of his features took her breath away. They were both still fully clothed, probably sound thinking on his part. Feeling secure and safe, she fell asleep once again.

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he day of the festival dawned bright and clear. Anna first felt the strangeness when Ailis in all of her matronly glory came up to her cottage to help her dress. “You won’t be able to figure it out, trust me.” And sure enough, Anna could not make heads or tails of the fabric that was pulled out of the package. She stood still and let herself be dressed. When Ailis pronounced her complete, she turned to the looking glass next to the bed and her jaw dropped in astonishment. She looked fantastic, like an escapee from the Arabian Nights, the adult version. Gauzy panels of fabric clung to every curve. A length of barely opaque silk wrapped behind her neck and crossed over her breasts, then wound down to her lower back. The skirt attached to the wraps in the back and was composed of drifting panels of the same silk. A final length of fabric was attached at the 50

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx back of her neck and both wrists, pulling double duty as both veil and cloak. The colors in the fabric were strong jewel tones, ruby and sapphire. She twirled experimentally and noted immediately that the panels were not connected at all. Rapid movement could cause her to moon just about everyone if she wasn’t careful. Ah, that was the reason for the cloak. “Are you sure about this Ailis? It seems a little, uh, revealing.” She was a little nervous. All of her scars were on display in this outfit, but then, the Avari didn’t seem to care. “It is the traditional dress for the Avari Nyx. All females wear them if they have accepted an invitation by one of the men. If you hadn’t accepted Tarun’s invitation, you would be able to go in regular clothing.” Ailis smiled and led the way out the door and into the village. The rest of the day passed in a blur. The women got together and had lunch and tea, then played games until the sun went down. Including a round of archery that Anna was sure she would not be able to do with the clothing she was wearing, but still she managed to excel at it. Apparently she was quite a good shot. A bracelet donated by Nayef and Ilyssa was the prize, and a bemused Anna wore it to the dinner that followed. The hall that would host the dinner was almost full by the time Anna and her companions arrived. 51

Viola Grace She was shepherded past the table of elders, four of whom still looked as if they were about to attend a frat party. She noticed her friends waving frantically at her and made her way over to their table. Anna scooted into a seat on the floor next to Ilyssa and Nayef. Across the hall she saw Ailis and Ciqala, her hand raised up out of her lap and she gave them a little wave. She smiled at them when they waved back. Ilyssa leaned to her ear and whispered, “The men who are choosing tonight will serve the food. After we eat, the dancing will start.” Anna whispered back, “Dancing, no one said anything about dancing.” Her face was flushing a furious red at the thought of her moving to music in front of an audience. The outfit she was wearing was not designed for a lot of movement. The panels tended to flare open when she moved too fast, leaving her exposed to all and sundry. She was about to complain about it, when she noted several women dressed in a similar manner. Well, it really was traditional dress. “You don’t have to dance. The men do. It’s a throwback to the days our people were slightly more primitive. They dance to show the women that they are fit and agile.” Ilyssa giggled. “You should have seen the way Nayef moved on our first Avari Nyx together. It was like watching a drunken cow.” She looked fondly over at her 52

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx husband. “But I chose him anyway, and here we are.” “Ailis mentioned that she and Ciqala had gotten together on Avari Nyx, is it common to all have the same anniversary?” The men were moving through the tables, loading plates and filling goblets as they passed. Anna made every effort to keep her voice low, but based on the grin that passed over Tarun’s face as he poured wine for her. He heard every word. Ilyssa waited for Tarun to leave and whispered once again, “All of the males and females that have been courting wait until the Avari Nyx to consummate their unions. It’s tradition.” “So even if they start courting tomorrow, they will wait until next year to formalize their bond?” “No, of course not.” Ilyssa laughed at her, “Avari Nyx only occurs once every five years.” Ilyssa leaned over and talked to her husband for a moment then they both turned laughing faces and swirling rainbow eyes to her. She realized that her mouth was hanging open in shock and quickly closed it. “Every five years! Holy cow. How can they stand it?” She was astonished. “What if they don’t find the husband or wife for them?” Ilyssa stopped laughing and patted her hand where it rested on the table. “Then it is obviously apparent in the days after, and they go their separate ways and try again. No hard feelings.” 53

Viola Grace “How do they know that the one they chose is not the one for them?” She was curious now, and just a little tipsy. The wine in her cup did not seem to be going down, but she had been sipping steadily since she arrived. “They can tell, in fact, everyone can tell. It’s very obvious to our people when the bonding doesn’t take. Most of those who decide to join make the choice with full knowledge and acceptance of the partner they are taking, some don’t. It is those unions that usually fail.” Ilyssa was looking none to steady in her seat, and Nayef seemed to be taking much of her weight where she leaned against him. Anything else that Anna would have asked was drowned out as drums and flutes began to play in the background. As suddenly as they started, they stopped. “Welcome one and all to Avari Nyx, The longest night in five years. Please enjoy the food provided by the candidates for joining tonight. In one hour the dancing will begin. Mated couples will be welcomed once the choosing commences.” There was something about his hair and eyes that was familiar to her. “Is the speaker related to Tarun?” Anna’s voice was slightly louder, both from the wine and the increase of noise in the room as everyone began to talk. “Zaran Bien is his father. He and Mayif have 54

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx been together for over sixty years. He chased her for four cycles. It finally worked out for them.” Ilyssa seemed to lose interest in conversation and began to focus on the plate in front of her. Anna decided to do the same. She started slightly when she noted the exotic flower that had been placed in front of her plate. The safest course being to ignore it, she devoted herself to the food in front of her. It was good, really good. She had to admit the men of Avari could cook. An hour passed and plates were refilled then cleared again. The wine in the goblets was topped up regularly, and Anna had no idea what quantity she had consumed. The men came and removed the plates, the cutlery and the napkins that had been used during the meal. All that was left on the tables were the wine glasses and more of those strange flowers. Anna reached forward and took the flower in her fingers. She sniffed delicately into the vibrant crimson petals and felt a warm sense of well being come over her. She sniffed again and felt completely calmed and rather cheerful. With a shaking hand she placed the flower back onto the table and reached for the wine. Suddenly a drum beat broke out over the conversing voices in the room. Everyone stilled. “Now, we’re going to begin the dancing. The first five dances are for the men alone, after which the women that they choose may join them in the 55

Viola Grace dance.” Zaran turned to the musicians and waved at them to start. With one eye on the dance floor and one on her wine cup, Anna prepared to keep a straight face. She failed. The eligible bachelors lined up and, on a heavy beat, began to move. The dancing was more of a military drill for the first three songs then they began to circle and split up into amazing patterns that dazzled the eye. Anna found that she could not take her eyes off of Tarun. He was coated with a light sweat that made him glow in her vision. Two of the other dancers were juggling with fire, and based on the worshipful looks on two of the women’s faces on the other side of the room, they had chosen well. She started lightly to realize that she had seen Tarun like this before, the day that he had shown her the pool near her cottage. He had had the same nimbus around him then, she had thought that it was a trick of the light near the pool, apparently not. Anna shook her head to clear her vision and sat very still as her head spun when she stopped. Her eyes found Tarun and watched him dance without her making a conscious thought about it. His arms flexed, raised over his head and clapped, his hips twisted and he moved sideways with a sudden shift in balance. She focused completely on him, ignoring her companions who were laughing at 56

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx her absorption. She took another sip of wine and was surprised when Tarun moved toward her and took the goblet out of her hand. He turned it so that he was drinking from the same spot as she was. He emptied the cup. The entire time his gaze was locked with hers. When he lowered the cup, red drops of wine clung to his lips and Anna wanted nothing more than to lick them off. His own tongue came out to retrieve the droplets and a pulse of warmth went through her at the slow stroke of his tongue over the fullness of his lower lip. Her eyes fixed on his mouth, she noted when he spoke, but her brain would not translate the words. “What did you say?” Tarun smiled, “Dance with me.” He extended his hand and she found herself taking it without a thought. He picked up the flower from her place at the table, and wove it into her hair as he tugged her into the circle of dancers. She leaned forward to whisper to him, “I don’t know how to dance like this. This could be awkward.” “Just follow my lead.” Tarun was still laughing at her, but she didn’t really care as long as he didn’t let her fall on her face. The music was slower now, the couples moving on the floor with easy measured paces. Anna’s brief look around confirmed that the males in the dance were all extremely young looking, the 57

Viola Grace women of varying ages. She felt terribly conspicuous on the floor, but then looked into Tarun’s rainbow eyes and forgot her awkward discomfort. They moved together, swirling and dipping, clapping their hands to the beat, laughing and moving with the other couples. With each song they danced closer to one another, until with every pass, Anna’s breasts brushed against him and his growing erection glanced across her thighs. Her silken gown allowed the lightest touch to travel to her skin and she was glowing with a light sheen of sweat from exertion and arousal. Her breath caught at every contact, her heart speeding up. She noted that there were fewer couples on the dance floor, several running giddy into the night as she watched. She continued to dance with Tarun, rubbing her body against his in a blatant manner. His own eyes narrowed and the skin of face drew taut over his cheekbones, a sensual cruelty in the shape of his mouth as he looked at her. Still they danced, until they were the last ones on the floor. Circling each other one at a time, rubbing against the other when they passed before, and behind. Finally Tarun’s control snapped. Without a word to the other elders who had not participated in the ritual, he lifted Anna in his arms and walked with her out into the darkness.

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Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx

Chapter 6

A

nna’s arousal was riding her hard. Every touch, every time she scented him, her heart had pounded faster. So what if he seemed too young for her. He wanted her and that was enough for now. She was securely cradled in his arms, snuggled high against his chest. She leaned over and pressed her mouth to the hollow of his throat, then licked gently and smiled as the shudder rocked through him. He increased his pace as her lips began to explore the side of his throat, muttering the occasional curse as she found a spot that was especially sensitive. Hesper flew in front of them as they wended their way through the forest paths. Thirty minutes after they left the meeting hall, they arrived at his home. Keeping her tight against him, he opened the door and brought her inside. The inside of the house was cloaked in darkness. 59

Viola Grace Nothing was visible to her pale and human eyes. She did not even notice her surroundings, she held on tight as he walked to his bed and let her slide slowly down his body. Humming with pleasure at the feel of her against his aroused flesh. He reached for a lamp and watched her face as the light flared to life. “I am glad that you attended the festival. You will not regret it.” He brought her to him again, and put her hands against the ties that held his tunic and trousers on. “First we will get rid of my clothing, then yours. You look quite lovely this evening, by the way.” Her hands fumbled a bit, then moved more surely, as the shape of the ties came to her memory, as clear as day. When they were freed, she slid her hands up Tarun’s smooth skin and caressed the tunic off of his shoulders. From his shoulders she trailed her hands over the warm pads of muscle, down to his ribs then across his flat belly to his trousers. Her fingertips dipped delicately below the edge of the leather, and she smiled as the muscles drew in sharply. Stopping her teasing, she undid the fastenings that once again seemed clear before her. As her hands let go, the loose trousers dropped into a tan puddle on the floor before Tarun’s bed. She briefly caressed his cock as it rose proudly to curve towards his abdomen, enjoying the feeling of his heart beating and pulsing through 60

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx the warm and heated flesh. Her hands, of their own accord, drew up once again to trace the contours of his chest, his ribs, and around to his back, in this manner embracing him while rubbing her body against him gently in need of further contact. She sighed in contentment and laid her head on his chest as his arms came around her to draw and cuddle her close. Once again she rubbed herself against his hard cock, feeling the moisture at the tip dampening her gown. “Now, your turn.” He gave her a gentle squeeze and began to untie the laces supporting her top. When it was loose, he left it in place and began to work on her skirt. It too came undone with only a few strategic maneuvers, he left one hand on it, and the other on her top, then kissed her on the top of her head and drew her clothing off of her in a few graceful moves. “Now we are on equal footing, so to speak.” Tarun’s head dipped to hers. His lips met hers for the second time. Like the first, she almost felt as if a glow enveloped them from the moment that their lips met. His tongue swept in to tease and play at hers, and she felt her feet leave the ground. Her back hit the bed with a whisper of crisp sheets. Before she knew what was about to happen, he came upon her. His thighs parting hers as he settled onto her. “I am going to memorize your body Anna, 61

Viola Grace every inch, but first, I think we need to get something out of the way.” He seemed both resigned and enthusiastic at his plan. He inserted two fingers between her thighs and worked them into her damp heat. She sighed and arched as his fingers stirred the heat within her. Within moments, her hips were moving in time to his fingers, her breath coming faster in the silence of the night. As whimpers began to break from her throat, he moved. Shifting his hips to push his arousal against her. Two nudges against her slick petals, and he was sliding past the tension at her entrance and deep inside. Gently and deliberately, he began to move within her. Thrust after thrust he delivered into her willing body. She started to moan with every movement within her, her back arching to rub her breasts against his chest with every stroke. A strange glow emanated from them both, but in Anna’s distracted state, she thought it was only a sign of the coming dawn. As Tarun continued to move within her, the glow grew brighter. He noticed that she was approaching her release and drove his hips harder. Snaking one hand down between them to caress her clit, as if he knew how she liked to be touched. She went off with only a few caresses of his fingers on her slick flesh, his hard cock pounding within her. “Oh, Stars!” The involuntary cry broke from 62

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx her. Sparks flew behind her eyes as her body convulsed in it’s victory. She felt him pulsing within her, and met his gaze while his eyes burned into hers as his body achieved it’s own release with a groan and a shudder. He collapsed onto her, sweat coating him with that strange glow still burning beneath his skin. Anna blinked to clear her vision, then noted that she was actually glowing herself. “What the hell?” Her next words were cut off as Tarun lowered his mouth to hers. His lips and tongue fed at hers, and she let out a shuddering moan when she felt him begin to twitch and swell inside her once again. “I will explain it all to you later. But now, I need to know how you taste.” His lips traced down her neck and trailed across her breast leaving heat burning in her skin as he passed, over her ribs and along the gentle soft swell of her belly. Beside her hips, her hands made fists in the sheets, her body tensed and lifted to his mouth as his exploration continued. His hands spread her thighs to make room for him, and he leaned down to taste her. She let her voice have its reign as his tongue lapped at her from anus to clit. She was moaning and shrieking in response to the sensations that he heaped on her. His tongue thrust into her, lapping up her juices as her body 63

Viola Grace begged for more. Her hips twisted restlessly, seeking a firmer touch. She gasped in relief as he thrust two fingers into her and attached his lips to the bud of sensation that quivered in anticipation of his tongue. The walls of her cunt grabbed desperately at his fingers, trying to draw them in further. When he felt the flutter deep within her he raised his head and gave her a wicked smile. He withdrew his fingers from her slick depths and ever so slowly climbed up her body, keeping scant inches of air between them. “Do you want more?” His tongue slid out to lick at her lips. She raised her head to his as he pulled away. A frustrated groan sounded from her throat. He lifted off of her completely and flipped to his own back on the bed next to her. “Then take it.” She scrambled up in the bedding and looked him up and down. The glow was still evident, but she had put it to the back of her mind. She would worry about it later. Now there was all of that golden bronze skin to explore. Anna dipped her head forward and took him deeply into her mouth without any preliminary touching, sucking and working at him with her tongue. He shouted incoherently and pulled her up and across him. His chest heaving as he drew her 64

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx astride him, two fingers sliding into her once again. Her back arched, moments later she was gripping his cock and sliding it into the warm embrace of her body. She sighed in relief and began to move. As she rocked up and down on him, he stroked her legs gently out until the juncture of her thighs was flat against his pelvis. She shuddered and shook, oh god he was so deep. Her hips rocked gently, then with a faster rhythm as each movement drove her clit mad with sensation. Finally she groaned as the fire exploded behind her eyes; her body flexed and tightened around him. Her body shook violently with her release. Once she had stopped shuddering around him Tarun gripped her hips and worked her up and down on his cock, driving his hips upward to bury himself into her depths. Anna tried to help him, but her muscles were limp with the aftermath of the orgasm that had claimed her. She could feel the head of his erection dragging against the sensitive tissues within, rubbing and caressing and making a home for itself within her. Tarun’s eyes closed and he arched as he spent himself inside her depths, a groan shaking the bed and reverberating through the night. Anna squirmed lightly against him, and he tugged her down to lie on his chest. With one hand he flipped a sheet over them both and they slept, his arms curled around her, their bodies still joined. 65

Viola Grace How long they slept Anna didn’t know, but when she woke something had changed. She looked down at the dark head resting on her breast and smiled. She stroked his hair and ran her hand down the line of his shoulder, loving the play of muscle under skin. Sometime during the night they had shifted position, but Anna was not upset, she loved the feel of him lying against her. As she stroked his hair, he stirred. Against her thigh she felt him beginning to swell with interest in the soft body beneath him. His head lifted from her breast and his eyes met hers with a smile of greeting. “Holy Shit!” A second more and she was out of the bed and across the room, backing toward the door. “Anna, what is it? What’s wrong?” His voice was even deeper than usual this morning, and she shook with fear as she looked at the stranger that she had woken up with.

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Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx

Chapter 7

H

is body had undergone fifteen years of aging in a matter of hours. The strong chest that she had cuddled up to last night was now deeper and wider. His jaw had squared, the muscles of his neck were now thick and corded. The lithe muscles of the rest of his body were replaced by rippling bands, and his male endowments were, well, huge. “Tarun? Is that you?” Her mind was a little muddled at present. She knew it was him, knew his scent, but he looked different. He let out a sigh. “Yes, it’s me. And if you are looking at me like I have changed, then I was right. We are true mates. Have a seat and I’ll explain.” He gestured to the bed. She eyed the extremely intimidating erection that was obviously intended for her and opted to sit in the chair by the window. “Uh, could you toss me that sheet please?” He glanced down at himself, looked a little 67

Viola Grace sheepish and did as she asked. Seconds later she was wrapped from armpit to toes, feeling a little more in charge of herself. “Ok. Explain.” She crossed her arms and waited for his explanation. “Where to start?” He sighed heavily. “The first time that I met you, I felt the beginnings of the change. When a male meets a female that is a candidate for mating, he feels the start of the change. It is a kind of a pulling. A feeling that grows every time that they meet.” “When the male and female mate for the first time, the change starts. He acquires the fully mature form required for procreation. Until the change happens, he is sterile.” “Ok. Fine. I can get used to that, but what about the glow?” It made a certain amount of sense, and explained several of the comments that her friends had made during tea. “Ah, that.” He stopped to rub the back of his neck. “You know that Avari is tech restricted, right?” “Of course, that is why I am here.” “Well, that’s not exactly true. The people of Avari have nanites in their systems that repair us as time progresses. We still have a designated life span of about two hundred years, but we remain physically fit.” “Whoa.” She thought about it for a few minutes. “Ok, then why don’t I feel them? If 68

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx everyone here is filled with nano machines, why aren’t I screaming in a small heap?” “Different frequency. The nanites operate with the same electrical field as regular nerve impulses. There was no reason for you to feel anything.” He sat on the edge of the bed, and as he explained, Hesper swooped in and landed on his shoulder. “Aha. Ok that leaves me with the final question. Why does Hesper follow me everywhere I go?” “Hmm. Well, Hesper has been tuned to me. Our nanites operate on the same frequency and I can see what she sees.” It took her a moment to realize what he had said. “Wait, you mean, when I was bathing in the pool, you saw all that?” His skin flushed and his erection twitched as the images of her caressing herself came flooding back to him. “I needed to keep an eye on you, to make sure that you didn’t come to harm.” Her lips took on a wry twist. “Well, as you may imagine, I think that I was perfectly safe that day. Did you enjoy watching?” Suddenly a teasing tone was in her voice, and she realized that she could not stay mad at him. He had not deliberately lied to her, just omitted certain facts. “Very much. I would enjoy watching you in person some time.” His voice had grown even deeper and his eyes were darkening with lust. “How about now?” Anna rose to her feet and 69

Viola Grace walked toward him. At her approach, Hesper took flight and was out the window in seconds. Slowly, teasingly, she unwrapped the sheet and let it fall to the ground. Her fingers came up and drew a delicate line along her collarbone. By now she was standing between his legs. Her hands came down and cupped her breasts, teasing at the nipples until they stood at attention. His eyes were glued to her hands, each movement of her fingers on her sensitive flesh caused him to draw in his breath in a shudder of arousal. Her fingers drew down her ribs, and parted the petals of her sex, exposing the slick interiors to his view. Delving between the parted lips with her middle finger, she dipped it in her dew and spread the moisture over her clit. One hand returned to her breast and kneaded, while the other circled her nub and gasped at the pleasure that she was bringing to her body. Suddenly she heard a snarl and then she was flying though the air. Impacting the bed pressed the air out of her lungs. Feeling Tarun press his erection against her ass left her gasping. His shoulders were not the only part of him that had gotten bigger. His hands drew her to her knees and she was forced to balance on her hands as he parted her thighs to make room for him behind her. He eased 70

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx the head of his cock into her, pushing and retreating, over and over until he was fully seated. “So, when you touch yourself, does it feel as good as this?” His voice was a growl in her ear as he began to move within her. If she hadn’t been out of her mind with arousal, she would never have been able to take him all. “Oh god.” “Does it? Don’t you want me inside you when you fuck yourself?” Each word was punctuated with a thrust of his hips. “Yes, yes I want you inside me. I was thinking about you on the rock and wanted you with me.” Her words were carried on her gasps. She was so close. “You want me to touch you here don’t you?” His fingers teased around the area where their bodies joined. “Yes! Please!” Her back arched and she thrust her hips back to bring him deeper. “Whatever you wish Anna.” His knowledgeable fingers swirled around her clit and she screamed and threw her head back as the rigor swept through her. His hips pumped violently into her, fingers gripping her hips hard enough to leave bruises. The slapping sound of his balls against her ass was the only noise in the room aside from the grunts and moans of the participants. Finally, he shuddered and came. She felt the 71

Viola Grace head of his cock spurting deep inside her, then the groan as he pumped into her over and over again. With one hand wrapped around her waist, he fell to the side taking her with him. His body still joined to hers. Idly, she looked at her hand in the morning light and noted that she was glowing again. Then she looked again. Her scars were gone. She checked her other hand, the marks of the pilot fittings were gone. She sat up and examined her body, Tarun’s spent member slipping from her. All of her scars were gone. “Tarun!” “Hmm?” His body was completely relaxed, glowing slightly. “What happened to my scars? They’re gone. Every one of them. Even the ones that I got as a kid.” “The nanites. They repair all damaged tissue.” He stretched and looked like he was going to nap. “But I don’t have any nanites in my system.” “Yes, you do.” One eye opened and watched how she was going to take this. “But how could I? I mean if they were in the food, I would have changed days ago, wouldn’t I?” “Not in the food. Only in sentient living beings.” “Then how?” She was baffled. She honestly didn’t think how she could have ingested the tiny 72

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx computers. Sighing Tarun sat up. With two fingers he reached between her thighs, delved deep and brought out those two fingers covered with her cream and his seed. “The thin tissues of the vaginal walls allow the nanites access to the bloodstream. The minute that I came inside you, you had them in your system. The glow is the energy that they are expending to repair the nerve damage that you sustained, in a few days you should be completely healthy.” “You…you didn’t tell me.” She was in shock. This was not something that she had ever considered on her possible list of happenings. “I have to go.” “Annabelle, wait. Please. This is just the way things are here.” He reached out a comforting hand to her. She shied away from it and wrapped herself in the sheet once again. Rolling out of the bed, she grabbed her shoes from the floor and headed out the door. She heard Tarun following her and when she got to the door she asked him, “Please, I just need some time alone.” She scooted down the path and through the market place, ignoring the stares and the greetings called to her. When Ilyssa called out to her, Annabelle broke into a run, heading for the safety of her cottage. As she entered the clearing where her cottage 73

Viola Grace was, she noted Hesper on a branch watching her with concern. She gave the raptor a teary-eyed smile and went into the tiny house. Inside she was at loose ends. Her hands would not let her work on her hobbies, and she was to nervous to read. A swim. That was it. She flung off the sheet and got dressed. Her hands flying automatically to the ship suit to tug it on. This was who she was, a human, a Terran and an Alliance battle cruiser pilot. She ran down the path to the pool, noting that she seemed to have a boundless amount of energy. Her feet were sure and swift, she was at the pool in no time. She skinned out of the suit the moment that she hit the bank and dove into the water without a second thought. Tirelessly she stroked back and forth, pulling herself through the water and clearing her mind. As she swam she came to grips with a few things. The first was that she would always be human, no matter where she lived. The second was that in no way was her body being fixed a bad thing. The third was that she and Tarun obviously had something together. She enjoyed his company and his sense of humor. Fourth and final was that this was probably what Tyrell had had in mind the whole time, and she would never have done something to harm one of her friends. She noticed at long last that her arms were 74

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx getting tired, and she pulled herself onto the same rock where she had first seen Tarun naked. A cry from a tree to her right let her know that Tarun had sent his eyes after her.

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Viola Grace

Chapter 8

W

ith a mischievous glint in her eyes, she parted her thighs and stroked one finger up and down her cleft. She leaned back on the smooth surface of the rock and gently caressed herself, without driving for release for ten minutes before she heard his footsteps thundering through the woods. She kept her eyes closed and her hands on her body while she listened to him fling off his own clothes. The sudden splash caught her by surprise. “What the hell?” She sat up and was off balance when a wet hand reached out of the water and pulled her in. Under the water, she found his mouth and they surfaced together locked in a kiss that set fire to her skin. “You know, I think I could get used to this.” She murmured when their lips parted and he was supporting her weight in the water. She put her hands on his shoulders and clung to him for 76

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx balance. “So could I.” He wrapped his hands around her ass, pulled her thighs apart and slipped inside her. Her head fell back limply, and her eyes closed as she felt him make himself at home inside her. Slowly he began to work her up and down on his erection, moving her with the motion of the water pulsing around them. The water was warm, but the heat of him inside her was scalding. Every thrust was sending waves of pleasure through her, her position in his arms rubbing her clit against him with every movement of their bodies. Minutes, hours, Anna had no idea how much time had passed before she began to shiver delicately in his arms. Before she had finished her internal palpitations, she felt a jet of heat inside her as Tarun grunted with his own climax. She held onto him as he began to carry them out of the water and onto the rock that he had pulled her from. Nestled together she explained her shock and concern, accepting the comfort that he was willing to give her. They got dressed and headed back to her cottage so that she could change her clothing. Her ship suit would always be part of her, but to blend in with the Avari was more important to her now. Walking through the market on the way to his house, he took her hand and laced his fingers 77

Viola Grace through hers. They wandered over to the jewelry stall, and Anna greeting Ilyssa. “Sorry for running earlier. I was dealing with some issues.” Anna reached out and was gratified when Ilyssa took her hand in response. “No problem, just remember that Ailis has invited us for tea today. She is expecting us this afternoon.” She gave her friend an encouraging smile. “No. That isn’t today. We aren’t supposed to do that until four days after the festival.” Annabelle was puzzled. “Uh, Anna. It has been four days since the festival. You and Tarun were out for the last three and a half days, during his change.” Ilyssa tried to put comfort into her tone, but it was Tarun’s warm arm around her shoulders that kept her from having hysterics. Her own arm wrapped around his waist and she gave him a squeeze to let him know that she wasn’t upset. This was just another thing she would have to accept. “Ok, tea this afternoon. I’ll be there.” She turned to her friend. “See you later.” Slowly, they made their way to his house, and she was surprised that it was larger than her tiny cottage. In fact, it was huge. Two stories spread out for about a hundred feet, a large double door marking the entrance. “Tarun, why is your house so large compared 78

Champions of Terra - Avari Nyx to that of the others in the village?” Her voice was politely curious as she began to explore his house. “Because it is also the communications hub for the Alliance and a relay station for shielded transmissions. Plus, I have been working on it for several years, anticipating the day that I found the woman of my dreams.” His arms crossed over his chest, he watched her explore what he hoped would be her new home. “So, woman of my dreams, care to share this with me?” Two slender arms wrapped around his waist from behind. “Of course, man of my dreams. But just a quick question, how old are you anyway?” “I will tell you later.” He twisted in her arms and pinned her against the wall. Her hands held over her head as he brought his head down to kiss her. “After we have been together a while.” He punctuated that with another kiss. “I think you have had enough shocks for one day.”

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About the Author

A

n obsessed crafter who hates housework, Viola has been interested in inflicting her writing on others for years. She finds enjoyment in watching others, and taking notes.