Dancer Read online

  She shuddered with the agony of the change, fighting for control of her tears, but as suddenly as the pain started, it was over.

  Del gasped and started a round of relieved sobbing. She turned and curled against Kurat, and he held her tight. She heard his voice murmuring to her over and over in a language she didn’t know.

  The goddesses told her what he was saying, and she sobbed harder when the words, “It’s all right, love, it’s all right. It’s over, sweetheart.” took form in her mind.

  When the storm was over, she tried to lift her hand, but it didn’t feel right. “Help me stand.”

  He frowned. “I don’t know that it is a good idea so soon.”

  “I need to know what they did to me.”

  Kurat nodded and helped her stand. He supported her weight, but her head was now even with his chin. “Holy mother...”

  “Kurat, how long was I out?”

  “Four days. The ex-hosts were worried. They came to visit you, but you were in no shape for it.” Kurat stroked her hair and helped her sit on the bed once again.

  She looked down at limbs that looked like hers but felt so much different. “This is going to take some getting used to.”

  “Would you care for a bath?”

  Del nodded. “That would be wonderful. Would you help me, please?”

  He smiled and lifted her. “My pleasure.”

  He crossed the room with her in his arms and set her down on the edge of the tub. The clothing that she had been wearing was long gone, and her hair hung around her in limp strands. She was in desperate need of that bath.

  He twisted a few toggles, and the hot-tub-sized bath began to fill rapidly. He added some frothing oils, and a wild scent filled the air.

  “That smells nice.” She smiled softly.

  Del watched him start to undress, and her tired body flickered to life. “So, what is it like?”

  He sat to pull his boots off. “What is what like?”

  “Having two ancients inside you jockeying for control. How do you manage?”

  “Are they giving you trouble?”

  “No, they are very quiet. I think they are rather sheepish about how quickly they forced the change. I am guessing that you were able to transform over years, not days.”

  His lips tightened, and he nodded sharply. “That is correct. They rode along with my puberty, and by the time I was an adult, I was in full control of my body.”

  She chortled. “So, I have guessed since the hosts were only used for a night before they gained their rewards and moved on.”

  His nose wrinkled. “It was all I needed. Rothu may be the god of the rut and fertility, but Horik is the god of war and patience. It is quite the combination.”

  “Do you know who is inside me?”

  Kurat stripped off his clothing and helped her into the bath. He supported her firmly after he turned off the water. “I am fairly certain that you have Ulara and Gornita inside. They are the representatives of passion and wisdom.”

  She leaned her head back against him. “I feel more exhausted than wise right now.”

  “They will make themselves known when the occasion calls for it. They are inside you, and you offer your body to them as a courtesy. They will respect your thoughts on a subject unless they have something else to offer.”

  She laughed. “The way Horik came bursting through that door?”

  He cleared his throat. “There was a certain urgency to my entrance. You needed to be at the selection ground by sundown.”

  She chuckled. “I know. I thought you just wanted to punish the ex-hosts for trying to warn me off.”

  He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “That too. I see you were not put off by their information.”

  “I have heard far worse about men who did not simply restrict their sexual release to once every decade. Considering Rothu’s appetites, I am shocked that it was so few.”

  “Horik keeps him in line. Well, he does most of the time. With you, Rothu was freer than he had ever been. No woman we have been with has simply accepted us as a whole.”

  “Until me.”

  “Until you.” His kisses worked their way up her neck to the spot just below her ear that drove her wild.

  She felt the distinct moistening of her body, the heat of her sex swelling the folds, and she shifted against him. “I think I need to wash my hair first.”

  He laughed softly against her skin. “Your wish is my command, goddess.”

  He soaped her, rinsed her and helped her clean her hair until the long strands were squeaky clean and twisted in a loose knot on top of her head.

  He stroked his hand down her body and parted her thighs by widening his knees. His fingers slid into her without more than token resistance at her entrance, but then he removed them and moved slightly behind her opening, sliding two fingers into her from the next angle, and his thumb into her sex.

  Del froze. “What the hell is that?”

  He chuckled. “Ulara is Rothu’s wife. She is destined to be his match in every way.”

  Del groaned. “You have two cocks so I now have…”

  “Two cunts. The records from the last time Ulara was active record a similar adjustment.”

  She turned with a slosh of water. “Will they actually both work?”

  His eyes were dark green. “Would you be willing to find out?”

  Del licked her lips as the mental images assailed her. She wanted to look into it. That much she knew.

  He made the decision for her. “The bath is no place for the first time.” He rose to his feet and helped her to hers.

  He towelled her off and then swept her into his arms once again.

  Housekeeping must have the bed rigged with weight sensors, because the sweaty sheets were gone and new, fresh linens were in place.

  A vase with bright flowers was sitting on the side table, and one of the beings within her warmed to the sight and scent.

  “Those are very pretty.”

  He settled her next to them and took a bloom from the arrangement, caressing her neck, breast and belly with it. “I was wondering if they were still your favourite.”

  “Apparently.” The light caress made her smile. The soft petals left a light trail of colour on her skin. Energy twisted inside her, and in a rush of heat and light, Del was in the backseat of her own mind.

  * * * *

  Ulara reached for Rothu. “Come to me, my love. It has been far too long.”

  The host’s eyes darkened to the deep green that was so familiar to her. It had been centuries since she had taken a body for more than a day, and she had never been in one that resembled the original Na-Lanvin form.

  Rothu moved over her and kissed her. “Ah, love. I have missed you.”

  “And I you, now come inside me. I am wet and waiting for you.”

  She felt the slide of his cocks against her, and he stroked against the lips of her sex, parting her. She shifted against him, running her hands up and down his ribs, stroking the base of his spine where he used to sport a tail.

  He grabbed her arms and held them above her head, pinning her wrists in place as he thrust into her in one hard shove.

  She gasped and moaned, tilting her head back.

  Rothu took the invitation and ran his tongue over her neck while he rocked into her with deliberate purpose.

  She smiled at the feel of his hard, heated flesh moving inside her. The duality of their joining added an intensity that few could imagine.

  The frond on his upper cock unfurled and attached to her clit, she moaned as it sucked and squeezed in earnest.

  He moved faster, his hips pounding into hers with a ferocity that brought her to the edge of climax in a dozen thrusts. Ulara wrapped her legs around him and held tight, giving him every groan or sigh that he earned.

  She shivered and screamed as his thrusts and the feeling of his two cocks separated by only the thinnest wall of flesh rubbing against each other brought her to a burst of light and pleasure that pulled
him along with her.

  He roared as his body reflected her pleasure, and his cocks jerked inside her as he held himself inside her, his arms stiff, back bowed and eyes blinded by the true release of his body.

  Ulara squirmed against him as he slowly descended to lie on her host’s body. Her breasts ached for contact and her hands were still pinned by his.

  As he relaxed against her, she shifted until her breasts were brushing against his chest.

  A soft smile spread across his lips. “I seemed to have missed a spot in my hurry to join with you.”

  “We have time now. Make sure that you don’t miss an inch.”

  Rothu sighed and ran his free hand down her body. “I will endeavour not to.”

  Ulara checked in with her host, and the woman was fascinated by the spill-over pleasure she was receiving. Delyth was content to let them have their moment, so Ulara was not going to miss this chance.

  Chapter Ten

  To say that she ached was a gross understatement, but it was not the kind of pain that would reduce her ability to move. She was stiff more than anything else.

  The gods had been very polite and even bathed her before tucking her back into clean sheets with Kurat at her side.

  He was gone now, and a short exploration located a dress with a few features that were suitable for the minds inside her body. It was a toga style with one armoured breast cup that fastened with a light chain in honour of Gornita. The gauzy fabric was all Ulara. One light rainstorm and she would be the next thing to naked.

  Del walked into the lav and pinned her hair up in a loose tower on her head with a segment cascading to one shoulder, camouflaging the bite marks on her neck. Rothu liked to bite and suck, which was not a bad thing unless one was trying to make a good impression.

  She put on a pair of sandals that were sitting at the edge of the bed. They fit her, which was surprising due to her increase in height. Mind you, her gown fit as well, which was a bit of a shock unless Ulara and Gornita had a wardrobe somewhere in the palace.

  The goddesses sent a confirmation, which made Del stop in her tracks. You can hear me?

  Of course, honoured host. Gornita’s voice was low and controlled.

  So, what is the deal with you and Horik?

  We have been courting for several incarnations. He is a little violent in his affections, so I am never quite sure if I should give in to what he raises inside me.

  Why not?

  There was a long pause. Being tied for his pleasure and giving up control is undignified.

  Ah, dignity is overrated. I am sure that anything he takes will be given back in ways you cannot imagine. There is something to be said for giving up control.

  How can you imagine what I would feel? Gornita was irritated.

  I have two alien goddesses in my body, and I welcome them and their actions. That involves trust that you will not injure me or my body during your time of control.

  There was an embarrassed moment. I will consider your words.

  Good, wisdom means you are willing to grow and learn as you go. No knowledge is ever a waste. It may not be useful, but it gives you something that you can use to make decisions in the future.

  Del was amused at the idea of lecturing the goddess of wisdom, but the goddess of seduction remained silent and was enjoying her own amusement at the other goddess’s expense.

  Dressed and shod, she was ready to leave the bedroom, she just had no idea where she would go from there.

  Ulara put a path in her mind, so holding onto that path, she straightened her shoulders and left the bedroom, walking into the large living area and to the exterior door. The entrance swung open at her approach, and she kept her head high as she strode through the halls, down the path that the goddess had given her.

  Her new height was apparent as even the tallest female servant’s head only reached her shoulder. The men were marginally taller but most were even with her chin. Del winced and remembered the pain that had accompanied the change. No wonder it had been agony. She had gained approximately eighteen inches in total.

  The doors ahead of her opened, and she walked into a throne room with Kurat sitting on a dais with other Na-Lanvin on either side of him. A large gold crown with the horns of a stag rested on his brow as he listened to the petition of the man in front of him. The low hum of conversation stilled as she was noticed, and faces of Na-Lanvin and other species turned toward her as she approached Kurat.

  She could see over the heads of most of the men and smiled as Kurat got to his feet and came toward her, meeting her halfway.

  He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her with sweet intensity.

  Del wrapped her arms around his neck and enjoyed the public display of affection. To her surprise, when he lifted his head, it was Kurat’s relieved gaze that met her own. “I am glad you are up and around.”

  She caressed his cheek. “Nice hat.”

  He grinned. “You have one as well. It will be given to you in a ceremony later this week.”

  He turned and escorted her to the dais, pulling her down on his lap in front of the entire assembled crowd. He inclined his head to the man speaking to him, and the stunned representative of the Azon blinked rapidly before he returned to his proposal of a joint financial effort to begin a Na-Lanvin orbital archive.

  Kurat asked, “So, you want to have an archive above us for education purposes?”

  The representative nodded. “Na-Lanvin has provided the Alliance with many resources, as well as some of the most creative minds that this sector has to offer. We would like to not only create an archive but a school where that knowledge can be shared.”

  Del whispered into Kurat’s ear. “Why in orbit?”

  He replied, “We are not members of the Alliance. Our population is not large enough to allow volunteers to try and become champions. We are an adjunct member.”

  “So?”

  “So, it is not considered appropriate for the Alliance to send students to a planet not firmly lodged in their bailiwick.”

  He nuzzled at her neck, and she pressed her hand to his chest. “Down boy, pay attention.”

  Kurat sighed and turned toward the petitioner. “What about locating the education centre and the archive here on Na-Lanvin?”

  The Rep blinked. “I will have to bring it to council.”

  “Please, do so. With my wife here, I have little to no interest in excessive shuttle travel.”

  “Wife? Um, congratulations, High Prefect.”

  “Thank you, Representative Reynar. I have waited for her for quite some time.” He cupped his hand over her hip and pulled her tightly against his erections.

  Kurat took pity on the other male. “You are dismissed, and I will speak with you in one week when my bride and I have had some time together.”

  Delyth looked at him with an amused smile. “Where are we going?”

  He whispered in her ear. “It’s a secret.”

  Chapter Eleven

  It was a large cabin in the woods with all the furniture scaled to the height and width of the High Prefect and the goddess host. Del was just happy that she enjoyed camping.

  Kurat put their bags in the bedroom and came out to wrap his arms around her. “Have I mentioned how thankful I am that you chose me over that Companion?”

  She smiled. “It was no contest. I have always been a sucker for green eyes.”

  Del brushed his dark hair away from his cheek and tucked it behind his ear. As she caressed his temples, she noted something strange. “What is that?”

  He blushed, “My horns are growing back. I shed them fifty years ago when it was obvious that Ulara was not going to appear. Rothu went dormant.”

  “That doesn’t explain the horns.”

  Kurat walked to the bookshelf and removed a huge tome, placing it on a low table in front of the couch. He flipped to a page where a man with stag horns stood proudly with a woman sporting a feminine version of the horns. “Rothu and Ulara.”

  “Wow. T
hey look…” they looked like they were in love. There was no doubt that as the male looked down at the female, he was as besotted as she was. She blinked tears from her eyes and flipped through the book, settling on the darkness of Horik. He scowled and radiated loneliness in Del’s opinion.

  She flipped to Gornita and blinked at the image of the woman with completely composed features looking out over an icy wasteland. “She looks so calm.”

  “She is the goddess of wisdom, but she eschewed personal experience. It has been an issue throughout the centuries.” Kurat’s voice took on the rough undertone of Horik.

  Del looked at him and noted the differences that Horik brought to him. His cheekbones were highlighted by shadows, his eyes glowed black and his lips thinned. She shifted nervously.

  “How has it been an issue?” Del held very still. She was in the room with a predator, and she knew it.

  “She has told me that she enjoys my advances but has refused to consummate our relationship. It has been a trial to me.”

  “What is it that you want from her?”

  “I need her to fight. I want her to run.” There was hunger in his tone.

  Del consulted Gornita, and the goddess of wisdom took control, providing that Del would be there if she needed her. Ulara simply hummed with anticipation in the background.

  * * * *

  Gornita rose to her feet and walked casually around the room, keeping her vivid brown gaze from Horik. When she reached the door, she flicked it open and ran through the untamed wilderness of the Harook woods.

  Her sandals thudded against the moss-covered ground, and she heard a howl of pursuit from behind her. Gornita felt her heart pounding in her chest, her nipples tingled and a distinct wetness trailed down the interior of her thighs. She knew what would happen when he caught her, but now that she had a host soothing her fears, she was willing to experiment a little. After all, knowledge was power.

  Gornita ran for the Arcathian cliffs, but a shadow flickered to one side of her, a sinister force in the woods moving to stop her progress. She stopped and leaned against a tree, catching her breath and working out her options.

  Horik appeared in front of her, looming out of the darkness. “Hello, Gornita.”