Dragon Fire

 

 

Myra Nour

 

 

 

Chapter One

 

 

 

Knowing he had but moments left to him in this transitory state, he concentrated on the

slender form he could barely distinguish in the gloom of the darkened room. His yesight was not very effective in this astral plane. Reaching down, he stroked one hand over her face, liking the delicateness of its features. If she awoke, she would think ghostly hands played with her. Grinning, Xandor placed a hand on either side of her breasts, caressed her body all the way down, to the top of her thighs.

 

He couldn’t really feel the softness of her flesh. His senses were dull. But he could imagine. His mind could very well fill in the gaps of his cloudy long-distance senses. Even in his ethereal form, he found her tremendously exciting.

 

She groaned in her sleep and he wondered if she’d felt his touch. The soft moan stirred him even more, encouraged him to stroke her flat abdomen. He realized then that she was totally nude; that stimulated his interest even further. Flouncing restlessly, she mumbled in some unknown tongue. He pressed down harder with his transparent hands, kneading her breasts, and she moaned loudly.

 

Abruptly, he sensed his time was at an end. In frustration, he ran one hand through her soft-looking tresses while he slowly withdrew. She sat straight up, staring as if she could see him. Xandor knew this was impossible, even for one trained in the magical arts, but she seemed to sense him floating above her.

 

“Sinar biur.”

 

Even her words haunted him with their singsong beauty. Both hands reached for him in

entreaty, and somehow he knew she whispered, “Don’t go.” His energy was dissipating fast, her face fading; the last image he had was a single tear tracking down her formless face.

 

While his spirit traveled super-fast, back to his physical body, he thought about that tear. How odd it was that something as insubstantial and impermanent as a tear should be the only thing clearly visible to him in that dim room.

 

Xandor’s mind and spirit returned with full force to his body, which shivered violently. His pulse raced and he had trouble breathing. He seemed to be on overload. He’d never cut it so close before when thought-searching. Breathing deeply, he calmed his frazzled senses.

 

His thoughts went to the mysterious woman, who called to him again and again. She’d been awake the last journey. Today, when he found her, she was deep asleep. He had floated over her form, only a dim outline to his astral senses. But it caught his interest and fired his imagination with its slender lines. What was it about this particular female that drew him two galaxies across the stars?

 

He didn’t know but intended to find out.

 

Her thoughts had been unshielded. Curious. She is not psychic, nor does she practice magic of any kind. Xandor found this puzzling. He would have guessed only a creature of immense power could have drawn his attention and pulled him, as she had done.

 

Xandor shook free of his musings. His body’s biorhythms had returned to normal. Glancing around, he thought about the method by which he thought-searched.

 

He sat cross-legged in the center of his room softly lit by four fat red candles strategically positioned in a semi-circle in front of him. Each foot-high candle represented his level of magic power. Fourth level was attained by a limited few, he among them. Xandor frowned in frustration when he momentarily considered the fifth level. A place reached by even fewer students—never, as yet, by an Earthling, among whom it was rare to attain even the third level. Hence, as a fourth class wizard from Earth, he was already seen as strange by some. To others, he was an inspiration, especially young Thorras, the only other sorcerer from Earth. For three years now Xandor had been studying and practicing fervently, but felt no closer to his goal of

attaining the fifth level.

 

The room was set up to further such studies—it was circular to channel psychic energy

toward the room’s central area. The walls were green granite; the speckled and swirled patterns in the heavy stones were beautiful, but decoration was not their purpose. The stones’ thick, absorbent nature created a room of solitude, undisturbed by the noisy life outside its walls. For his stature as a fourth class wizard, Xandor had earned a room with a large window overlooking one of the few lush courtyards contained in the busy hub.

 

While preparing for meditation, he closed the heavy, luxurious gold velvet drapes, which adorned the window frame. His favorite form of meditation and self-teaching in the arts was thought-searching. It took only a few moments of intense concentration before his inner spirit soared to spaces beyond this planet, often, even beyond the confines of this galaxy. Many nights he practiced this searching activity.

 

Connecting with minds of sapient aliens was thrilling and educational. One never knew what new tidbit of information he would pick up from a humanoid inhabiting another world. Most beings were not even aware of his superficial infringement on their thoughts. But some, who had mystical powers, had become friends over the years, pen pals of the mind.

 

Once he’d crossed paths with an Aki witch, something he’d been warned against. He’d

returned to his body with a splitting headache that lasted for several days. He’d been lucky. The mental blow she’d dealt him easily could have resulted in insanity.

 

During one of his thought travels, he’d encountered a race of beings that were whispered about in dusky corners; no one ever knew by what name they called themselves, for it was rumored to invoke their name was to invite them into your soul. A few sorcerers who’d turned to the dark forces for their power source were thought to have given allegiance to this demon race. While on his short sojourn to their world, he’d noticed the very air was laden with stygian evil. He’d withdrawn immediately, but not before the cold red glare of one creature’s eyes lit upon him. Returning to his room shaken, he was convinced he’d barely escaped with his soul intact. It’d been weeks before he attempted another journey.

 

On his next search after the horrible incident with the grim creatures he found the Taweeg. The planet was filled with magic; it danced on the wind, sighed through the trees, sparkled in the air and lakes like rainbows.

 

Today’s journey had been different, though. Today he had sought her. Last week he’d been in the middle of a search when he was drawn to a particular planet on the far fringes of the galaxy. The distance by ship would be astronomical, but to his trained wizard mind, it was but a moment’s flight. It’d taken him a few minutes to wander among the stars, following the singsong voice of some unknown being, before he’d located the right planet. By the time he’d connected with her mind, it was time to return.

 

Thought-searching throughout the galaxy took much energy. His body let him know to

reconnect with his physical form, before he was on the verge of collapse. He’d touched her unique mind—let her surprise and curiosity, at his intrusion zing through his nerve endings, before having to depart.

 

She was not a magical being. She shouldn’t be able to call to him like the Taweeg do.

Xandor found this confusing. At least she was not frightening like the Aki witch. He smiled at that thought. Still, why was she able to contact him?

 

Shrugging mentally, he went over the details he learned in delving into the fringes of her open mind. Her thoughts were filled with happenstances of her daily life: romps through forests so lovely as to take a man’s breath away, some strange rite where she splayed her body among thick leaves of low growing flowers, and singing to a funny-looking creature perched on her hand.

 

Her singing was ethereal, ghostly in its beauty, angelic. He had never been a religious man, unlike some of his peers. He never seemed to have time to even consider his options. But if one could truly hear angels sing, he’d wager this petite female would outshine them. Her siren song spoke to his very soul. Listening to her, he’d been as spellbound as any youthful sorcerer caught up in a Zardak’s web spell. As he thought, he realized it had to be her singing that drew him to

her.

 

Uncertainty rioted through him. Was she filled with an alien magic he knew nothing about?

Was she going to pull him under a wicked spell, destroy him somehow? Perhaps drain his magic

through her singing? Such things had been known to happen, but he still couldn’t reconcile the

fact that he sensed no mystical powers on her. Only the witch and demon race had stirred his

reactions as much as his brief encounters with the mysterious, siren female.

 

His thoughts returned to her slim figure and soft skin. A throb in his groin drew his attention

from his musings about the girl. He was rock hard, his cock pulsing madly, like it did when he

was a teenager and spied some attractive girl. Idly, he wondered if her flesh would be as velvety

smooth as it seemed.

 

Closing his eyes, he tried to remember how it felt when he caressed her. It was delicious,

almost real. In his mind, he continued to stroke her breasts, then his mouth descended on one

hardened nipple. It was only in his mind he suckled on it, but his body reacted as if he really

pulled the nipple into his mouth. Each time he sucked on the nub, his cock twitched. Continuing

his oral assault on her breast, his hand slid down and stroked her pussy. Delicious. Then his

finger slipped inside her wet silken walls. He replaced his finger with his cock, pausing at the

entrance to her vagina. It was super-hot and seemed to suck him in, a wet invitation.

 

Xandor’s daydreams had made him horny. Should he relieve himself? He grinned ruefully.

Most men, even sorcerers, wouldn’t hesitate. But he was different. Engaging in sexual activity,

even masturbation, sucked energy from the body in great quantities, so that the magic was less

effective—at least for that particular day.

 

Shrugging philosophically, he stretched out full length upon the soft crituun fur throw

beneath him. The downiest fur known to this galaxy. He was already nude, since thought-

searching was done without clothes to cut down on encumbrances.

 

 

Circling his right hand in an “o” position, he pushed his cock back and forth between his

clenched fingers, while he brought back the image of thrusting it into her soft pussy. Running

one hand through the luxurious pile while the other stroked his cock created a delicious double

sensation. His breathing became ragged when he contemplated each stroke he’d love to give his

siren. In his imagination, her hands caressed his cock, making the sensation more gut-wrenching.

Fondling his balls with his left hand, he continued his fucking motions, the invisible girl at the

receiving end of his strong stabbing movements.

 

Even in his mind, he wanted to satisfy her as well. So, he levitated his imaginary siren in

front of him, and then stretched her body in a horizontal position. With a wave of his hand, he

spread her legs wide and up. Her lovely pussy, called to him as strongly as any legendary vamp.

 

Wet, pink lips, luscious and inviting, pulled him forward. He sank into her warm flesh, his

nose and lips soaking up her essence. Only after he had smelled and tasted her to his heart and

cock’s content did he lick her clit. She tasted of woman and desire. Wonderful. His tongue

picked up speed, flicked her hard nub at a frenzied pace. His siren groaned loudly. Her orgasm

flowed over his tongue and he sucked it up greedily.

 

He wanted her. Needed her beneath him. Switching his fantasy again, he positioned his cock

at her pussy. She was still suspended in the air, very open and amenable to his thrusts. Gripping

her hips, he shoved into her with ease, the levitation making it a silken glide. Her hot pussy

gripped like a hand, snug and smooth. Each plunge of his cock moistened the passage more. He

was slick with her juices and they ran down into his pubic hair.

 

His desire settled, centered in his groin and set fire to his blood. Moving his hand and cock

in synch, he moaned low while he thrust fast and furious, incorporating circular gyrations into

his imagined fucking. A pressure was building in his balls, threatening to burst. Changing his

inner scenery around, he watched while she placed soft, full lips upon the head of his cock,

looking up at him with dark eyes.

 

That was it. It felt as though his cock were filled with too much fluid, as a balloon filled to

over capacity, threatening to burst at any moment. His blood was boiling hot when he shoved

into her, pouring his seed in several large spurts into her greedy, sucking mouth. It was

wonderful, this sudden release.

 

Afterwards, Xandor was more relaxed than he’d been in quite a while. He knew he’d

neglected his body’s demands many times, having wished to save energy for his conjuring. But,

at the same time, a flash of frustration at his own weakness filled him.

 

Shrugging at his guilt over losing valuable energy, he prepared for bed, then fell heavily to

the mattress. Sleep overtook him quickly.

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

 

The next day, Xandor decided it was time to consult Master Talorg, the most powerful

sorcerer at the school and their leader. Perhaps he’d have the wisdom to know why this

mysterious woman affected him so.

 

Master’s straight-faced assistants eyeballed him when he made his request. One nodded,

then slipped silently through the huge double doors of Talorg’s chambers. Xandor examined the

portal while he waited—nothing else to do, unless he wanted to get in a staring contest with the

Gegli wizards guarding the Master’s sanctuary. Not something he counted among fun things to

do, since these aliens had large slit-shaped green eyes that reminded him of a snake’s. Of course

their eyes would appear like a snake’s, Xandor laughed inwardly. The Gegli were descended

from reptiles.

 

The entrance to Talorg’s chambers was a grand affair. The green stone facing was carved

with symbols, the language of the ancient Rithroll, the first of the wizard races on this planet,

who had created this school where those magically gifted could come to learn. No one knew how

to read the etchings anymore, except the Master, who passed this knowledge to whatever being

inherited the leadership.

 

The ten-foot tall doors, made from durable wood found on Tokalis Four—a planet in this

very solar system—could withstand strenuous chopping or an attempt to pound them open. They

must weigh several hundred pounds each. Such protection was not needed. No invading army

had shown interest in the wizard planet, as it was known, except a demon race eons ago. The

doors’ powerful construction simply symbolized the Master’s commanding presence.

 

A short-lived relief flashed through Xandor when the other Gegli waved him through the

entrance. Not that he was nervous around the Master, who was kind-hearted and as easy to talk

to as a best friend. But now he questioned his own motives. Why should he bother the busy

Master Talorg with a slip of a girl, one he’d never truly met?

 

The chamber was huge and it took a few seconds to reach the head wizard, time in which

Xandor made a quick scan of the room, as he always did. He loved this room, and he loved

Master Talorg. The chambers but reflected his scholarly nature. The walls, like Xandor’s, were

composed of the green granite, yet whereas Xandor’s bedroom was sparsely furnished, the

Master’s was crammed with objects.

 

A large alcove extended from the sleeping chambers, its stone walls lined with bookshelves,

each packed with volume after volume of ancient texts. The leather-bound, priceless tomes were

lined up neatly on the shelves, but stacks of volumes also had been jammed horizontally on top

of the others when no more room could be found. What he wouldn’t do to get his hands on these

sacred texts, some so old the pages crumbled even when they were carefully turned.

 

Only Master Talorg and fifth level wizards had access to their secrets. Of course students

had computers, which held vast reserves of knowledge from the universe. But, he felt a love for

the old ways, thumbing through archaic volumes. As did the Master.

 

 

“Come in,” Master Talorg said quietly, nevertheless his voice carried amazingly well in the

large chamber.

 

It came as no surprise to find the leader hunched over an open book, a bright lamp made

from raglo worms the only illumination in the otherwise gloomy alcove. Master’s desk sat

exactly in the center of all the surrounding shelves. Xandor bowed slightly when he reached the

desk.

 

“Be seated, my boy.” He waved at a thickly upholstered leather recliner, twin of the chair

the Master sat in.

 

Despite the desk between them, the old wizard’s aura was still crystal clear. Deep blue,

powerful and deadly should he wish it so.

 

Clearing his throat, Xandor made a bad start. “I’m here about…” He paused and stared at

Master.

 

His long, milk-white hair splayed out upon his black robe when Talorg nodded. “It’s about a

girl.”

 

Surprise flashed through him, although he should be used to Talorg’s ability to “read”

troubled apprentices by now.

 

“Yes, I dreamed about this female. She drew me to her while I was thought-searching, but I

could sense no power on her.”

 

“I have been waiting for you to come to me about just such a situation.”

 

Bending forward, he tried to discern the old man’s expression. “You knew she would sing to

me, pull me to her?”

 

Talorg laughed, a deep, startlingly pleasant sound. “No, but I knew you would eventually

start to realize there is something you lack. That you must have if you are to ever reach the fifth

level.”

 

Confusion pulled his brow into wrinkles. “I don’t understand.”

 

“What I’m about to share with you must not be told to others.” Master stared at him, waiting

for a response it seemed.

 

“Not a word, Master.”

 

“To attain the fifth level, a wizard must fulfill a certain destiny. He must secure his

soulmate.”

 

He peered back at the ancient sorcerer. Marriage? Was this what he meant? How ridiculous!

He, and other wizards, needed a woman to complete their power?

 

Ignoring his turmoil, Talorg continued, “Sometimes, wizards find their enlightenment

without aid. They may come here already paired with a partner, or fall in love while in training.”

He examined Xandor thoughtfully. “If not, the sorcerer must discover on his own the secret to

his power.”

 

“But, Master, a female is needed for me to attain the fifth level?!” He knew not just his

words, but his whole face expressed his disbelief.

 

The Master’s dark brown eyes never left Xandor’s face. His eyes were captured by Talorg’s

intensity. “Have you never wondered why we have no women wizards?”

 

Xandor frowned, thinking back over the years. “I do remember considering it when I was a

very young sorcerer.”

 

“Do you ever sense power on females?”

 

He felt astonished. “Yes, I have. Please continue.”

 

“Women have their own innate energy source. Some alien species become witches and other

wielders of magic power. Yet, no woman of distinctly humanoid appearance has ever shown

such ability as to become a wizard.”

 

Xandor just sat, fascinated by this revelation, and waited for Talorg to continue.

 

“Yet, the power is still there—untapped, you might say.”

 

He was becoming even more perplexed. “Please, Master, tell me what this all means?”

 

“Even females who have no overt magical aptitude have abilities endowed to womenkind:

their power over men and mastery of the birthing process.” Clearly noting his bewilderment,

Talorg waved one hand gracefully and conjured a glass from the molecules in the air. Stretching

his arm, he held the container beneath the light. “What do you see?”

 

“A finely cut crystal goblet, with what appears to be wine in it.”

 

“Correct.” He took a sip of the deep, burgundy liquid, a pleasantness coming over his

heavily wrinkled face. “Not just any wine, but Hargarian.”

 

Xandor couldn’t help it, his mouth watered. He’d only had the privilege of tasting this

heavenly ambrosia once, when he was young and splurged much of his hard-won earnings on a

cupful.

 

Waving his free hand, Talorg brought forth another glass, which appeared unexpectedly in

Xandor’s hand lying in his lap. Xandor gripped it quickly, almost dropping it in his surprise.

 

“Drink.”

 

Needing no further urging, he did, quashing the delighted moan that threatened to escape.

 

“Taste delicious?”

 

“Yes.” He raised the glass, but Master snapped his fingers and it disappeared. Xandor

couldn’t stop the disappointment that flashed through him.

 

Talorg’s drink had vanished as well, but the next instant he waved again, conjuring strange

cups for each of their hands. Xandor turned the vessel this way and that, noting the crudeness of

its construction; it appeared to be carved from grey rock.

 

“From the planet Ito,” Master said softly.

 

“I’ve heard they are barbaric primitives.”

 

“Just so.” Talorg smiled at him. “Now drink.”

 

Sipping the fluid, he glanced up at his host. Master seemed to expect a response. “Tastes

better than the wine served here with dinner, but I can’t place it.”

 

Nodding sagely, a mischievous smile lit Talorg’s face. “It too, is Hargarian.”

 

“No.” Holding the primitive cup away from him, he examined it minutely, and then took

another sip. Hard to believe it was the same wine.

 

With another snap and wave from the Master, the heavy cup dissolved and another took its

place. Xandor whistled in appreciation. “Is this made by the troll-like aliens on Brakstar One?”

 

“Yes. Lovely, isn’t it?”

 

“Exquisite.” He held the tall, thin wine glass toward the light, admiring the way the beams

shot through the many faceted cuts.

 

“Carved from a single rrai stone.” Talorg turned his hand, examining each side as well.

“Takes them several months to carve each one, as the rrai is extremely hard, similar to Earth’s

diamonds.”

 

Xandor observed the flickering rainbow colors wash over the surface, just as the Master did.

“Renowned artisans,” he muttered thoughtfully.

 

“To think, such clumsy looking creatures produce such priceless objects.” Catching

Xandor’s eyes once more, Master commanded, “Drink.”

 

Almost reverently, Xandor took a minute sip. Heavenly. Closing his eyes, he took a larger

sip. This time, he didn’t even try to stop the sigh that escaped his grateful lips.

 

“The true secret of the Hargarian wine’s unique flavor is in the vessel in which it is served.”

 

He frowned. “I’m still not sure—”

 

The Master interrupted, “You are the wine. Your soulmate the vessel.”

 

Xandor’s brow cleared. “You mean my power will increase if I find my true mate?”

 

“Just so.” Talorg nodded, smiling happily. “Without your soul match, you will never attain

the fifth level.”

 

Oh great! All these years of hard work and his final accomplishment rested on some female

who he’d never even met?

 

“How do I find her, Master?”

 

“You already found her through your thought-searching. Now, you must make a soul kin to

draw you to her physical form.”

 

“That will take powerful magic.”

 

“Yes, all you can muster.” Talorg smiled at him kindly. “To aid your quest, I give you

permission to draw upon the Dragon Fire.”

 

“Master.” Xandor’s voice quivered slightly. “Thank you.” He stood and bowed respectfully,

knowing instinctively his audience was at an end.

 

On his way back to his apartment, he thought about what Talorg had said. First, he must

consider the soul kin and how he would compose such a talisman. Only when he knew what he

must make would he allow himself to go into the Dragon Fire’s presence.

 

The Dragon Fire. The most sacred object in this universe to the sorcerers who attended this

prestigious institution. Normally, only the Master and fifth level wizards might be permitted to

tap into its power. And only once had he seen it. As a new initiate he had been taken on a tour,

like all were accorded during their first month. Xandor knew he was being accorded a rare

privilege, one that made him sweat just thinking of the task ahead.

 

His chambers seemed too confining. Without thinking, he headed toward the lush courtyard.

Strolling along the winding maze-like trails, he came upon his favorite spot for contemplation, a

tiny laid-brick circle with a splashing fountain set in the center. The fountain had no statue to

distract his thoughts, simply a hole for water to shoot upward. But through several varying layers

of rock, the water danced upon on its way down, creating a most pleasing sound, one made for

meditation and relaxation.

 

Making a conscious effort, he disconnected his thoughts, letting them free float. Only the

vague form of his mystery maid and the task of creating a soul kin occupied his mind.

 

An image began to emerge, one he found somewhat surprising: a necklace.

 

Xandor awoke from his self-imposed trance, knowing now the task set before him.

 

 

Chapter Three

 

 

 

Preparing himself the next day for his entry into the Dragon Fire’s sacred realm didn’t take

much time: a quick shower, and then he simply slipped into a ceremonial robe he kept for special

celebrations.

 

Xandor ran one hand ruefully down his black leather pants and matching vest, his normal

apparel, which he’d had to leave hanging in his closet. He was more comfortable, both in body

and spirit when he wore these. Some wizards had arched eyebrows at him when he first arrived

at the school, but they said nothing. It was an individual decision what one chose to wear.

 

Many alien sorcerers did wear flowing robes, clothes of the office, so to speak. But some

dressed in outlandish outfits from their worlds. The primitive Jarsutak, who produced awe-

inspiring shamans, wore loincloths with multiple layers of beads strung around their necks, while

the highly technological Cograths simply donned form-fitting spacesuit-type uniforms. He

thought the bird species of Akra the most spectacular, sporting only their natural plumage.

 

Blame it on his rebellious youth when he zoomed around new Chicago on his skycycle, but

he felt at home in biker clothes. Xandor chuckled to himself. A wizard’s outward appearance

was as important as his magic ability for frightening a potential enemy or impressing a suppliant

for his services. His ruffian apparel did the trick, more often than not, in gaining him instant

respect, or at least a wary approach. The ceremonial robes were encouraged, but not enforced.

On the few occasions when they were called for, he wore them out of respect for the order and

Master Talorg.

 

No jewelry draped his body; he didn’t personally care for it. But, he picked up his wizard

ring from the small box kept just for it. He slipped it onto his fourth finger. Its red cortakian gem

sparkled like fire, set off beautifully by the raised gold engraving of the Varzkar dragon, caught

in flight on the stone’s surface. The priceless ring had been given to him when he reached the

third level. And now he wore it only when making a trip offworld or when, as now, he had some

magical task of great import. Those around him well knew his fourth level status; no need to

impress them.

 

The necklace he’d conjured in his mind earlier edged back into his thoughts. He knew he

was a study in contrasts when it came to jewelry. He didn’t like to wear it, yet always made

petitioners talismans to wear. His mother loved jewelry and was always buying some exquisite

piece or other when he was growing up. His father grumbled, but couldn’t really complain since

mom had her own inherited wealth. Still too young to fully understand that boys and men didn’t

wear jewelry—according to his father’s philosophy—he’d loved watching his mother’s joy and

allowed her to drape necklaces and bracelets on him.

 

One day, she’d brought home a large collection of beaded necklaces and they both looked

like primitive natives by the time she finished ringing their necks and arms with the jewelry.

They’d been giggling and jumping around the room to her favorite song, one with a drumming

beat, when father walked in.

 

That was the end of his personal excursion into wearing jewelry. After that day, any time he

showed interest in anything his father construed as unmanly, he’d be yelled at for being a “sissy

boy”. He’d signed up for an art class, one of the ancient arts of painting with oils but withdrawn

after the first day, tired of his father’s belittling attitude.

 

Not that his father was a total jerk. He had his good points. He was a good provider. He

loved mom dearly, even though the two got into many heated arguments. Especially when his

father started his sissy boy chant. Often, even though he was tired after work, his dad would play

football and baseball with him. They’d even gone fishing a few times—memories he treasured.

 

His mom on the other hand, he could find no fault with. She was always loving, a brilliant

thinker, and eccentric in her tastes in clothes and vacation destinations. He loved his mom and

often felt guilty because he didn’t visit her more often. Maybe when I finish my fifth level of

training?

 

But it’d been his father’s tough guy attitude that had driven him out of the house many a

night as a teenager, and perhaps it influenced his decision to hang out with boys who loved

trouble. He remembered thinking, if I robbed a bank, maybe dad would think I’m manly.

 

Xandor shook his head. What an idiot he’d been, barely skimming real trouble for years.

 

Until that day he had gone with two friends and robbed a convenience store. It landed him in

juvenile jail—the place where his life turned around completely.

 

Shaking off thoughts of his youth, Xandor smoothed the silky material of the robe over his

wrist. He smiled at the one frivolity the wizards granted themselves in purchasing the costly silk

spun by the konkols of Volarn. He admired the embroidered symbols along the cuff; more silver

decorations edged the bottom of the black robe. Not merely decorations though, but the lost

language of the ancient Varzkar.

 

Xandor frowned when he stared in the mirror. He had to admit he looked impressive, in a

very different way than usual. But still, to him, he looked more like a sheik than a sorcerer. Oh

man, wouldn’t his father yell “sissy boy” if he could see him now?

 

He laughed out loud. His dad’s chants no longer bothered him, although it’d taken him many

years to get to that point.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

The trip to the Dragon Fire’s chamber didn’t take long, mere minutes, but getting through

the entrance took longer. Four wizards guarded this sacred room. Two held fifth level status; the

other two were only third level wizards, but being Dizopon gave them an edge.

 

These aliens were famous throughout this galaxy as hired soldiers. Their bodies bristled with

tiny, pointed spines from which they could shoot sharp barbs. Their natural weapons inflicted a

temporary paralysis, making the Dizopon much sought after. But it was rare to see any dedicated

to sorcery, the pay being vastly higher for their services as warriors. The two guarding the

chamber were exceptional among their peers and took their duties as seriously as did the fiercest

mercenaries.

 

One fifth level wizard checked a log-in sheet carefully, while the other meditated. Xandor

knew the wizard checked the flow of his mental emanations. The two dangerous Dizopons

examined him minutely as well, their eyes crawling over him as if searching for hidden weapons.

 

Breathing slowly, he tried to manage his frustration at the stringent entry requirements, but the

staring, spiny-tipped sorcerer-soldiers made it a difficult task at best.

 

Finally, the two higher-class wizards glanced at each other, then waved him toward the

immense doors.

 

This portal made the Master’s look small by comparison. The doors were at least twenty feet

high and composed of a mysterious substance he was unfamiliar with, a shiny black wood that

was both beautiful and very substantial. Carvings along the stone facing were so heavily

entwined, he couldn’t make out where one letter started and another ended. They almost looked

like leaves and vines twisted about each other.

 

He was surprised when the sturdy door slid open with ease. Must have a mammoth spring

system.

 

Xandor made sure the door closed completely before pausing in awe before the Dragon Fire.

He didn’t want to share even an inkling of his emotional excitement with those outside.

 

It was all his, at least for the duration of his visit.

 

He barely glanced at the background, which consisted of heavy red velvet drapes, covering

all the stone walls. Someone, many years ago had decided a simple setting for the brilliant

Dragon Fire was best, and no one had thought to disagree through the years, or question the

decision. The sacred Fire captured any petitioner’s full attention, so he noticed little else.

 

Dragon Fire was held within a spherical glass container, which hung suspended in the center

of the small room by magic spells. For the most part it consisted of red flames with swirls of

yellow flowing outward from its center. But the pattern never stayed the same; it moved

constantly, as if a gentle wind blew upon its fiery mass. Yet nothing eddied within the circle of

glass except the fire from one of Varzkar’s sacred dragons.

 

Ancient beasts, creatures of legend. Said to be powerful both physically and magically. The

myths were so old—they’d been handed down countless generations, until not much real truth

remained of their being.

 

One truth held fast though, that the dragons had existed. The wizards of this institution

guarded the final enchanted breath from the last of their line.

 

The ancient scrolls told of the dragons and Rithroll sorcerers connection at that time, how

they fought together against an unnamed evil enemy, which threatened the whole universe. Not

much was left of the archaic tale, except the knowledge that the dark forces had been defeated

and sent back into the foul dimension from whence they’d come. No one knew what caused the

great dragons to start dying off, but some speculated the underlings of the stygian realm cursed

the beasts before departing. The scrolls reported that the last dragon lay dying, and with its final

exhalation, gifted its magic to a powerful, wise wizard. This ancient practitioner of the arts

grasped the fire with his own magic and bound it together until he could seal it within the glass

container.

 

Coming out of his contemplation, Xandor considered his task. Once he had reached the

fourth level, Xandor was trained in how to tap into the Dragon Fire’s potency. All who reached

this stature were schooled thus, even though some would never attain the fifth level.

 

Treading reverently forward, he paused in front of the orb. Placing his hands in the power

position, crooked fingers grasping each opposing digit, he concentrated, centering his energy

between his clasped hands. When his hands warmed to an almost uncomfortable heat, he was

ready.

 

Releasing his grip, his right hand stretched forth slowly, but he never hesitated, even when

his hand slid through the glass like it was water. Xandor breathed deeply, a self-imposed trance

holding his natural trepidation at bay.

 

He didn’t stop until his hand reached the center of the swirling mass. The fire, amazingly

cool, washed over his hand and lower arm. Tiny pricks of electric sparks danced along his flesh,

feeling pleasant, not painful.

 

While his arm received power from the Dragon Fire, he repeated a short chant over and

over; one slanted toward his present need. One never requested anything other than the aid

required at the precise time.

 

The fiery dragon breath flicking along his skin grew warm and would soon turn scorching.

 

It was time to withdraw.

 

Xandor drew his hand through the glass as easily as he had slid it in, and then clasped his

hands in a prayerful attitude, repeating the ancient Varzkar words he’d been taught. Words

thanking the Dragon Fire for its gift. He hated to leave the sacred presence, but knew he must.

 

Slipping out quietly, he nodded to each of the guards, gratified to note their eyes were lively

with interest instead of suspicion when he exited.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Returning to his chambers, he spent some time simply sitting and staring at his hand,

enjoying the sensation of great power flowing from it that tickled his other senses with rivulets of

energy.

 

Then, sighing, he quickly changed clothes. The ancient magic wouldn’t last past this day and

he had much to do before it left him.

 

The large, primitive desk set against one wall already held all he figured he’d need to make

the necklace. Drawing near, he stared down at the collection of items many a craftsman would

envy. Gold to accent jewelry, various sizes of rainbow-hued gemstones, none priceless, but

pretty. Also a large handful of stones from diverse planets, each with their own unique quality.

He ran his eyes over his tools—some made for shaping, others for cutting or punching holes.

 

Xandor laughed aloud. He had a wonderful collection, from which he could make almost

any piece of adornment. Usually, his charms were twists of metal with perhaps a few gemstones

entwined in the cool grasp of the material to give them an artful appearance. For women, he

sometimes composed flower-like pieces; they seemed to enjoy them so. But one thing he always

did was to kiss each talisman with enchantment. Such a small gesture gave the seekers of

magical alms a sense of control over their bleak lives. Xandor would never infuse a love potion

or curse within the metal shapes, but instead touched them with a well-being spell. Thus, the

wearers had a sense of peace when they wore the talismans around their neck.

 

His habit of making a necklace for petitioners came about by chance. The first suppliant

he’d ever treated for sickness had been wearing a simple silver chain. The young woman had

been so fearful when it came time to leave that he wanted to give her something for assurance.

Touching the necklace, he’d put a well-being spell on it. It’d taken him three days to find a space

ship going back to Varzkar. During those three days he frequented the small town, he ran into the

woman more than once. She glowed with beauty and happiness. So, he saw that necklaces blessed with well-being spells would be a wondrous gift. Something suppliants would treasure all their days.

 

And now he made a different kind of charm. For himself this time.

 

He picked up a misshapen bylar stone, his choice for the base of the soul kin necklace. It looked nondescript now, but once shaped and polished, would shine like a pearl. Most important,

the stone had the ability to hold a magic spell for an indefinite time period. No bylar stone had

yet lost a spell cast upon it.

 

Using his forefinger, Xandor formed it into an oblong shape, only slightly smaller than his

palm. It would have taken hours to fashion it thus with his tools; the stone was almost

indestructible.

 

But with magic, especially enhanced with the Dragon Fire, it took him only minutes.

 

Next, he removed his paint box from the drawer. Thoughts of the goddess Virsa had come to

his mind earlier when thinking of the necklace. The goddess who watched over lovers. The

goddess’s eyes were said to place blessings on those in love. Recently, he’d vacationed on the

lovely planet named for her. Certainly, the people of Virsa believed in her powers. And there had

been an abundance of lovers walking arm and arm wherever he strolled. The paintbrush dipped

into the paint idly while he considered what he wished to create on the stone’s smooth surface.

 

He was a decent artist, but it’d never been an interest he pursued strongly as he wished. He

decorated his room with a few scenes he favored—a seascape, an ancient ruin almost hidden

among thickly leafed trees, and a bowl of tasty fruit. Pretty mediocre subjects as far as art went,

but ones he enjoyed.

 

This time he couldn’t blame his father. While in juvenile detention, he’d been sent to the

occupational teacher, Mr. Diggers. Xandor smiled fondly. Sometimes during those years, he

swore the man named himself Diggers, because he loved to dig at his students. The young, angry

Xandor had only half-heartedly put together model ships or sloppily hammered wood projects

together. That was, until Mr. Diggers insisted he tried painting. Or hounded him, more like it,

until he did pick up a paintbrush and give it a go.

 

He’d fallen in love with painting, but hadn’t practiced it enough over the years to be really

good. It was Mr. Diggers who had directed his future as well. His teacher was not magically

inclined, but later, Xandor found out Mr. Diggers did have the ability to sense magic in others.

It’d been he who contacted the institution on Varzkar. The school had been interested enough in

an earthling with potential to send a fourth level wizard to question and examine him.

 

He didn’t know exactly how it happened, but when he reached his sixteenth birthday and

two years shy of his release, he was paroled to the custody of the most prestigious sorcerers’

institution in the known universe. He thought perhaps Mr. Diggers had put in a good word for

him, but was sure it would never have come about until he was eighteen, if not for the

intervention of someone powerful on Varzkar. Xandor never found out who was behind his early

release. But something inside him told him it was Master Talorg. Which was only the start of his

vast love for the head wizard.

 

Shaking his head at his memories, he concentrated on the soul kin. The paintbrush swished

quickly while he created one of the goddess’s eyes upon the bylar stone’s finished plane.

 

Afterwards, he held it at arms-length, satisfied with the composition. The eye was the

brilliant cornflower blue of legend. He frowned when he noted that the white had dripped in one

corner of the eye, forming a snowy teardrop just below the tear duct.

 

He could have left the background a pearly white, it was close enough in coloration, but the

artist in him wanted the duller white of an eyeball.

 

Taking a soft cloth, he rubbed the tear away and repaired the lower eye. Using magic, he

efficiently punched two holes in the hard stone and then he attached the gold chain he’d laid out

for this purpose. Holding the necklace by the chain, he was happy with his work, until he saw the

tear had reappeared.

 

Rubbing gently, he erased the tear again, and then examined the area. He could see no

indentation on the stone, nor could his finger rubbing along its smooth surface, detect any

depression. Even as he watched, the tear began to reform.

 

Frowning, he stared at it, trying to fathom the mystery. There was no reason he could

discern for the tear forming.

 

Finally, with a laugh, Xandor realized magic was afoot here. Whether it was the Dragon Fire

trying to assert itself, or his own inability to “get it right”, he didn’t know.

 

Staring at the half-finished necklace, it came to him. He needed something from the

mysterious female, in order to draw him across the galaxy to her side. Something physical. Last

time he’d visited, she’d cried when he left. Was the Dragon Fire trying to show him the way? He

wasn’t sure.

 

Certainly, he didn’t have the power to accomplish the feat of gathering a tear from her and

bringing it to this planet under normal circumstances, but maybe bathed in the Dragon Fire, he

could.

Placing the necklace carefully on the desk, he prepared himself for thought-searching.

Would she be asleep this time? He hoped so; he liked the image of waking her to his presence.

 

Setting up the candles and stripping naked didn’t take long. Relaxing so he could drop into a

deep trance took longer than usual; his mind kept wandering back to her form and how excited it

made him. Shaking his head, Xandor clamped down hard on his physical reactions, which

included a hard-on. Breathing deeply and repeating the school’s chant fueled his meditation.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Four

 

 

 

It seemed he zipped across the vast emptiness of space in record time, pulled to her presence

immediately upon arriving at the planet.

 

Satisfaction ripped through him. She was asleep. He did not plan on approaching her

defenseless body in an aggressive manner, but the thought of awakening her was exciting.

 

Tenderly, he stroked one hand through her locks, shivering at the sensation. Soft as baby

hair. Amazingly, his sense of touch was stronger. Desiring to explore this further, he caressed her

uncovered abdomen as before, entranced by the muscularity just beneath the satiny skin. She

moaned and flinched restlessly. Slowly, his right hand, the one that had received the gift of

sacred fire, slid across her silky skin. Wonderfully tactile.

 

Astonishment and pleasure fought for dominance within him. The Dragon Fire’s influence

was strong. He would be able to get what he had come for.

 

Without warning her eyes popped open. Even in the dusky room, he could see her peering

curiously upward at him.

 

“You came?”

 

Xandor had conjured a spell before leaving, in case she spoke. Now he was glad for that

forethought. He understood her perfectly. Any words he emitted she would hear in her language,

rendering a translation machine unnecessary. They were quirky pieces of technology anyway,

not always translating correctly, and had been the cause of friction between planets more than

once.

 

“How could I resist your call?” He made his tone playful.

 

“Call?”

 

“Your singing.”

 

A soft giggle erupted into the silence, startling him. “What are you?”

 

“That remains to be seen,” he replied mysteriously, not yet ready to tell her.

“Why have you come, then?”

 

“To make your acquaintance…and to give you pleasure, if you allow it.” He waited with

bated breath for her response.

 

She exhaled a soft sigh. “I thought you’d never ask. I have dreamed of you, ever since you

made yourself known to me.”

 

“Have you?” Reaching down with both hands, he stroked her sides, the least intrusive sexual

gesture he could make, while awaiting her answer.

 

She raised both her arms in response. Xandor lowered his body, levitating just above hers.

Placing his hands against her cheeks, he rubbed her velvety skin gently with his thumbs and

stared into midnight blue eyes he could barely distinguish from the blue-black shadows

enveloping them. When his lips touched hers, he was dissatisfied with the sensation. It was as if

he used the slightest pressure, when in reality he pushed down hard to gain even this feeling.

 

Neither taste nor smell were involved in the exchange. He could tell nothing of her flavor or

scent, whether they were sweet or exotic. Quashing his frustration, he put more effort into his

embrace, wrapping his arms about her slim form at the same time. It was surprisingly easy to

wriggle his arms underneath her in his present state. Although he would have preferred full body

stimulation, as one would normally receive in such a situation, enough filtered through that he

became hard while they continued to kiss. She wiggled her lower body against his cock and he

groaned into her mouth.

 

Breaking from her abruptly, he moved lower, licking the tiny buds atop her small breasts.

He could tell her skin was silky smooth, but that was all. Would her flesh taste different than a

human female’s? Would she give off a heavy musky odor, or something totally different?

 

She moaned softly when he laved her breasts, and he was satisfied that she too was receiving

at least partial sensations. Next, he caressed her slender thighs, kneading and circling, moving at

a snail’s pace toward her pussy. Excitement lanced through him. Would she be built like an Earth

woman, or would her composition be something new and unusual? He wished the darkness

would evaporate so he could see her beauty. Normally, he could cast a spell to light the gloom,

but he couldn’t in his present form and maintain contact.

 

Sliding his right hand up her thigh, he inserted one finger gently into the folds that felt like

human labia. He’d also touched a fine thatch of hair before slipping his finger forward. He’d

planned on exploring those lips with his finger, but she surged upward suddenly, grasping him

with her wetness. Complying, he pushed his finger deeper into her soft warmth. Gently, he

slipped a second finger inside, gratified by the very human feel of her pussy, but wishing he

could receive the full impact of touching her.

 

Wriggling her hips, she moaned softly and ran one hand up and down his arm. “Oh, yes.”

 

The excitement in her voice made his cock throb.

 

Abruptly, she stopped all movement and peered up at him intently, perhaps trying to discern

the planes of his face. “That feels so nice, but I want you inside me.”

 

Xandor didn’t stop to think if he could or not. He quickly placed his cock at her opening and

slipped it slowly inside. He groaned. If it felt this wonderful, what would the real thing be like?

Soft, wet, and hot. Perfect.

 

“Yes, my dream lover.” She moved her hips in rhythm with him.

 

Unexpectedly, he sensed a drop in his energy level and shivered violently. His activity had

apparently distracted his mind, for he was dangerously close to losing contact with his physical

body. Would, unless he rushed back across space immediately.

 

Withdrawing fast, he levitated upward, throwing his words toward her as he departed. “I will

come to you again.”

 

While he gathered his power about him like a shield before thrusting himself into the

vastness, her last, tearful distress-laden cry tore at his heart. “Don’t leave me.”

 

A sudden sinking hit his semi-transparent stomach when he realized he’d almost forgotten

his mission.

 

Zooming quickly back to her room, he reached down and caught a tear that trailed forlornly

down one cheek. No time to dawdle. Xandor left with no backward glance or further words. He

didn’t have enough power in his astral body to cast a spell to protect the tear while in transit.

Hopefully, the Dragon Fire would be enough.

 

When he returned to his body, he fell weakly to his side, clutching himself with both arms as

cold ripped through his system. It took a few minutes before the rough shivers left him.

 

Sitting up with strenuous effort, Xandor carefully unclenched his fist and sighed in relief. A

single drop rested in his palm.

 

Xandor drew energy from the objects around him, aiding his normal strength to return in

minutes. Immediately upon rising to his feet, he walked carefully to the desk and held his hand

over the necklace.

 

Using a whiff of magic, he directed the tear. It rolled down his palm to his forefinger, and

then dripped in one plop onto the necklace. It hit the jewelry exactly where the stubborn teardrop

had reappeared twice. Quivering slightly, it settled, looking like it had always belonged in that

spot.

 

Xandor waved his hand over the necklace, which held the drop securely in place with a

spell, while he repainted the eyeball and lower eyelid.

 

Once it dried, he picked up the piece by the chain. Everything held in place. The tear stayed

where it should and the paint didn’t drip.

 

Breathing a sigh of relief, he examined the necklace. It still needed something.

 

After a moment, a thought came to him. His dear mother had been a world traveler, and on

returning from a trip to the Middle East, she’d brought back one souvenir he’d thought was

intriguing. It was similar to the necklace he’d created, minus the teardrop. A common piece sold

in the region to ward off the evil eye. Only that exotic necklace had sported dangles along the

bottom.

 

Taking out his tools, Xandor first magically burned holes along the bottom, and then

attached three pieces taken from earrings he’d bought from the local bazaar. He’d liked the rich

red color of the cortakian stones, similar to Earth’s ruby.

 

After attaching the ear drops, he decided to go all out and lined the stone’s edge with gold

chain. Holding it up, he grinned. It certainly looked exotic now. Whether he’d wear it remained

to be seen. Rather fancy for a man’s chest, he thought. Maybe he’d give it to his siren.

 

He placed a powerful spell over the necklace to protect the fragile paint and tear. Now

nothing would rub them off throughout many millennium.

 

Finally, he gathered the last of the Dragon Fire, which was quickly fading from his system.

Waving his hand over the jewelry, he infused it with magic. The tear would draw him to her

across the galaxy’s vastness, a directional finder of sorts.

 

Being somewhat of a romantic at heart, Xandor also created a general spell, which would

affect anyone who held the piece. After all, he would not survive thousands of years. Thus, if

two star-crossed lovers met, the necklace would recognize them as soulmates.

 

Turning whimsical, he added the finishing touch with a puff of breath over the piece. When

these lovers embraced, the tear would vanish, reappearing when they were not locked in each

other’s arms.

 

After he examined it as a whole, he had to admit the tear finished off the piece nicely. The

drop of water actually looked like a priceless diamond with its shimmering iridescent beauty.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

After completing the necklace, Xandor became busy with more practical matters, like

informing friends and professors of his impending journey.

 

Stopping by the bazaar, he purchased the items he needed for the trip, then returned to his

quarters, where packing went quickly. Having kept things to a minimum, he stared with

satisfaction at the bag sitting on his bed. If he needed much else, he could conjure it with magic

or buy it in port.

 

He tucked gold coins and tizorsan crystals into his baggage. Both were widely accepted as

exchange units and should cover any unexpected needs. Xandor had more than enough of both

monetary units; he’d gained much wealth traveling offworld throughout the years, helping

planets with different problems. The institution encouraged fulfilling suppliants’ requests. But he

also enjoyed aiding others, because it gave him good practical experience in using his magical

skills. The last task he did, was slip the necklace over his head—it now rested in the safest place

he knew while traveling.

 

* * * * *

Finding a ship the next day was not difficult. Spaceships were always coming and going.

Ferrying wizards and petitioners was a healthy business in these parts. Plus, the huge bazaar

hosted by the nearby town offered the wealthy sorcerers anything their hearts desired—any herb,

potion, sacred objects, and so on, that might be needed for a spell.

 

Also, there was a hefty trade in the wizards’ services in fueling ships. Though the Volarnian

crystals could be recharged by technicians, the more powerful rydarda crystals needed Varzkar

wizards to repower them. Only Varzkar wizards of the fourth and fifth level could do it. A few

fifth status sorcerers were scattered across the universe, so not all buyers came to Varzkar, but

the spaceport always had a thriving business going on around it.

 

Finding a ship going in the direction he wished took a little more effort. At first, Xandor

wasn’t sure how the process was going to work. But he soon found that when he talked to a

ship’s captain about a certain sector, the necklace turned cool. He’d secured it under his vest,

where it nestled warm against his skin. Each time he tried a different sector the jewelry would

chill against his chest. But, when he paused to speak to a captain heading toward the Vortar

sector, the necklace warmed, almost to an uncomfortable level. He chuckled to himself, amused

at the hot-cold game the necklace imitated.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Five

 

 

 

Xandor traveled on that first ship for a week, enjoying the new acquaintances. It was the

first true break he’d had in a long time.

 

After that, his journey took on a routine of searching for a new ship once the one he

currently flew in took a turn in a different direction than the one he sought. Seeking out the

captain’s assistance ahead of time helped. He was then informed, before putting into port, if the

next navigational course would not be in the direction he needed to go.

 

Sometimes he found a ship immediately upon arriving at a spaceport, at other times he had

to wait a few days, up to a few weeks, to catch just the right ship. Not that he minded the

waiting, at first. Xandor had always enjoyed investigating new worlds, even though landing ports

rarely put a planet’s best assets forward.

 

On the few occasions when he had to stay past a few days, he ventured into the worlds’

interiors, exploring to his heart’s content. Otherwise, he steeped himself in the bars, clubs, and

entertainment that were offered around the ports, which ranged from seedy to ostentatious.

 

He was restless and the frequent stops, in exotic spaceports were boring.

 

Finally, at the far reaches of the next galaxy, his ship stopped on a small planet called

Sertosh. The port could barely lay claim to that name, with only one landing pod and a tiny

round building through which passed infrequent visitors. No clubs or bars were in sight—which

Xandor actually found refreshing. Instead, a massive growth of huge trees surrounded the area. It

being nighttime when he arrived, Xandor could tell no more about the place.

One thing rang clear though: this was her world. The evidence sang along his nerve endings,

while the necklace turned a toasty warm.

 

The gregarious blue-skinned alien at the information desk quickly called a taxi over to take

him to the Wild Zort, a local inn. Surprise and pleasure flashed through him when a one-man

coach, drawn by a strange beast—kind of a cross between a burro and a dog—stopped outside. A

hunched over elderly man sat atop the piece, in front of the customer’s cushioned seat. He was as

friendly as the desk clerk had been. In the twenty minutes it took to arrive at the quaint inn,

Xandor learned much of this world.

 

The blue-skinned Sertoshians were the only people occupying this planet. Nothing

spectacular like tizorsan crystals had ever been discovered here, so offworlders usually steered

clear of it. Plus, it was out of the way, even for most deep space routes. Only the occasional

weary traveler or person seeking a peaceful environment in which to vacation stayed any length

of time on Sertosh.

 

The whole idea of such an untrammeled place appealed to him. His siren would be

unspoiled by technology or alien influences. And she would be blue-skinned, a difference he

wished to explore further, very soon.

 

The inn reminded him of something straight out of his history lessons about ancient Earth. It

was primitive but held everything he really needed.

 

The servant who showed him to the room quickly threw a powdery substance over a pile of

rocks in the small fireplace, and then lit it with a primitive instrument. It cast a cheery glow

within the cool, but cozy bedroom. Based on the warmth he’d felt from the fireplace of the main

room downstairs, he knew this room would soon lose its icy chill.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Sleep that night was deep and dreamless, leaving him astonishingly refreshed the next

morning. Starting his investigations in the dining area downstairs, Xandor struck up

conversations with any talkative person around, which included everyone but the cook in the

kitchen. The Sertoshians were fascinated with his wizard status, and though awed, didn’t draw

back from him like some aliens had on past journeys. In turn, the Sertoshians were enthralling to

him.

 

While he itched to hunt down his future wife, he took his time in asking questions about the

culture, especially those revolving around courtship and marriage rites. Some of their traditions

were bizarre and erotic in nature, though logically derived from the Sertoshians’ biological

makeup. The females could not release eggs from their ovaries unless compatible males made

them experience orgasms for three days in a row. Only after the third orgasm would the woman’s

body release an ovum, which would be fertilized. The ritual that had evolved was called the

Jekar, like the orgasm itself.

 

If the man trying for the maid’s hand failed to fulfill the three day Jekar, he could not marry

her. Actually, Xandor realized from the discussions, the woman could choose to marry a man in

such a case, but it was rarely done, because that meant no children would be produced.

He couldn’t wait to explore the limits of the three courtship days required before any given

couple was allowed to seal the union with vows. Three days of him trying to make his mystery

girl climax. Recalling the slim beauty of her body, he ached to perform the Jekar with her. His

masturbation had given him but short-lived relief. Almost every night his thoughts returned to

her half-seen, partially felt form.

 

His balls hurt from his frequent hard-ons with no release. But he refused to masturbate

again. He wanted to plunge his cock into her pussy, not his hand.

 

He was rock hard just thinking about her. It was sheer torture.

 

Seeking to turn his thoughts to more restful subjects, he strolled outside. He trod the winding

trails around the Wild Zort for several hours, soaking up the natural beauty and thinking about

how to proceed in finding his mystery girl.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Upon returning to the inn, he secured the services of the elderly taxi driver who seemed to

have permanent residence in the hotel. Several guests had already informed him of the nearest

town and he was anxious to explore it. Perhaps his future wife resided there.

 

The town was small; probably no more than ten thousand people lived within its borders.

That fit in, of course, with the descriptions he’d received earlier from the inn patrons. Sertosh

was comprised of villages and towns, with scatterings of individual dwellings nestled in the vast

woods.

 

The natives’ appearance intrigued Xandor; he wondered if the older patrons of the inn

presented a true picture. He wondered if silver hair crowned all the peoples’ heads. Every

Sertoshian he’d run into so far had sported silver tresses, but they’d also been older.

 

Once the carriage halted in the center of the bustling town, he saw that his guess had been

correct; men, women and children all were silver-haired. He thought their pointed ears a

charming addition, giving them an elfin look.

 

The Sertoshians were also short people. The men averaged five foot five, while the women

only hit about five foot in height, some shorter. Their forms were slender. Between the height

and slim shapes, the illusion of elfin heritage was stronger. But, as with his siren, he smelled no

magic on anyone. Thus, in appearance only, did they fit the traditional elf image.

 

The town folk seemed thrilled to see him. They were a curious lot. He was barraged on

every side with questions. He was invited into a local pub and gratefully sipped several small

glasses of the delicious beer. Soon, the pub turned raucous and he slipped out unseen, walking

the streets, looking at the strange sights that abounded.

 

Much later, he rested on a bench set between vibrant bushes, which reminded him of roses.

No odor came from the lovely flowers, but they were easy on the eyes and soothing to the senses.

It was strange; the whole place was invaded with flowery scents, yet the rose-like flowers, which

were most prolific, had no smell.

He chatted with the Sertoshians who strolled by, but not once did he get a clue about the girl

who’d drawn him here. Xandor concluded she didn’t live in the immediate vicinity, or else the

necklace would have alerted him to her presence. Yet, he also knew she was not clear across the

planet, but nearby. How he knew this, he didn’t have the foggiest idea.

 

Getting up to leave, he saw a Dava coming toward him, smiling. He was the first alien

Xandor had seen in town; this alone made him pause and wait for the elder to reach him. The

Dava’s bulbous head and six limbs always made him think of an octopus. They were highly

respected though, renowned as teachers and truth-seekers.

 

Quickly throwing a shroud over his thoughts, against the skills of mind reading some Dava

boasted, he smiled at the approaching alien. Xandor knew without asking what he wanted; it was

evident in his painfully crooked gait. The Dava were also known to have agonizing arthritic

conditions due to their four lower limbs.

 

“Elder, may I be of assistance?” he asked when the alien stopped in front of him.

 

“Most honored wizard, I mean not to bother you with such trivial things as personal pain.”

Smiling, his kind eyes spoke the truth of his statement. “I was simply excited to see a Varzkar

sorcerer so far from home.”

 

Placing his right hand across his chest, Xandor bowed slightly. “It would honor my sect if I

could be of service.” Sure he was right in his thoughts about the alien’s arthritis, he fished in his

pants pocket and brought forth a talisman. He handed it to the Dava.

 

“Is this a charm of well-being?” At his nod, the elder placed it around his neck with

quivering hands. “Thank you, most honored sir.”

 

“That is not all.” Xandor gave the old man a list of ingredients to mix in a potion that would

soothe his limbs. Two herbs he might not find on this isolated planet, but could secure readily

once he returned to more common space routes.

 

Reaching into his voluminous robe, the Dava fetched forth a handful of valuable gold coins.

 

Waving his hands, Xandor tried to reject payment, but the elder insisted, grabbing his nearer

hand and folding his fingers around the money. Finally, Xandor accepted the coins, knowing to

refuse further would insult the old Dava.

 

“Goodbye.” He bowed again.

 

The old Dava inclined his heavy head slightly and crossed his arms.

 

Xandor realized something intriguing—the old Dava brought it to mind: not one person he’d

met seemed to be afflicted with illness, nor did any Sertosh native appear disabled. They were an

astonishingly healthy bunch of people. Never before had he walked through a town and not been

accosted for assistance with health or love needs. This was an interesting puzzle. He intended to

delve further into the mystery, once he found his soulmate.

 

It’d been only several miles between the inn and town, though the old driver clopped along

at an agonizing pace. Now, he decided to walk back and enjoy the lovely forests surrounding the

primitive road. Xandor had never seen trees like those growing on this planet. Some were tall

and slender with leaves clutched close to their trunks. Others were immense giants, easily

topping those around them, spreading their twisted limbs wide, while the leaves splayed in far-

flung splendor from each tiny branch.

 

Remarkably, the most prominent trait, shared by them all, was the color. No matter if the

trunk sported a width greater than a man’s body length, or was thin and willowy; the bark of

each was a gray hue. The delicate, birch-like trees’ bark was patterned in soft stripes, composed

of lighter grays and darker, almost black, shadings, while the giants’ bark shone with a silver-

gray wash.

 

The leaves were the most amazing, running the gamut from bright silver atop the sapling

trees, to a pale grayish-beige filling the wide spaces between the mammoth trees. Other creamy

beige- to dark gray-leaved trees abounded, although the other two were most prevalent. Standing

back and surveying his surroundings, Xandor realized everything looked surreal. How could it be

so achingly beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale?

 

By the time he’d almost reached the inn, Xandor was quite relaxed. His mind wandered

freely. Unexpectedly, the necklace warmed and he would swear it hummed against his chest. Not

sure which way to turn, he continued down the road and the soul kin cooled immediately.

Retracing his steps, he noted the necklace warmed again after a dozen feet. He turned in all

directions and the charm heated further when he faced the east.

 

Spying a winding trail, almost covered by thick growths of bushes on either side, Xandor

took off down it, holding the necklace in his hand. It did hum. He could feel a slight vibration

against his palm. This directional sensing continued for some time, and then once again the

necklace went cold. Turning different directions, Xandor discovered the piece now wanted him

to head south. Luckily, he found another path, this one slightly less overgrown.

 

He’d paused in a flower-bedecked meadow to get his bearings and search for another trail,

when two things happened at once. The necklace thrummed harder against his skin and he heard

the loveliest song floating on the wind.

 

It was her.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Six

 

 

 

Following the angelic voice led him to the far corner of the meadow. A girl knelt among a

mass of colorful flowers, singing to them and gently caressing their leaves with one hand. It was

a strange act, but then maybe it was a religious ritual her people practiced.

 

“Hello,” he called softly, stopping a dozen feet away.

 

Her face turned upward, clearly startled. What a sweet face it was too. A perfect, slim oval.

It fit well with the slender lines of her body, or what he could see of it.

She sprang to her feet. Ah, yes, a very slim figure and nicely proportioned. But he couldn’t

squelch his disappointment when he saw the tiny breasts beneath the cloth of her tunic. Not that

he desired huge tits, but something beyond prepubescent mounds would have been nice. Xandor

felt like slapping himself. He was being a cad toward the woman his soul was mated to. He was

sure he would grow to love them.

 

Of course she shared the common traits of Sertoshians: pale blue skin and silken, silver hair.

Her tresses fell in a straight shiny cut to the tops of her slender shoulders, while pointed ears

peeked from her hair on either side. With satisfaction he noted the lush curves of her lips and

large eyes, dark from this distance, so he couldn’t say for sure what shade of blue they were.

He’d already noticed that all the Sertoshians had various hues of blue for eye coloring.

 

“Do you like what you see?” Along with her statement, she pushed her hands into either side

of her tiny waist, aggravation clear in her tone.

 

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Laughter edged his voice and brought a hesitant smile from her,

making her face slip from elfin bewitching to womanly beautiful.

 

“Who are you?” she demanded, looking a bit nervous.

 

“Don’t you know me?”

 

“How could I?” She paused and her hands slid to her sides. “You are an alien…but

something does seem familiar about you.” Frowning, she said, “Perhaps if I read your aura, that

would help.”

 

Xandor was surprised when she started singing again, staring at him the whole time.

Unexpectedly, she stopped in the middle of a line, it seemed.

 

“You are a sorcerer.”

 

It almost sounded accusatory. “Is that a problem?” He wondered if she had a dislike of

magic or wizards.

 

Biting her lower lip, she shook her head no. Her fine hair flying about partially hid her

confused expression.

 

“Maybe if you’d explain why a wizard is such a frightening proposition?” None of the other

Sertoshians had reacted so. Why her?

 

Sighing, she said, “It’s not your sorcery, it’s you.” Her eyes slid downwards. She peered at

the earth, as if seeking answers.

 

“You were expecting someone else?”

 

“Yes!” Her eyes came back to his face, her countenance cleared.

 

“Perhaps a lover?” After seeing her beauty, the thought of being her lover was even more

exciting.

 

Nodding, she stared over his shoulder at the woods. “A lover…and more.”

 

“A mate?” Me, he wanted to shout.

 

Cocking her head, she smiled up at him. “How do you know so much?”

 

“Am I not a wizard?”

 

She laughed. “Then tell me, sorcerer, where is he who is to be my husband?” She ran one

hand through the ends of her hair. “I dreamed of him.”

 

“And do you draw this mate to you by your dreams, or maybe your singing?” Was she a

siren after all? Though he concentrated on her being, he still could detect no magic in her

emanations.

 

“What an odd thing to say. We have no magic in our essence.” Her eyes twinkled

mischievously. “But, sometimes, when one dreams of her true love, she meets him soon

afterward.”

 

“Sounds more like a superstition.” How charming. She believed in portents in dreams.

 

“Mmm, it is.” She nodded. Propping one bent elbow at her waist, she stroked her chin and

stared at him. “But, some of us believe it to be true.”

 

“Sinar biur,” he said softly, never taking his eyes from her face. Just saying those words to

her made his cock hard.

 

“Wh…what?” She shivered, her eyes became huge, a mixture of fright and hope mingled in

their core. “It cannot be you,” she whispered.

 

“Why, because I am a wizard?” He lowered his voice, made it a verbal caress.

 

“Yes, and an offworlder.”

 

“Has no one from your planet ever married an alien?” He grinned, but her eyes were hooded

in thought and she didn’t notice.

 

She nodded. “It is rare, though.”

 

“But not unheard of?”

 

“Why do you wish such a union, wizard? Would not one of your own kind be more fitting?”

Her eyes flitted up and down his form, as if delving into the secrets of what seemed to her an

insane wish.

 

He laughed. “I would have thought so before, that is, if I ever considered marriage in the

first place.”

 

“You speak strange words. There are puzzles and mysteries in them, I think.”

 

Stepping a few feet closer, he was gratified when she didn’t pull away. The lovely navy blue

of her eyes, tipped with long, thick fringes of blue-black lashes, excited him. “You have been a

mystery to me ever since I first met you. But, I think you are my true love.” Did she realize how

badly he wanted to hold her? That at long last, he was but moments from stroking her velvety

skin and feeling the texture of her lustrous hair?

 

“Think?” She cocked her head at him, curiosity shining from her magnificent eyes.

 

Fumbling beneath his vest, Xandor brought the necklace into view. Her eyes widened in

excitement. He spent the next few minutes explaining the jewelry to her and what his Master had

said.

 

“Then, you used your magic to find me?”

 

Her elfin face was most curious. Good.

 

“No, not the first time. It was an accidental encounter…but apparently fated to be.”

 

He could tell by the gleam in her eye, she believed in such things as destiny and fate. “I only

know one thing. Ever since our first meeting, I can’t get you out of my thoughts.” If she only

knew how hard she’d made sleep for him.

 

“You spoke of the necklace.” She pointed at it lying on the outside of his vest. “And how it

found me.” Tapping the side of her cheek, she asked, “Now, how do you prove I am your chosen

one?”

 

“Easy.” He grinned and told her the secret. He hoped his explanation wouldn’t frighten her

off.

 

“A simple embrace?” Her eyes twinkled with held-in laughter and disbelief. Shrugging, she

moved to within arms-length and peered up at him.

 

Her acceptance was a bit disconcerting. But he wrapped his arms about her and leaned down

to kiss her. She suddenly squeezed him around the waist, about as sexy as a hug from a sister.

Then, ducking her head beneath his arm, she slipped away and turned to look at him, pointing at

the necklace.

 

Xandor pulled the necklace up and peered at its surface. No change.

 

“Let me see?” She stood on tiptoe.

 

Exhaling in exasperation, he turned it so she could look. Great!

 

“Your talisman doesn’t work.” She sucked one side of her bottom lip inside her mouth. It

was not particularly an attractive habit, but it made his cock twitch anyway. Such full, lovely lips.

 

“I don’t think that’s the kind of embrace it calls for.”

 

“Really?” Her tone was playful with a hint of sensuality that intrigued him. He wanted to rip

her clothes off, strip the pretense from their flirtatious game.

“Shall we try again?” This time when she stepped into his embrace, he tightened his grip

around her waist and latched onto her lips in case she should try and slip away again. Her lush

lower lip gave beneath his pressure, exciting him and his cock. Her mouth opened at his tongue’s

urging. The taste of her wet inner skin was sweet, like honey, and inflamed his senses further.

 

He twirled his tongue and was pleased when she met his efforts with a dance of her own.

Their tongues slid against one another, over and under. He rimmed her lower lip, sucked on it

gently, and then caressed it with gentle licks while he continued to apply suction. She moaned.

Satisfaction flashed through him at her response. When he released her lip, she imitated his

sucking and licking, and his cock throbbed in response.

 

Abruptly, she pulled back, gazed at him with passion and curiosity combined. Stepping from

his grasp, she fingered the necklace and then turned it toward her before flipping it up toward his

face.

 

“The tear is gone,” he whispered, filled with wonder.

 

“You doubted your own spell?” Amusement was in her voice again.

 

“No.” He shrugged, and then added, “I don’t know. I’ve never conjured such magic before.”

 

“It is considered powerful on your world?”

 

“Yes.” He peered down at her, wondering what her thoughts were. He wanted her. Down on

the ground—dirty didn’t matter. Could he wait for her acceptance?

 

Of course, he sighed inwardly in frustration.

 

Letting the necklace fall back onto his chest, she said, “There is a more powerful way in

which we know when our chosen has come.”

 

“The Jekar?” Would she consent to the sexually intense ceremony with him?

 

“You know of this ceremony?” Her eyes probed him.

 

“Just what some of your fellow Sertoshians told me.” She seemed to be waiting for him to

continue, so he did. “A man who seeks to be known as your true mate must make you orgasm for

three days in a row.” He smiled sensually. “Sounds like a nice tradition to me.” When do we

start? he wanted to shout.

 

She giggled, and then broke into a full belly laugh. “Oh, there is so much more than that.”

 

Watching her wipe a tear from the corner of her eye, he was almost afraid to ask. “What

else?”

 

“For one thing, the orgasm is not an ordinary pleasure response, but must be a full-body

orgasm.”

 

“Full-body?” He was intrigued, but a touch of unease washed through him.

 

“It is easier to demonstrate than explain, but we Sertoshian women experience an orgasm

that effects our whole system.” She seemed pleased by his astonished look. “And only the

woman’s true love, he who is meant for her heart and spirit, can make her erupt into body

orgasms three days straight.”

 

“Why three days?” By the sacred Dragon Fire, that had to be a challenge!

 

“Because it takes three body orgasms to release our egg for reproduction. Thus, only our

true mate can give us children.”

 

Right. He’d forgotten. “Sounds like a pretty foolproof method of contraception…that is, if

you’re allowed to have normal sex?” Good contraception all right, but it made a suitor’s job very

difficult.

 

Giggling again, she said, “Of course we can engage in regular sex and have normal

orgasms.”

 

“That’s a relief.” He frowned, deep in thought. What had the elderly men at the inn told him

about the ritual? “Isn’t there a ritual to get ready for the orgasm ceremony?”

 

“Yes.” Placing a hand on his arm, she stroked it lightly. “But, first a couple normally tries

every day ordinary sex, to see if they’re even compatible.”

 

When she caressed his arm, his cock twitched and his balls tightened. I’m as hot and horny

as a teenager.

 

“What if they’re not compatible?” He groaned inside even as those words shot out. No! He

couldn’t be defeated now, not when he was so close.

 

“I have never heard of such an occurrence.” Her eyes seemed to turn darker. Was that desire

deepening their lovely hue?

 

He cleared his throat, then asked, putting humor into his voice, “Don’t you think we should

exchange names before exchanging bodily fluids?”

 

“Zira.”

 

“Xandor.”

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

 

 

 

When the stranger had first hailed her, Zira was truly astonished. She’d never spoken to an

alien before and never would have considered doing so alone and isolated as she was when he

approached. His appearance was really odd. Tall, he wore black clothing she was unfamiliar with

which, coupled with his ebony hair, gave him an almost threatening air. But his pleasant

demeanor kept her from bolting, in spite of his physical menace.

 

Of course his golden brown skin had given him away as an alien right off; yet she found it to

be an attractive color. She became more curious while they spoke and intrigued by his image.

True, he was much taller than her people, towering over her by a foot, but after they had talked

for a bit, the height difference seemed to matter little.

 

His physique was broader, more muscularly defined than the slimmer proportions of

Sertoshian males. While they spoke, her eyes wandered those bulges, curious about what lay

beneath the black material he wore. His hair seemed heavier and thicker than her own, and the

inky locks, which caressed the tops of his wide shoulders, invited exploration.

 

When she’d read his aura, she’d been shocked. A wizard. Here on Sertosh? Not only that, he

had come seeking her as his mate?

 

She’d waited for many weeks for her true love to make himself known, and finally, this

exotic stranger appeared. Though she’d had several boyfriends over the years, never had one

held enough attraction for her to consider as a husband. And now this alien wizard appeared,

claiming they were meant for one another.

 

After he pulled the necklace from beneath his clothing and shared the extraordinary tale with

her, she was both excited and cautious. She knew nothing about him. He’d just literally

materialized from the stars.

 

Were they truly fated lovers?

 

The Jekar came to mind and she breathed a sigh of relief inside. If he were truly the heart for

her heart, the Jekar would prove it to be so. And if not, at least she could enjoy sexual

explorations with this sorcerer-man from another world.

 

Her suggestion of a “compatibility test” was not really necessary. Oftentimes, couples went

straight into the Jekar ceremony. But, while speaking with him, she had decided that he was

handsome in his own way, regardless of his outlandish appearance. Zira wanted to scrutinize the

magnificent body, test his manly and wizard powers to their fullest. To delve beneath his

midnight black eyes, probe their mysteries and truths.

 

Once she’d made her mind up, her quandaries ceased. Zira unclasped the belt at her waist

and untied the tunic’s shoulder straps. The dress dropped, pooling at her feet. She kicked the

material away and stood with arms at her sides, awaiting his response. Would he still desire her,

once he saw her nude? She knew she was considered lovely on Sertosh, but would Xandor also

think so? How would she rate against the exotic beauties of other planets?

 

It surprised and delighted him, when her dress dropped with no coyness or pretense, simply:

here I am. A long courtship was not something he wanted; the sooner he returned to Varzkar

with a bride, the quicker he could attain the fifth level. He’d been relieved to discover

Sertoshians open-minded views toward sex, but still found her candor startling.

 

Her lovely, slender body pleased him greatly. Everything from her shapely legs to her

curving waist, was nicely proportioned. Everything, that is, except her breasts. They were tiny,

what Earthmen termed “mosquito bites”. Guilt flashed through him at his callous thoughts; this

woman was fated to be his true love.

 

Even so the dark blue nipples intrigued him. Would they taste like blueberries? Xandor

laughed inwardly at his own silliness, perhaps a nervous reaction to his less than kind thoughts

about her breast size.

 

His eyes dipped downward, fixating on her groin. A thin strip of silver hair topped the dark

blue line nestled between her pussy lips. What would her lips taste like? Annoyed at his stray

thoughts, Xandor pushed blueberries again from his conscious mind. His body wouldn’t

cooperate though, and his mouth watered in anticipation.

 

“You’re so beautiful.”

 

She simply smiled at his remark.

 

Following her lead, he slid out of his vest and then pants, standing quietly for her inspection.

Was it his imagination? Heat seemed to lash across his chest, flit around his biceps, and then

play about his belly button for an agonizingly slow moment, before moving lower. Xandor

sucked in his breath; his cock stood to full attention at her perusal. Probably it was his crazy,

horny imagination running rampant.

 

“You are also beautiful, wizard.” Her voice was breathy, excited.

 

“And you,” he stepped closer, running his hand down her hair, “are bewitching.”

 

“Are you going to bewitch me with your magic?” Her blue eyes danced with mischief.

 

“I plan to.” Placing both hands on her face like he’d done during his thought-search, he

caressed her skin, his cock twitching at the velvety softness. If her outer skin was so silky, what

would her pussy feel like?

 

The kiss started out slow and sensual, but then deepened into a scorching play of lips and

tongues. After a few heated moments, he kissed his way down and licked her neck; she groaned

in reaction. Clearly her swan throat was sensitive. Her breath came faster and her hands went

wild across his chest, stroking and squeezing. His nipples tingled from her touch.

 

Her skin tasted of flowers. Tasted like violets and some other exotic flavor. Her flesh must

be saturated with it, for each time his tongue stroked her skin a fresh burst of the wondrous

substance welled forth. She smelled of the rosy odor that had pervaded the village. Was it the

people themselves that sent off the wondrous smell?

 

As if by mutual agreement, their entwined bodies sank slowly downward, until they knelt

facing each other. Xandor ran one hand through her silken tresses, and then gently tipped her

head backward. Attacking beneath her jaw with fresh vigor, he soon had her moaning, her hands

rubbing frantically through his hair. By the time he moved down to her breasts, her body seemed

fired with desire.

 

She moaned. “Oh, that feels nice.”

 

Licking one nipple with a long stroke, he grew excited by the taste. Not blueberry, but

something earthy. He placed his mouth full over the hardened nub and suckled gently. Then, he

alternately ran his tongue around the areola and flicked the nipple. Definitely tasted of flower

blossoms, probably the same lotion flavored liquid he’d tasted on her neck. She must coat her

skin with it. When he sucked harder, she moaned and flounced restlessly in his arms.

 

“I want you.”

 

She giggled.

 

This position didn’t give him the freedom he wanted, so he lowered her body to the ground

and knelt above her while his hands roamed her breasts as he desired. One hand kneaded her

right mound while his mouth and other hand caressed the other. He wanted all her flesh inside

his mouth and he sucked in as much as he could, but still some of her firm flesh was denied

entrance. Surprisingly, her breasts felt fuller; perhaps her excitement had plumped up the flesh

somewhat.

 

Still sucking on her breasts, he slid his hand slowly down her flat stomach, circling her belly

button with fluid strokes, then squeezing and massaging the tender skin at her waist. Velvet. The

thought of pushing a finger into her sweet pussy made his cock throb. Next, his hand tickled the

hair at her mons and she arched upward, begging for his entrance. Not one to refuse a lady’s

request, Xandor slipped his hand between her thighs, holding it there. He liked the way her

thighs clasped him in a tight embrace. Moist heat met his hand when he slid one finger into her

pussy. Her flowery scent enveloped them. It was as if they’d stepped into a hot house filled with

exotic orchids.

 

She bucked, moaned and shoved against his hand. “Yes…” She sighed.

 

Setting a rhythm that alternated slow and fast finger-fucking, he soon had her aroused to a

fever pitch. Satisfaction flashed through him when her vagina gripped his finger in a tight spasm

while an orgasm ripped through her. Releasing the nipple he’d sucked to a hard peak, he glanced

upward. Her face was ecstatic, but he didn’t see any spasms in her body like she’d described to

him.

 

As if sensing his perusal, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. “That was nice.” Her tone

was throaty.

 

“Not a full-body orgasm, I assume?” She was so beautiful, her response so hot—he hoped it

wasn’t the Jekar. He wanted to continue.

 

Giggling, she stroked his face. “There will be no doubt when it occurs.” Glancing down his

arm to his hand between her thighs, her gaze turned heated again. “That feels so good,” she

wiggled her hips in a rotating motion, “but I want you inside me, like when you were my dream

lover.”

 

“Wouldn’t you like me to taste you?” His voice came out rough-edged.

 

“You have given my breasts wondrous attention, but it is time to move our relationship

deeper.”

 

Xandor smiled. He appreciated her humor, but she had misunderstood his wish to taste her.

Perhaps they didn’t practice oral sex here; that thought excited him inordinately. Good. Initiating

her into the pleasures of genitals and oral expertise, would give him the edge he might need

during the Jekar, in order to push her into a full-body climax.

 

Withdrawing his finger, he replaced it with his cock. He paused for a few seconds, enjoying

the sultry look that overcame her face when she noticed his slight nudge at her vagina. Her

brilliant eyes had been closed, but she opened them and stared at him, invitation flaring within

them as plainly as spoken language. Xandor slid in an inch at a time, watching her expressive

face when he eased all the way in.

 

By the sacred Dragon Fire, she was a tight fit. He was hungry, starved for her pussy.

 

He set a slow rhythm, sometimes thrusting his cock in with one long stroke, sometimes

bobbing in and out—withdrawing all but the last few inches of his length and shoving it back

and forth into the mouth of her pussy. This action worked her into a fervent pitch, her body

moved in conjunction with his while her head moved restlessly upon the soft grass beneath her.

Her soft sighs pleased him immensely.

 

“Oh, oh.” Her head thrashed as she moaned.

 

Wanting to keep the sexual heat as high as possible in order to move her closer to Jekar, he

sat up. He kept his legs together and his cock within her and positioned her in the dominant

position atop him. Her bent legs were spread on either side of his lower body while her hands

grasped his shoulders. At first her expression was perplexed, but then he shifted her lovely

derriere upon his cock and her face showed appreciative understanding.

 

Taking up the movements on her own, she slid back and forth in a rocking motion, an

ecstatic expression flushing her face. “Mmm, your vunu is so hard,” she said breathily.

 

Bracing his hands behind him, he watched, encouraging her to take over and guide the

action. Perhaps to attain Jekar the female had to be in control? He wasn’t sure, but wanted to

discover all the parameters of the experience. He loved the way his cock was sheathed to the hilt

in her moist heat. She leaned in toward him and grabbed his face, bringing it forward.

 

Her tongue plunged into his mouth while she continued her frenzied dance upon his cock.

While she moved in her sliding rhythm, he slipped his tongue in and out of her mouth. He

groaned when she changed her movements, gliding her pussy in a circular motion upon him, her

slick juices drenching his cock and pubic hair. When she did this, he stroked her tongue with

small circles, and she realized what he wanted. Matching the spherical movements of his tongue,

she rotated around his cock wildly.

 

She pulled up, the release causing a suction that made his cock ache. Shoving downward

quickly, she jammed herself to the hilt upon him. Repeating the motion, up and down, they both

jabbed tongues into each other’s mouths, replicating the stabbing movements she made upon his

cock. Gripping her hips to aid her, he thrust savagely upward into her pussy. His groans mingled

with hers.

 

“Yes!” She wiggled upon his cock for emphasis.

 

Her soft sighs turned into a longer, drawn out whimper, one he caught in his mouth, sucked

it in like sweet nectar.

 

His cock was swelling; he couldn’t hold off a climax much longer. Her pussy moved in slow

swirls upon him and then her vaginal ring gripped him in a tight clasp.

 

Pulling back from her lush lips, he bellowed, grasping her waist while he released his sperm.

Never taking her eyes from him, she continued her movements, slowing to a sensual rotation as

his seed spurted inside. Her pussy pulsed several times in a matching greedy rhythm.

 

They collapsed slowly to the ground after her body sagged in final release. He cuddled her

in his arms, soothing the velvety skin on one arm. Their sex had been wild and wonderful, but he

knew she’d not achieved Jekar.

 

Why didn’t that really disappoint him?

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

 

 

 

“You are a very powerful lover.” Her breath fanned his chest hair. It tickled.

 

“And you are a dream come true.” Never, though, had he dreamed of such a steamy

encounter.

 

She giggled at his double entendre.

 

A loud squawking sound interrupted anything else she might have been going to say.

Rolling over to her back beside him, she glanced at the sky with annoyance, and then spoke

loudly, “Can’t you give a girl a few minutes alone with her handsome wizard?”

 

A flutter of leaves in the small branch above their heads drew his eyes. Something like a

brilliant royal blue bird perched on a sprig of branch that appeared too fragile for it, even though

the creature could fit in his palm. Silvery leaves covered most of its form and he found himself

curious about it. Why had Zira spoken to it like it could understand?

 

“Well, you’d better come down if you want to be introduced,” she said with a laugh.

 

Wings fluttered madly—the animal had lost its balance and pitched downward in a fast,

awkward spiral, bouncing once at their feet. Astonishing. A tiny dragon, not a bird, sprawled in

an untidy heap. Its miniscule, clawed feet stuck straight up, while the force of its fall had

crimped its leathery wings into what looked like a very uncomfortable position.

 

“Is it dead?”

 

Giggling, she said, “Of course not, he’s too hard-headed for that.”

 

The small beast sat up, a groggy look on its funny, dragony face. “Yeep, yeep,” it yelped

loudly, gazing at Xandor’s companion with an accusatory look.

 

“It’s not my fault you still don’t know how to gauge your own weight.” She shook one

finger at the silly thing.

 

Changing tactics suddenly, the dragon fluffed its wings outward, glancing skyward quickly.

With a flurry it shot upward. It flew a dazzling display of spiraling swoops, squawking out

“yeep” the whole time.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Ak, my pet.”

 

“Oh.” He watched its crazy dance upon the wind. “What’s it doing?”

 

“Trying to catch dinner.”

 

Now Xandor saw the tiny bee-sized, winged bugs the little dragon pursued so

enthusiastically. Nearing one Ak opened his mouth and scooped it up while he flew by.

 

Taking one of her hands, he kissed it gently. “It’s getting late, I should be going.” He

glanced upward. “Besides, I have the feeling it…he is not very happy with my company.”

 

Laughing merrily, she nodded. “He is a jealous little lout.” Her gaze slid sideways. “If you

still wish to perform the Jekar, you may come to my house tomorrow.”

 

“I wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else.” He smiled deeply, feeling truly happy and at

peace. Sex today had been great. What would the Jekar be like?

 

Giving him a confusing mix of directions to a house nestled far into the woods, he nodded as

if it were a simple matter. In reality, he memorized her words, knowing he’d still have to use a

spell tomorrow to help guide him to her.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

The walk back to the inn was very pleasant. The silver-cream toned woods were filled with

strange wildlife. None he spotted physically, but lively choruses of bird-like and insect songs

vied for his attention. Closer to the inn, he did see a few more of the funny dragons flitting

between the large trees.

 

Now, he recalled that some of the townspeople had sported what he had taken to be brilliant

birds atop one shoulder. But since none had drawn near at the time, he didn’t get a good view of

them. In any event, the Sertoshian dragon was a far cry from the legendary beasts of Varzkar—

dragons to be proud of.

 

His room had grown chilly by the time he reached the inn, but he didn’t care since he

stripped immediately and dove beneath the thick covers.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

The next morning he bathed and dressed with care, feeling a little nervous. Just what would

the ceremony entail? And just how hard was it to get a Sertoshian maid to achieve a full-body

orgasm? He was her true mate, but would he be able to do the deed? It hit him that perhaps he

should approach her seduction with more than the usual sexual foreplay. Perhaps something

more unique would throw her into Jekar.

 

Outside, he called a local bird and whispered instructions to the tiny red thing, no bigger

then his thumb. He would have preferred one of the large purple species he’d seen fly overhead,

since they’d be easier to see. But they were resistant to his magic, while the red bird flew down

immediately. At least he shouldn’t have trouble tracking its bright color among the foliage.

 

Keeping up with the bird was harder than he first thought. Its size made it difficult to see in

the forest and it flew as fast as a bee. But luckily, it kept flying back to him every few minutes,

drawn by his spell, before flitting off ahead. After an hour of hiking fast down small trails and

pushing his way through heavy undergrowth, he burst through clinging vines into a large

clearing.

 

A small, but well-kept cottage sat in the center, its thatched roof reminding him of pictures

from old England. The sides were smooth, perhaps made from an earthen mixture, painted white,

with several green-shuttered windows brightening its exterior. Around the cottage were flowers

so profuse he couldn’t have walked without stepping on them, if not for the pathway of beige

stones winding through them.

 

Past the house, gardens spread out in wondrous display of husbandry. He’d already sampled

some of the local fare and his mouth watered just thinking about the delicious vegetables and

fruit offered here. Although, now it also hit him he’d not seen his fellow guests at the inn partake

of anything except a syrupy looking drink and slices of fruit.

 

Once he stopped in the cleared area directly in front of the house, the door opened wide and

a group of people flowed out. Zira was front and center, looking somewhat anxious. Grabbing

his hand, she introduced him first to her father, a man in his fifties. Then every relative was

named and each nodded to him in respect. He’d never remember all the names and didn’t even

try; thirty-some individuals was too overwhelming. After introductions, he spent almost an hour

answering questions about sorcery. Although the Sertoshians had no magical powers and

therefore no wizards, they were well-informed of the art and treated it with awe.

 

After everyone seemed to be satisfied about his background, they filtered outward, strolling

in the flower gardens and chatting among themselves. They left him totally alone with Zira,

except for her father, Wythoth. Giving each of them a solemn look, Wythoth held out his hands.

When Zira placed her right hand in her father’s nearest hand, Xandor received the message from

her eyes to do the same. Wythoth brought their hands together, palms flat against each other,

then fished a piece of beige twine from his pocket and wound it around their wrists.

 

“May the Jekar be successful,” he intoned in a deep voice.

 

“Jekar,” Zira repeated softly and then looked at him.

 

Xandor echoed her. Her father nodded and then walked away without another word. A

strange ceremony. But he was thankful for its brevity. Some cultures had marriage ceremonies

that stretched into days. Of course this ceremony would be more comparable to an engagement,

he guessed. Though of a temporary nature, if they didn’t achieve Jekar.

 

Taking his hand, she led him inside. Later, Xandor had vague recollections of a simply

furnished cottage, something that passed his conscious mind at the time. His attention was

centered on the huge task ahead of him. Zira opened a green door to a bedroom, hers he

assumed. A soft, fully-stuffed mattress covered in a patchwork quilt took up most of the cozy

room. His eyes barely flitted over a primitive dresser with feminine items scattered on top,

returning instead to the simply-made four poster bed.

 

Through the walls, he heard the chatter of all her relatives. The thought of them listening

dampened his ardor a bit. And who knew how much noise Zira might make if she reached Jekar?

 

“Are your relatives going to stay outside the whole time?” He couldn’t keep the discomfort

from shining through his words.

 

She giggled. “Yes, but don’t worry. They won’t hear anything.”

 

Not sure what to make of that remark, Xandor heard the very next instant a strange mix of

clanging and squeaks from the yard. Zira ignored the sounds, staring at him with a sultry look,

while he cocked his head, trying to discern what her relatives were up to. Suddenly, a mixture of

instruments started playing. He recognized a flute-like instrument and a softly beating drum. He

wasn’t sure of the other instruments. Probably they were unique to this world. Whatever the

source, her relatives did a very good job. The slow sensual music would cover any noise they

might make.

 

Without ado, Zira untied her tunic and let it slide slowly down her slender form. Just that

simple act excited him. He undressed quickly. Watching her face, he noted with interest the hazy

look that came into her eyes, almost like she had put herself into a self-induced trance. Climbing

into the bed, she spread her limbs and nodded toward silky scarves tied to the posts near her

hands.

 

Standing with his legs grazing the quilt, he looked down at her slim form, his cock already

engorged. “Do I need to tie you? Is this part of the Jekar?”

 

Her eyes grew large with inner excitement and that drug-like enhanced glow. “Yes. I must

not touch you until Jekar is near. Only then may I grip you in passion’s embrace.”

 

Her words had a ceremonial ring to them. Xandor shrugged mentally and reached over, to tie

her hands in a loose knot she could easily escape from. Then he climbed in at the foot of the bed,

settling himself between her splayed thighs. It was a singularly difficult spot for him. Her lovely,

alien pussy was right there in front of him, and he wanted nothing more than to plunge his cock

into it immediately. But the Jekar demanded more restraint.

 

Her breathing became heavier the longer he stared at her. Good. Gave him more time to do

something he’d been dying to do all along. The silver curls ran in a thin line along her labia, the

dark blue color shining through the pale hue of her hair. He wanted to see all of her hidden

charms.

 

“May I look at your flakora?” He purposefully used the Sertoshian word for the female

genitals. His questions yesterday to the old codgers at the inn and their subsequent telling him

more than he asked had paid off.

 

“Yes. Oh yes, please.” Her legs trembled.

 

Unexpectedly, she drew her legs upward until her heels rested just below her hips and then

spread her thighs wider.

 

A much better view.

 

Gently, he pulled her labia apart. She had no inner folds like human females, only smooth

blue flesh all the way to her vaginal channel topped by a nubbin of skin in approximately the

same location as a clit would be. A sweet blueberry, just waiting to be eaten. She was already

moist. He watched as her small vaginal entrance pulsed once, like an exquisite flower opening

and closing. Purposefully, he didn’t touch her. He wanted her to squirm and beg him to fondle

her before he would allow himself to do so. At the same time he felt like begging her to let him

plunge his cock into her soft flesh.

 

Xandor glanced upward. Zira stared down at him, her face washed with sexual desire, while

her hands clutched the silky scarves for dear life. Her breathing was ragged and her stomach

quivered. Not yet, my lovely. With that thought, he eased the lips closed, holding his hand cupped

over her mons. Her groan flashed through him like a physical touch.

 

He actually felt her pussy grow warmer beneath his touch. His little finger nestled in her slit

and it became soaked with her juices. He brought his hand up, letting her see her fluids coating

his finger. Slowly, he licked the thick liquid from his finger. Her breath hitched.

 

“Do you dare guess what I’m going to do to you?”

 

“No—don’t tell me.”

 

“Only that I am going to make you desire me as you have no other man before.”

 

Her delicate eyelids fluttered closed and she moaned. “I already do.”

 

Kneeling now, he clasped his hands briefly, calling forth a spell, one that caused a long

feather to grow in quicksilver speed from the tips of each forefinger. Then, leaning over her

body, he stroked each feather down her body. Beginning with her sensitive neck, he ran them

down her sides, all the way to her toes.

 

He repeated this several times, without coming any nearer her other erogenous zones,

pausing only when a ticklish reaction overcame her features. For the most part, she just gazed at

him sultrily and arched her body to meet the softness of the pleasure instruments. His fingers

brushed her flesh as well, and he was astounded by the downiness of her body hair. Even the

short, silvery hairs covering her legs, were silken.

 

“Your skin is so soft.”

 

While he spoke, he slithered the downy quills down her middle, again avoiding her breasts

and stopping just short of the curls atop her mons. Moving around her groin, he stroked the

feathers up and down her legs, slipping them to her inner thighs. His cock ached to plunge into

her softest flesh. Her eyes, darkened with lust, stayed on his movements. Her breath caught when

he played around her thighs.

 

The light caresses came back up her body, this time centering on her swollen breasts, around

and around, until she bit her lower lip. Only then did he flick her hardened nipples, adding them

into the play around her breasts. His nipples ached in sympathy, desired to be played with.

Would she suckle him, give his sensitive nipples the attention he planned on giving hers?

 

Sliding the quills ultra-slowly, he edged straight toward her pussy, watching the heat flicker

across her face. She held her breath when the feathers fluffed her curls, and then dipped to the

outside of her lips, tickling and massaging gently. She gave a loud groan, then flounced

restlessly.

 

It pleased him to see moisture gathering in the line of her lips. So he breathed deeply,

enticed by the heady, flowery odor of her desire. His cock surged at the thought of thrusting first

his tongue then his shaft deep into her tight pussy.

 

“You are torturing me.” Her words shoved past a moan.

 

“Do you wish me to stop?” His face was serious, but he wasn’t.

 

“No!” Her answer shot out swift and loud.

 

“Good, then I think you’re ready for the more extreme foreplay.” He just hoped it’d be

enough to plunge her into the Jekar.

 

She trembled, her gaze eager.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

 

 

 

Again Xandor rocked back on his heels and clasped his hands, concentrating with all his

power on the spell. First, he withdrew the quills into his fingers. Then, even while he bowed his

head over his hands, they were rendered into a putty softness by his chant and short, downy

feathers sprouted over all the flesh.

 

Zira’s eyes widened, a touch of fear flickering in their depths while she watched the process.

Repeating the performance with the two quills, he started at her neck, but this time the jelly-like

quality of his hands both massaged and stroked when they followed the prior pathway.

 

By the time he reached her breasts again, she was arching to meet his caresses and moaning

little “ohs” of pleasure. Working over her breasts in his present state was most pleasant. The

softness of his hands created a unique sensation for him, as well for her. Jelly softness met firm

flesh. He wondered what her soft, wet pussy would feel like on his engorged cock.

 

Those tiny breasts were certainly responding, plumping up nicely beneath his massage, like

they were actually growing larger. He wanted to suckle them so badly, his mouth watered, but he

restrained himself.

 

With surprise, he realized each tit filled the whole of each hand. Rearing back a bit, he

stared at them, shock riveting through him. They’d grown from an undersized “A” to at least a

good sized “B” cup. Perhaps it was something that occurred during intense sexual stimulus, but

didn’t want to break the mood by asking.

 

His teasing and kneading, his double-edged assault—the downy feathers and jelly quality of

his flesh, drove her mad with desire. He saw it in her tense face, the trembling of tiny muscles

beneath her skin, and the increasingly rapid breathy moans.

 

“Oh, Xandor, what are you doing to me?”

 

He stroked the baby soft flesh at the joining of her thighs and then circled her curls, moving

at a snail’s pace toward the center of her pleasure. At long last, he flitted gently over her mons,

alternating the feather light touches with firmer pressure on her lips. Her butt rose off the bed,

begging him to enter her. His cock was so hard with that same urge he felt ready to explode.

 

The legs pressed to either side of him trembled. Satisfied she surely must be near an

orgasmic state, he slid his right hand into her folds, rubbing it up and down. Rotating her hips,

she thrust against his hand.

 

Wet heat. He wanted to taste her hot, rose-scented juices so badly. But he clamped down on

that desire. His seduction had design and purpose.

 

Concentrating briefly, he magically re-firmed his fingers. By the time he decided to slip a

feathered finger inside, it was already slick with her juices. He rammed the finger in swiftly,

taking a different tack than the gentle strokes earlier. Gasping loudly, she bucked upward. He’d

been right. She was ready for something harder, something to drive her over the edge. Finger

fucking her hard, he got the reaction he wanted. She came swiftly, grasping his finger tight with

her inner muscles.

 

His cock ached for her, but he wanted her to make the first move toward their joining.

Instead of withdrawing, he continued to stroke her insides with a gentle gliding motion. Her

moans had ceased and he dared a glance upward. Those dark eyes were lit with a fiery need. She

fumbled with the scarves, and then reached for him. He slipped his hand from between her thighs

and slid slowly up her body.

“I’m going to fuck you until you scream.”

 

“Quit talking and fuck me then!”

 

His cock slid inside her pussy as he descended on her delectable lips. He plunged full length

into her softness. It took all his self-control not to climax as her tight sheath clamped around him.

The inside of her mouth was hot and so was her tight pussy, wrapping around him with a steamy

snugness. Plunging into both warm, wet orifices at the same time, gave him double pleasure.

 

Releasing her lips, he licked swiftly down her chest. He concentrated on a plump breast,

even though he had to twist his body slightly due to the height difference and squeeze the breast

upward.

 

Sucking hard on her nipple sent a charge of heat to his already sensitive cock. He suckled

greedily. Couldn’t get enough of that wondrous taste. Continuing his fierce assault on her breast,

he thrust into her hard as well, enjoying Zira’s moaned responses. Loosing her breasts, he

grasped her thighs and brought them upward, draping her legs over his shoulders. Stretching his

body out like he was going to do pushups, he balanced on his toes. The contact between pussy

and cock was intense and deep.

 

Her muscles tightened around him, and glancing at her face, he saw it had deepened to a

dark blue. She had squeezed her eyes tightly shut. In this position he would easily see if she went

into Jekar or not. Slamming into her forcefully, he thrust his cock all the way home, eliciting a

string of gasping moans.

 

“Yes, harder. Harder!” she cried, then her whole body went rigid, and he had to clasp her

hips tight to keep the genital contact.

 

He never stopped his strokes, watching in fascination when the flesh all over her body

quivered. Reaching between their bodies, he kneaded one breast hard, and then rubbed the nipple

between his fingers just as harshly.

 

The quivers rippled into a body spasm, as if she were epileptic. Zira screamed. Not a gentle

lover’s yelp, but a full-throated cry that pierced his eardrums. “Aw yeee!”

 

Without losing his rhythm, he continued plunging into her hot wetness, riding her orgasm

with a huge one of his own. He tensed, shuddered, then released his seed and a rough yell of his

own, although his couldn’t match hers in volume.

 

“Zira.” He exhaled, as he pumped out the last of his sperm. Only when her body lost its

rigidity and she collapsed in a loose-limbed heap did he stop his movements, which had slowed

to gentle thrusts.

 

Easing down, he rolled to the side, wrapping his arms about her to bring her along. After a

few minutes, she glanced up at him.

 

“You did it.”

 

“We did it.” He kissed her cute nose. “What now?”

 

She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “We rest here a bit, regain some strength.” She

smiled at his responding laugh. “Then we can…I don’t know, do whatever you wish for the rest

of the day.”

 

“I’d like to spend it with you, preferably somewhere else though.”

 

Giggling softly, she snuggled down into his arms and they drifted off to sleep.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Awakening later, Xandor glanced at his solar watch. They’d only napped about half an hour.

He wanted to spend as much time as possible getting to know his sweet alien love. After all, they

barely knew anything about each other.

 

A chuck under his chin got his attention, and he looked down. Zira was awake and smiling,

a very pleased expression on her face. But upon meeting his eyes her expression clouded.

“Wizard, if we attain full Jekar, what then?”

 

He sighed. “First, please call me Xandor.” He paused. “We must return to Varzkar, so I can

try to attain the fifth level.”

 

Her gaze flitted to his chest. “Yes, I remember you explaining that.” Chewing her lower lip,

she turned her lovely blue eyes upward once more. They were full of doubt. “But, Xandor, I do

not wish to leave my home. I love my father. I have many dear friends…and,” she waved an arm

at the room at large, “this planet is special. Even you must sense this.”

 

“I do, but there are wonders I wish to show you, why—“

 

She placed a finger over his lips. “Not now, please.” Her eyelashes fluttered down against

her velvety skin.

 

Something in that simple gesture told him she was feeling fragile at this moment, that he

shouldn’t push it. Giving her nose a peck, he said, “Then, let’s just go enjoy the rest of the day.”

With that, he jumped up and dressed, pretending not to examine her countenance while she did

the same.

 

His sweet siren had every reason to be concerned. She had been raised on one world and had

never traveled outside its limits. She loved her people and this planet and she saw no reason to

go beyond what it offered. His task then had been doubled.

 

Not only must he attain Jekar with her, but he must also convince her that going with him

would be a fabulous experience. Xandor mulled things over swiftly. He knew he could introduce

her to many wonders, at least verbally. But he thought it would also be a good idea to make steps

toward friendship. If she liked him, as well as desired his lovemaking, leaving Sertosh wouldn’t

be as hard a choice to make.

 

Once they exited the cottage, the crowd of relatives all shouted “Jekar” in unison. He and

Zira were surrounded by jovial Sertoshians who clapped them on their backs, wishing them well

with the other two Jekar days. They must have heard the sonic scream Zira had emitted,

otherwise, how would they know Jekar had been achieved?

 

Relatives served them refreshments and slices of delicious fruits. After a while, he

whispered, “Are you ready to go?” At her nod, he grasped her hand. They waved goodbye when

they headed for the woods.

 

“Where do you wish to go?”

 

“Just for a walk with my girl.”

 

She smiled only slightly; a worried look still creased her brow. He wanted to smooth her

worries away, but had no idea how. “Why don’t we go back to the spot where we met? It’s a

lovely place,” he said finally.

 

It didn’t take long to reach their destination. They found a grassy knoll and he sat with his

back against a tree while Zira sat cross-legged a few feet away. Xandor remembered being

surprised at the softness of the grass when they first made love. It almost felt like carpeting.

 

Zira stared at the flowers next to her and gently caressed their leaves, but her thoughts were

obviously elsewhere. Clearing his throat, he drew her attention to him, and then asked about her

life and friends. At first she was hesitant, but soon enthusiasm overcame her while she told him

little tidbits from her childhood. He laughed along with her, entertained in spite of himself. One

trait he was known for was his seriousness. Some wizards claimed he never laughed, but that

wasn’t true.

 

His laughter was simply meagerly meted out. He took his schooling too seriously and had

little time for frivolity. But while they talked, he found it easy to joke and laugh with the lovely

Zira. Getting into the spirit of the conversation, she started asking him questions about his

homeland and youth, clearly skirting his wizard training or life on Varzkar.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Xandor confused her a little, but mainly fascinated her. On the one hand, he was a powerful

wizard, on the other, as a youngster, he’d led a reckless, carefree life. A bold contrast. She’d

definitely decided he was very handsome, after she’d gotten used to his differences. Especially

after seeing him nude.

 

Muscles rippled along his body—not huge in girth like Debothor wrestlers, more like his

body had been formed by years of constant activity. Asking him just that question, she was not

surprised by his answer—he swam everyday in the pool at his wizard school. Just the mention of

his institution made her edgy, so she changed subjects again, asking him more questions about

his mother, who he seemed very fond of.

 

Xandor appeared so solemn most of the time, she was happy to find she could make him

laugh. He seemed much younger when he relaxed. She thought he took himself and his studies

too seriously. He needed to live more, love more. A smile flickered at that thought; he certainly

was doing just that now, here on Sertosh. Maybe she was a good influence on him.

But those considerations brought back his comment of needing to return immediately to

Varzkar. How could she? It was true her life was simple, but she was very content. She had

needed nothing, until she started dreaming of her mate to come, and even then it never crossed

her mind he would be anything but a fellow Sertoshian.

 

Then, this powerful, handsomely exotic stranger slipped out of my dreams and walked into

my life.

 

She slid her eyes sideways to examine Xandor while he told her some tale of childhood

pranks. He had a brilliant mind, schooled in many subjects, and his magic was awesome in its

might. He could be a ruler of a planet if he wished, but somehow Zira sensed he would not

pursue such a power-driven goal. He’d mentioned aiding planets; she was dying to question him

further, but at the same time, didn’t want to bring up his sorcery and his homeworld.

 

How could she leave this place she loved and go off into a strange, frightening environment

she knew nothing of, except that which he explained? He was someone who counted in this

universe; she was a simple maid with only ten years of schooling. She pictured herself standing

next to him, surrounded by wizards flinging magic spells around until the very air filled up with

dancing sparkles. While she watched in fascination, she began to shrink, until she was no bigger

than Xandor’s hand.

 

A squawk shook her from the silly reverie. Ak landed awkwardly on her dress. Here was an

individual who really was the size of her hand and it didn’t seem to faze him one iota. Not liking

the direction of her musings, she turned to her companion.

 

When he spied Ak perched on her shoulder, he said, smiling at them both, “You never did

introduce us.”

 

“Ak, this is Xandor, a powerful wizard.”

 

“Yeep.”

 

“Pleased to meet you,” he said politely.

 

Zira was sure he didn’t think Ak could understand him.

 

“Pleased,” Ak chirped.

 

Xandor’s shock was plain. His whole expression said, Did I just hear a dragon speak?

 

 

 

 

Chapter Ten

 

 

 

“You’d better close your mouth before a vaqi flies into it.” Zira chuckled.

 

“Vaqi—where?” the yeep asked and looked around with swift, jerky movements of its tiny

head.

 

Zira tickled Ak’s underbelly. “Nowhere, you silly.”

 

“I…I had no idea he could talk.”

 

She giggled. “Of course not. Only rudimentary words and he understands about the same

level too.”

 

Staring at the blue figure perched atop her shoulder, he said, “I’m very pleased to meet you,

Ak.”

 

The dragon blinked its brilliant ruby red eyes at him, and then yawned. Without further ado

its head drooped and snores erupted in occasional snorting fits.

 

“Tell me about these wondrous creatures?” The tiny dragon fascinated him.

 

“It is a yeep…so named for its strange call.” She stroked the dragon’s chest. “They are

favored as pets.”

 

Xandor nodded. “I can see why. Do the yeeps have any magic abilities?”

 

“No. They are simply cute, entertaining animals.”

 

He found that somewhat disappointing. A dragon was not always a dragon, he guessed.

 

Suddenly, Ak snorted loudly and then unceremoniously flopped forward onto Zira’s chest,

claws still clutching her dress. His snorts were muffled against her tunic but she went on talking,

not paying the slightest attention to her pet.

 

“Um,” he pointed, “aren’t you going to do anything about him?” The yeep presented a most

undignified picture.

 

She cranked her neck down and sideways. “He’s all right.”

 

“Looks uncomfortable.” What he really wanted to say was that he looked totally ridiculous.

 

She shrugged. “If it bothers you.” With that she wiggled her hand beneath Ak and shoved

upward. He blinked, half-awake now, and he resettled on her shoulder in a proper position.

 

“Food!” he squeaked loudly and took off in an abrupt burst of energy, causing Zira’s hair to

fluff out wildly.

 

Xandor watched the little dragon scoop up several vaqi. He had to admire the little guy’s

flying ability, but so far, other than the language skills, he was rather disappointing. He had

hoped when seeing the tiny dragon, it would be a magical being like the legendary Varzkar

dragon, but the little yeep simply wasn’t made of the same material.

 

Landing again on his mistress’s shoulder wide-eyed and alert, Ak looked around—probably

searching out more food sources.

“Ezlor!” The yeep jumped off Zira’s shoulder onto her lap, then hopped and skidded onto

the earth, crawling with clumsy shambling movements towards a low growing bush. His walk

resembled a bat using its wings like a second pair of legs. Creepy.

 

“No, you don’t.” Zira reached for the tiny beast, but missed him. In spite of his awkward

locomotion, he was fast even on the ground.

 

Ak’s head reappeared from the bush, a wiggling white caterpillar grasped in his beak-like

mouth. He looked at them like he’d done something fascinating, and then made a gulping

motion, trying to swallow the insect down like a snake would.

 

“I said no.” Zira’s voice was very frustrated. She grabbed the dragon by the neck and turned

toward Xandor. “Can you help me please?”

 

“What do you want me to do?”

 

Placing her fingers on either side of Ak’s beak, she pulled up and down at the same time.

“Grab the ezlor and gently pull him out.”

 

“Why?” He frowned. “It’s just a caterpillar, and you let Ak eat those flying bugs.”

 

“Please, just do it, then I’ll explain.”

 

Shrugging, somewhat tired of the silliness, Xandor gingerly grasped the insect and pulled it

out. He shook his hand, trying to dislodge the bug, ignoring Zira’s yelped “Don’t!” But it had

somehow attached itself with sticky feet to his finger and clung on with determination.

 

“Don’t tell me this is another pet?” he asked sarcastically, but wondered immediately after

the words left his mouth, if it might be true. “These things don’t bite, do they?”

 

Blowing a lock of hair from her eyes, Zira shot a look of annoyance at him. “No. And yes,

they are often kept as pets, but that one is not mine.”

 

“Oh.” Examining the fat caterpillar, which was approximately the size of his forefinger in

width and length, he couldn’t see anything that would make it interesting as a pet. Fuzzy black

hairs covered its underbelly and large black eyes stared back at him. An ugly white worm

creature with black hairs. It made the yeep look like a jewel by comparison. “Do I dare ask why

it is kept as a pet?”

 

Zira’s aggravation had fled, replaced with a smile of delight. “Put out your hand, palm up.”

 

After he did, she reached over and tickled the ezlor’s sides, whereupon, it released its grip

on his finger and rolled onto his palm, lying there on its back like the fat slug it was. Next,

Xandor’s lover started a lively humming. The caterpillar’s body trembled and then it leapt into

an upright position, stretched horizontally across his hand. Xandor’s palm tickled, so he peered

beneath the fat cylinder body and spied tiny feet. It shocked him. The feet looked very much like

the cartoon feet of the ancient Mickey Mouse of Earth.

 

Astonishing him further, the little ezlor began to dance. Moving in rhythm to Zira’s

humming, its tiny stick legs and oblong feet jiggled up and down, tapping in time to the beat

against his palm.

 

“Your mouth is open again.”

 

Xandor shut his mouth, but then let loose with the laughter he’d been suppressing. “What an

amazing insect.” He couldn’t keep the delight from his voice. Truly, this ugly bug had turned out

to be even more entertaining then the clumsy Ak. “Can I keep him?”

 

“It.”

 

“What?” he muttered, his attention on the insect.

 

“They’re hermaphroditic.”

 

“Oh, that’s handy.” He grinned, genuinely impressed.

 

“And, yes, you can keep it, as long as it doesn’t bear the mark of an owner. Here.” She

flipped the now quiescent bug over on its back. She poked gently at its belly, causing it to stretch

so that its underside was clearly visible. “No owner’s mark. Guess you get to keep it.”

 

“How are they marked?”

 

“The owner’s initials are painted on.” She pointed to its ugly, slug belly.

 

“Doesn’t that hurt the ezlor?”

 

Shaking her head, she flipped the insect back on its feet. “It’s a special harmless mixture that

lasts for months.”

 

“How…do I take care of it? What does it eat? Where should I keep it?”

 

They both noticed at the same time that Ak was crawling down Zira’s arm toward Xandor’s

hand. “No!” Zira and Xandor screamed in unison.

 

Their shouts startled the yeep, who plunged over backwards. With a squawk and a ruffling

of his leathery wings, he took off, giving them both angry looks.

 

“Frustrated?”

 

“Yes, but probably hungry this time.” Tapping her cheek, she stared at him. “I guess you

wouldn’t have a box on you?”

 

“No, but I can whisk one up.”

 

“That’s right.” Her eyes shone with interest when he conjured a small box.

 

He’d made it rectangular and about nine inches long. “Is this too little?”

 

“Should be just about right.” She took it from him, examining it on all sides, as if a magical

box must surely be special. Seemingly aware of his amused stare, Zira looked slightly

embarrassed and set the box on the ground.

 

Scooping up handfuls of earth, she dumped them inside, pushing most of it to one side of the

container. Next, she grabbed a bunch of the silvery-green grass underfoot and placed it in the

cleared area of the box. “You can put it in now.”

 

The caterpillar crawled slowly around the perimeter, seemed to sniff the grass, and then

went to the humped dirt and began to burrow.

 

“It’s making a nest.”

 

“Hmmm, I thought so.” Watching the fast-moving bug, he said, “You know, I can’t

 

keep calling it ‘it’. I should name it.”

 

Thinking and mulling, he couldn’t seem to come up with anything original or charming.

Finally he said, “I’ll call it ‘Worm’.”

 

“Does that mean anything in your language?”

 

Flushing a dark pink, he answered, “It’s a word for a creature that crawls on its belly and

digs in the ground.”

 

Laughing merrily and slapping her thighs, she exclaimed, “So, wizard, not everything you

produce comes out magic.”

 

He frowned, not sure if he appreciated her humor at his expense. She seemed to enjoy

teasing him. But then, he realized he liked it too.

 

Setting the box down, he asked Zira if she’d ever owned an ezlor. After that, their

conversation turned into an exchange of information about pets they’d owned. His dogs and cats,

creatures she considered exotic, fascinated her—even though to him, next to a yeep or ezlor, they

seemed pretty tame.

 

Soon, she seemed completely at ease, laying her head in his lap while they talked. And boy

did they talk. At one point, he asked, “What did you want to be when you grew up?”

 

Zira’s giggle delighted him.

 

“I wanted to explore space when I was little.” She shrugged. “But then, I became interested

in teaching young children.”

 

“And are you a teacher?”

 

“Yes, at the local school for Sertosh children between three and five.” She smiled. “Of

course, I’m still in training.”

 

“That’s wonderful. Teachers are highly respected on all the planets I’ve visited.”

 

Her lovely eyes sparkled at his compliment.

For hours they discussed their lives. He knew more about Zira at the end of the evening then

he had ever known about any human companion.

 

It pleased him that they shared the same love for and interest in animals, that they both were

concerned with preserving natural environments, and dearly loved long walks in shadowy

forests. He seized that for an opportunity to tell her of the woods he’d discovered on other

worlds. She gasped when he explained about the whispering willows of Sartus Ten, and her eyes

grew larger after he described the deadly aruztoo trees, which were capable of wrapping limber

branches around a person and choking them to death.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

It had started to cool a bit and evening was fast approaching, but neither was ready to part

company yet. Xandor materialized his cloak from his inn room, spreading it over them. Although

it was only early fall and still comfortably warm in the daylight hours, the nights on Sertosh were

quite chilly. Something fluttered overhead and they both glanced up. Surprise hit Xandor when

Ak landed on his shoulder.

 

“That’s odd.”

 

“What?” Did she mean he or the yeep?

 

“He never takes to strangers.”

 

Glancing toward the tiny dragon, Xandor was startled when it met his look, eye-to-eye. It

hadn’t fallen asleep immediately as seemed to be its nature. Turning back to her, he whispered,

“Maybe he thinks if he makes nice with me, I’ll give him the ezlor.”

 

“Probably still mad at me.”

 

He chuckled, sure she’d hit it on the head. The perching yeep on his shoulder was rather

nice, and to be accepted by your lover’s pet was important. But, he couldn’t get a good look at

the little fellow in this position.

 

Propping one hand on a bended knee, he stuck out his forefinger. “Ak, would you sit here?”

 

A ruffling against his hair told him the yeep intended to comply with his request, but he felt

a painful tugging and Ak screeched loudly in his ear.

 

“Hold on.” Zira laughed and knelt next to his side. “He’s gotten tangled in your hair.” After

a minute of hair-pulling and yeep-grumbling, everyone resettled into their former positions,

except the dragon, who now perched on Xandor’s finger.

 

Unobtrusively he rubbed his thumb against the animal’s lower belly. As he’d expected, the

skin felt like fine leather. Ak purred, which he found delightful. Closing his other hand into a

fist, he stuck it in front of the yeep’s face. It drew the dragon’s lively attention to his hand.

Unfurling his fingers, Xandor watched with amusement when the dragon squawked happily and

swooped to gulp up the vaqi Xandor had materialized from overhead into his palm.

After that, Ak really warmed up to him, eying his hand hopefully every few minutes.

Xandor wanted to explore the yeep’s language capacity, so ignored its greedy looks. He found by

using simple two or three word phrases, he could carry on a crude conversation with the tiny

creature. The yeep’s mind was refreshingly uncluttered with the worries of humanoids.

 

By the time twilight began creeping through the trees around them, Xandor had laughed

many times at the yeep’s funny observations. In return, Ak seemed to eat up the attention Xandor

gave him.

 

The yeep suddenly screeched in his ear and took off skyward. He circled another, smaller

dragon, squawking in intermittent yeeps.

 

“That’s his mate,” Zira said with a chuckle.

 

“I take it that is his mating call.” At her nod, he couldn’t help but grin. To each his own.

 

Sighing loudly, Zira stated, “It’s getting late. We should be going.”

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

“Of course.” He sprang upward and pulled her up beside him. “Let me walk you home.”

 

By the time they reached her cottage, it had already turned dark. He conjured a lantern and

luckily Zira knew the way with confidence through the dense brush and overhanging trees.

 

“See you tomorrow?”

 

“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.” He kissed her nose lightly.

 

“You have many strange sayings.”

 

“You’ll get used to them.” The foreboding on her lovely face made him uncomfortable.

Clearly, she still had not cemented her decision to go with him. Her features were drawn. “I’d

better get going. You look tired.”

 

Glancing at the heavy darkness of the woods, she said, “Perhaps I should have walked you

home.”

 

“No problem.” Xandor snapped his fingers, calling down a huge lunar moth bigger than Ak,

which landed on his hand. “Just give him the general directions.”

 

She did, peering with wonder at the giant insect’s attentive attitude, the way its antennae

waved slowly while she talked.

 

After she finished her instructions, the moth flew with slow grace upward, circling

overhead, waiting for him. Placing his arms about her, Xandor pulled her close, giving her a

slow, soft kiss, one meant to express love, not passion. She looked perplexed when they parted, a

mixture of both happiness and sadness.

 

With a backward wave, he followed the moth. The fact that the insect glowed in the dark

made it easy to keep in view. On the lovely stroll to the inn, he had much to mull over.

 

Sex with Zira was wild and passionate. Better than he could have dreamed possible. But,

during their long hours of talking today, he had also discovered he liked the petite blue woman.

He’d never met a sweeter person. Her open attitude, and her wonder at the small discoveries he’d

mentioned, invited more disclosures. It would be very satisfying to watch Zira while they

explored the galaxies together, almost as if he were investigating them for the first time, too.

 

Surprisingly, he had found they thought along the same lines about many topics. They

would need to discuss so many more in order to truly know one another, but he looked forward

to the task. Xandor fingered the necklace nestled snugly under his vest. Truly, the piece had great

power imbued into it, to lead him to a mate so perfect for him. The odds were astronomical and

the mathematical calculations probably mind-blowing.

 

Later, as he prepared for bed, he realized one important fact—Zira liked him too. He could

see it in her eyes and the easy way she responded to him. Acquaintances had told him of cases

where they met someone and had instant rapport. He’d never experienced it, until now. It felt

like they’d known each other for years. They clicked.

 

Having passed one Jekar, he was confident he could release two more body orgasms from

his lovely mate to be. Now, if he could but calm her fears, her heart would speak the final truth

between them. He had won her passion and friendship. Now he must win her love.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

The next morning, he arrived at her cottage at ten, as they’d arranged the evening before. No

crowd greeted him, which provided some relief. Zira and her father met him outside, and

Wythoth gave the same short ceremonial speech as the previous day, then waved them on their

way. Strolling in the garden, holding hands, he asked, “Where do we go for the Jekar?”

 

Shrugging she said, “Anywhere you want.”

 

“We don’t have to do it in your bedroom again?”

 

She giggled softly. “No, that was only for the first ceremonial Jekar.”

 

“Great.” Xandor rubbed his chin in thought. “Let’s go to your most favorite place.”

 

“Okay.” Her face lit with delight.

 

Stopping her in mid-track by tugging her hand, he asked, “But how will your father or

relatives know we attained the second Jekar?”

 

“Simple.” She whistled and the yeep swept down from a branch overhead, making a

skidding landing on her shoulder. “Ak will report to my father.”

 

“He’ll take a dragon’s word?”

 

Nodding, she smiled. “Yeeps never lie.”

 

“Uh huh.” He examined the already blinking creature, wondering how Ak would stay awake

long enough to report anything back.

 

It didn’t take long before Zira parted some thickly-branched flowery bushes and stepped into

a tiny clearing, no bigger than her cottage. Carpeted in the soft silvery green grass, the edges

overflowed with purple, yellow and blue flowers. At one end, a miniature waterfall sprinkled

clear blue water over layers of rock into a two-foot pool below. A perfect setting for a seduction.

 

Alas, they wouldn’t be able to make love within the limits of the sparkling pond, but it

would aid his magic. The explosion of leaves over their heads heralded Ak’s arrival. Xandor

didn’t know if he liked the idea of a tiny dragon watching them, but having no choice, decided to

ignore his presence.

 

“Are you sure we won’t be interrupted?”

 

“Positive. This is my father’s land and he never comes here anymore. And my fellow

Sertoshians are very respectful of others’ property and privacy.”

 

Satisfied, Xandor clasped her within his arms, kissing her deeply. Her mouth was warm and

inviting, her tongue honey flavored. He unlaced her dress and belt, sliding the tunic down her

form slowly. He nuzzled her neck, enjoying the silken slide of her hair against him. Her skin

smelled sweet, and he wanted to taste it. Kissing each exposed patch of flesh as the material

slithered downward, his cock twitched as the velvety skin met his lips.

 

After stripping her bare and warming her body to a dark flushed hue with his attention, he

stepped backwards. “Undress me,” he commanded.

 

Breathing raggedly, she complied, taking her time as he had. Her hands grazed his skin,

making shivers erupt wherever she touched. Then her tongue and lips set his flesh afire, licking

and nipping while she uncovered it. His breathing was labored by the time he too was nude.

When she gave his nipples flicks of her tongue, he ached for her to suckle them. And she did. His

balls tightened. Her hot mouth felt so good.

 

“Now, close your eyes and trust me.” She gave him a worried glance, but did like he asked.

Concentrating briefly, Xandor poured power into his hands, and then using a lifting motion,

levitated Zira into the air. Gently, he rotated her body backward, until she floated horizontally at

his waist.

 

“What are you doing? I feel strange.” Panic edged her voice.

 

“I am using my magic. Open your eyes, but remember to trust me.”

 

She gasped and flounced. Quickly, he gained her side and smoothed the hair at her brow. All

heat was gone from her eyes, replaced by fear.

 

“There’s nothing to fear Zira. I am levitating your body, it is an experience I hope you will

come to love.”

 

Stretching her neck, she stared down at her body. “But, there is nothing beneath me.”

 

Chuckling, he replied, “As there shouldn’t be.”

 

“Xandor, I cannot float in the air with nothing between me and the ground. Please, release

me.” Her eyes were glued to his, fear making them darker.

 

An idea struck him and with a wave of his hand, he materialized a cottony-looking

substance beneath her. He gave it a soft consistency so she would feel its pressure beneath her

flesh. It stuck out about a foot all around the edge of her body.

 

“Is that better?”

 

“Yes.” Her voice still trembled, but just barely.

 

“I’m sorry if I frightened you, beloved. It was thoughtless of me. I have been a sorcerer so

long, sometimes I forget not everyone is familiar with things I take for granted.” He would have

to slow down, make sure Zira accepted this magic before moving on.

 

She stared up at him, a tentative smile replacing the frozen grimace. “You are forgiven. You

promise I won’t fall?”

 

“Never, not as long as I stand here alive before you.”

 

Sighing deeply, she closed her eyes. “Like this?”

 

Brushing the silken locks at her jaw line, he soothed her with soft love words. He was proud

that she had remembered his instruction in spite of the traumatic experience he’d flung on her.

Leaning down, he kissed her gently, the pressure as light as yesterday’s feathers had been.

Repeatedly, he kissed her lovely face, down to her swan neck and then back again to her lips.

Just kissing her made him rock hard. Soon, she was relaxed; her body sagged into the downy

substance beneath her.

 

“Open your eyes, I don’t want you to be surprised by the magic I have planned for you.”

 

Her curious stare stayed on him while he palmed his hands and centered his powers.

 

The water of the tiny pool started bubbling, something she couldn’t see. Several clouds the

size of watermelons erupted from the stew, bursting forth from the liquid as if they’d been bound

by magic to the pool’s essence. With a wave of his hand he sent one over each of Zira’s lovely

breasts, keeping the last off to the side for now.

 

“What?” She stared at the puffy confections.

 

“Shhh.” He smiled. “Just ride the experience. Don’t question the magic.” Surely, she

wouldn’t be frightened of cute little rain clouds.

 

Not taking her eyes from the pale blue clouds, she still gasped when Xandor snapped his

fingers and the tiny mass of moisture-laden air started raining on her breasts. “It’s cold,” she

cried, jerking away.

 

“Sorry.” Lug-head.

 

With a wave over her body, he changed the water to a most pleasant warmth.

 

“Better?”

 

“Oh, yes. Very nice.” She couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. “Are you giving me a

bath before we start?”

 

“No, I’m washing you in my magic.”

 

Zira didn’t understand what he was talking about, but concentrated on the pleasing shower,

which hit her breasts and nipples like thousands of tiny massaging fingers. She didn’t have to

look down to know her nipples had hardened—not merely due to the water hitting them. Shards

of aching desire flashed through her pebbled nipples. They had become quickly excited by the

surprising magical shower.

 

The rain changed in rhythm, became harder in spots and lighter in others. The next minute,

the drizzle shifted again, hitting her sensitized breasts in different areas. Glancing at Xandor, she

saw him waving his hands at the clouds and directing their showering movements. Like a music

director. She almost giggled at that thought, but her flakora ached too much for laughter.

 

She couldn’t hold back a moan—the rain massaged her nipples into hard, aching nubs. They

responded to the rain like a lover, thrusting skyward to offer better access. She fixed her eyes on

her wizard. It was as if every time his strong hands made a movement directing the down-

pouring liquid, he stroked her swollen breasts himself. Desire flashed through her. Keeping her

eyes on him, she watched with heated interest while he literally ripped the leather from his

muscular body.

 

In confusion, she watched when his eyes left her body and flicked to the side. Turning her

head, she spied another tiny cloud waiting on the sidelines. What did he plan on doing with a

third?

 

It didn’t take but seconds for her to find out.

 

Xandor directed the cloud over her body, settling it into position over her groin.

 

The cloud floated in position, no rain as yet pouring from its interior. Her lover used his

magic to move her legs up and out, so she was splayed wide. Those invisible hands spreading her

legs apart sent a shiver through her. Defenselessness heated her stomach and made her flakora

clench. Never taking her eyes from his face, she watched the fierce heat washing over his

handsome face.

 

He liked what he saw. She knew that from the sparks that seemed to erupt from his black

eyes. She had seen them in his countenance the last time also, but there was something about the

display of his hunger in broad daylight that made it more concrete and savage.

 

Her eyes went to his vunu. It was erect, hard. A pulse beat beneath the skin. A drop of

moisture sat atop the head of his vunu. She licked her lower lip, wishing she could lick the

droplet. Drawing his eyes from her body, Xandor turned his attention to the cloud.

 

At a snap of his fingers, the little rain cloud started its downpour over the highly sensitive,

exposed flesh of her flakora. She groaned. The water temperature was just right.

 

“Xandor, what is this wondrous magic?” He didn’t answer and she really didn’t expect him

to.

 

Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she let the feeling of the intense massage flush through her

nerve endings, as well as the swollen flesh of her flakora. Breathing became difficult. She

couldn’t seem to suck enough air into her lungs. Her nipples and kora, the nubbin of flesh being

bombarded by dancing raindrops, throbbed, each setting up their own individual beats in time to

the watery manipulation. It felt like Xandor flicked her kora softly in a seductive rhythm.

 

Electric tingles, like tiny shocks of lightning bolts shot throughout her whole body, centering

in her aching flakora. Exploding into a huge orgasm that ripped through her body, she thrashed

her head furiously against the soft substance beneath her while her hands dug into it. She

squeezed and released the material as gasps fled her mouth. She wanted him inside her right this

minute. Desired his hard flesh pressed against the softness of her inner walls.

 

Barely able to speak, she reached for him and rasped, “Come to me, now!”

 

 

 

 

Chapter Twelve

 

 

 

Xandor snapped his fingers. The three miniature rain clouds drifted swiftly to the pond,

sinking into the liquid from whence they’d been born and dissolving slowly. Taking the few

steps to close the distance to her spread legs, he gripped her thighs and teased the entrance of her

flakora with his large vunu.

 

“Yes.” She moaned, shifting her bottom toward him.

 

“Anything you desire,” he whispered hoarsely, sliding into her inches at a time.

 

“Harder,” she pleaded. And he did. Withdrawing and slamming into her, repeatedly, he

satisfied her wish. Her kora throbbed and her nipples ached for his touch. As if reading her mind,

he leaned down and sucked one nub into his hot mouth. The stabbing motions of his vunu

matched the fierce suction of his mouth, bringing her closer to Jekar.

 

Rotating his hips, he swept his vunu against the walls of her karra again and again. Once

more he matched the movement with his tongue in her mouth, flicking it in spherical motions

that caused the ache to rip from her nipples to her kora. It felt as though a string attached the two

and Xandor played upon it with knowledgeable hands.

 

The Jekar was building in her, threatening to burst through her body with the strength of ten

huge orgasms rolled into one fiery ball. Desire, want, need, and lust vied for supremacy; a

confusing mix, since they all were borne of the same beast. She shuddered and quaked. Her skin

undulated with tiny quivers. Pleasure so intense it ripped through her system like pain pulled her

into a frenzy. She screamed, her head pitching wildly upon the magical substance beneath her.

Wildly, her hips bucked up to meet Xandor’s savage thrusts.

 

The birds perched in trees around them, took off in flight, squawking in reaction to her cries.

 

Her body slowly sank down into the softness bracing her, drained of all energy and need.

Her lover, too, looked sated, and a momentary guilt shot through her. She’d never even felt his

seed pouring into her, because she was so wrapped up in the Jekar.

 

Thrusting his arms straight out from his body, Xandor lowered both hands slowly. At the

same time, the substance beneath her drifted lazily to the ground. Once the material settled,

Xandor crawled onto it as if it were a mattress, took her into his arms, kissed her brow, and then

closed his eyes.

 

Light snores emitted from him but a minute later, and she had to suppress a giggle. He had

done a spectacular job as a lover.

 

Zira was tired but didn’t want to nap. Her mind tumbled with worried thoughts. Reaching a

hand past the cottony substance, she called a vine to her, drawing on its energy to replace some

of her lost zest. While the plant gave her succor, her mind ran round and round her problem.

 

Xandor.

 

He became dearer to her each time they met. She found this strange since they barely knew

each other. But then, he was no ordinary man. He was a powerful sorcerer, a devilishly

handsome man, and an astounding lover. How could she resist him?

 

She sighed. But she must. To give in to him would mean leaving this world and life she

loved so much.

 

He was a magic-filled being, commanding and highly respected, while she was what—a

simple maid, not even of his race. How could she hope to measure up to his needs as a mate?

 

She was afraid. Afraid if she agreed to follow him, the essence of Zira would be swallowed

up by his overpowering influence.

 

It was silly. She acknowledged this to herself, yet she couldn’t help feeling this way.

 

Finally, she drifted off to sleep, her mind still a stew of worry and doubt.

 

A tickle beneath her nose aroused her some time later. Her handsome wizard was looking at

her, a soft expression in his eyes and a silly grin on his face. He held a feather in one hand, the

one he’d tickled her with—probably magically created.

 

“Time to get up sleepy-head. We’ve got the rest of the day to enjoy.”

 

“What do you wish to do?” She wouldn’t mind another hour of lazy napping upon this

wondrous magical mattress.

 

He laughed. “Since I know little of your world, I should be asking you that question.” He

paused and then said, “Why don’t we do something you really love? Is there an activity or hobby

you enjoy?”

 

Her brow knit and then her eyes slid up to his, turning mischievous. “There is something I

love to do. Fly.”

 

“Fly?” Laughter flitted across his sexy mouth.

 

“Yes.” She smiled widely. “Not levitating as you do, but flying through the sky like a yeep.

Are you game?”

 

“Sure.” His expression was curious, though puzzled also.

 

Jumping up, she dressed quickly and waited impatiently for him to do the same. She grabbed

his hand after he stood, then led him down another woodland trail. After an hour of walking, they

came across a cottage sitting at the edge of a steep cliff. A pleasant Sertoshian male came out

and Zira gave him a coin fished from her pocket, and then led Xandor to a large woven basket

perched on the edge of the cliff. The top of the basket had thick loops; in between each ran a

heavy rope.

 

“What’s this?”

 

“Look.” She pointed in the far distance. A huge mountain rose against the dark blue sky, its

rugged sides softened by multitudes of the silver tipped willow trees.

 

He looked shocked.

 

“It’ll take us there.” She waved between the basket and the mountain range.

 

“Are you sure it’s safe?” His voice caught in his throat.

 

Zira laughed. “The great wizard is afraid?”

 

A flush hit his cheeks. “No, I’ve just never ridden in such a contraption.” He didn’t wish to

add he had a slight fear of heights.

 

Grabbing his hand again, she pulled him to the primitive sky lift. He stepped in gingerly.

Spacious, it could have fit two more people easily. The intricately-woven basket seemed too

delicate to serve its intended function. Swallowing his qualms, he knew he’d have to trust his

companion. Trust that she knew what she was doing.

 

The owner waved at them cheerfully. He flipped a switch on a simple pulley machine, and

with a jerk the sky lift started moving slowly upward.

 

Stamping down the anxiety that strove for his attention, Xandor decided to enjoy the ride as

best he could.

 

And he did after a few minutes. The scenery was spectacular.

 

The land below was a wash of silver and creamy beige, intermixed with the silvery tipped

lush green grass growing in wide stretches between the trees. Thankfully, the cool colors soothed

his racing heart. And Zira’s presence beside him, her delight when she pointed out wondrous

views, pulled him from anxiety to wonder.

 

By the time they reached the mountain range, Xandor was enjoying the vista and Zira’s

stimulating company. She seemed as at home in the high elevations as a bird.

 

When the sky lift gently nudged against a large ledge, a young woman secured the ropes and

greeted them warmly. Three Sertoshians waved and climbed into the basket for the return

journey.

 

He watched when the trio took off, the lift looking even more precarious from this position.

It swayed slowly as wind hit it.

 

Zira grabbed his hand and attention, pointing toward a rugged peak, one devoid of trees,

composed of slate-like rock.

 

After about fifteen minutes of strenuous hiking, they gained the top. A large stretch of grass

was strewn with what looked like huge kites. Several Sertoshians were engaged in lively

discussions around different kites, while a few were being roped into the things.

 

“This is your method of flying?” At her enthusiastic nod, he added, “They look like hang

gliders.” Her giggle told him that once again she thought his words were funny.

 

“Well, what do you call them?”

 

Her face flushed a dark hue. “Yeepsters.”

 

At his loud, abrupt eruption of laugher, she turned an even darker blue.

 

Annoyance shot through her eyes. “We’d better get started…if you can control yourself.”

 

No problem there, he realized, as she led him to an empty glider. Just thinking about

pitching himself off that cliff with only those frail-looking wings to hold him up, made him

sweat. He had to admit the yeepster was pretty—the underside painted with a gaily-colored yeep,

wings spread in flight. And it had an impressive wingspan of twenty feet.

 

Zira showed him the ropes and large rectangular cloth where his body would lie, explaining

how everything was attached. Then she went into discussions of wind currents and errant birds

slamming into the glider. Her dark blue eyes grew wide with excitement, but he had a hard time

suppressing thoughts of his body crashing to the ground.

 

Interrupting her fast spiel, he asked, “Wouldn’t an uninitiated person need to take lessons

first?”

 

“Oh, yes. Usually about a dozen are recommended first, on lower levels, before one tries

such a cliff as this one.”

 

His forehead creased. “Then, why exactly am I doing this?” Was she a thrill seeker and

hoped he was too? Or simply naïve?

 

 

She giggled, covering her mouth with one hand when she saw his concern. “Many young

men on Sertosh, who wish to prove their bravery, take one lesson, and then fly from steep cliffs.”

 

“A foolish endeavor.” He wanted to point out he wasn’t a young Sertoshian male intent on

proving his manhood and he hadn’t had his one lesson, but she already knew that.

 

“Perhaps, but it shows their village they are men.”

 

“Any survivors?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his voice.

 

“Oh, Xandor, of course there are. In fact, few crash to their deaths.” She glanced skyward at

a circling yeep. “We seem most adept at flying.”

 

“And what makes you think I am?” He wasn’t a bird!

 

She stepped closer and stroked his arm. “You are a powerful wizard.” She stared up at him,

as if that were enough and should close the subject. Apparently, noticing his wary look, she

added, “Besides, you can levitate if you get into any difficulties.”

 

He didn’t want to throw a kink in her nicely-laid plans by telling her he needed to

concentrate in order to tap into his powers of levitation. And, he didn’t wish to appear a coward

in front of her. Suddenly, it seemed to him he was being as foolish as the young men who came

to prove their bravery.

 

Following her directions, he got into the holding contraption and tied the ropes securely into

place. The wind rocked the kite and he nervously gripped it tight, afraid it would swoop up

abruptly. Turning his head, he watched while Zira prepared herself in a similar looking glider.

Every move was elegant and fearless. She took the lead afterwards, showing him how to jog

swiftly toward the cliff’s edge.

 

The glider was much heavier than it looked, perhaps fifty or so pounds. Putting a little more

effort into it than he first estimated necessary, Xandor kept up with his future wife, running a

safe distance behind her so they didn’t become entangled. She dipped from his view for a few

seconds and he’d plunged off the cliff before he realized they’d reached the end of the running

lane.

 

Holding his breath, he felt his stomach pitch into his feet. He was going to die before he ever

got a chance to consummate the Jekar. The next instant, the immense wings caught the light

wind and lifted him upward. A dizzy sensation hit him before he adjusted his sight—he was

floating gently away from the cliff edge. It was a powerful awareness, one akin to those

produced when he worked a magic spell.

 

Zira glided by, laughing with pure joy, her kite moving with surprising elegance. She must

be a master flyer, he thought, for he was having trouble merely keeping the wings balanced. His

must surely look like the first flight of a wobbly young bird by comparison.

 

Following her prior instructions, he finally found his balance, although he had to constantly

shift his weight to counter the light winds that assailed them, or to change directions in order to

keep up with Zira. After he became more comfortable with the process, Xandor began to truly

enjoy it. Such a sensation, of floating far above the earth, was unbelievably exhilarating.

 

Even more exciting than levitating. He forgot his fear of heights. It helped that they stayed

high up, which seemed contradictory, but wasn’t really. Being held up by the extensive wings

and winds, on level with the mountain’s reach, surprisingly frightened him not at all. He

hovered. Strangely, he didn’t feel like he was falling. Hence, in an odd counterbalance, it

eliminated his phobia.

 

 

They must have flown for hours; he lost track of time. Pure joy rippled through his body.

Flying was a very freeing sensation, as Zira had claimed. He had to chuckle whenever birds flew

by, eying them like they were aliens—which he was. Alien to this planet and an alien species to

be flying far into the heavens.

 

The sky had been clear all through their flight, but just ahead, he spied a large cloud. A

lovely, fluffy confection like blue cotton candy. He wondered how it would feel to fly in the

center of such a mass, but didn’t think it was a good idea, since he probably wouldn’t be able to

see.

 

Zira flew to the side, circling a large bird’s nest against a tall tower like rock outcropping.

She probably hadn’t spotted the cloud. Dipping the wings, Xandor decided to fly beneath it.

Once underneath, Xandor felt as though a giant hand reached down and yanked him upward.

Suddenly, he was tangled in the mistiness of the cloud’s belly. He kept his wings steady but had

an odd sense of disorientation.

 

Was he flying horizontally? Sideways? Up? Down? Crazy thoughts, he knew, but he had no

sense of direction whatsoever.

 

“Xandor?” Zira’s voice cut through the weightless mass around him.

 

A flush of relief gripped him at the sound of her voice. It seemed far away. “I’m here, in the

cloud,” he yelled, not sure how well his voice would carry amongst the clinging wet particles.

 

“Are you holding steady?” This time her voice seemed nearer.

 

“Yes…but I can’t tell what’s up or down.” Sweat broke out on his forehead, in spite of the

coolness of the vapor surrounding his body.

 

“Spit.”

 

“What?” Did I hear her right?

 

“Spit, then you’ll know which direction is down.”

 

“Oh.” Made sense. Gathering all the scanty saliva he had in his mouth, he squirted it out and

watched with satisfaction when it shot straight down. Good, at least he knew he was flying fairly

straight.

 

Zira’s voice came to him again, directing him to follow the sound of it. She began to sing

and he made for the angelic voice that had guided him true across the galaxy. It got louder and

louder. He was headed in the right direction. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he erupted

from the cloud’s clinging vapors, almost running into Zira, who veered swiftly to the side.

 

“I think we’ve had enough excitement today.” Her voice was kind and concerned. “Ready to

call it quits?”

 

He nodded, too drained to answer.

 

By the time they made the crossing in the swaying sky lift, Xandor was ready to see the last

of steep heights. He’d enjoyed flying with Zira, but the near disaster had cemented his feeling

that once was enough for him.

 

After disembarking, they strolled down sunlight-dappled trails and finally stopped in a new

place, a tiny park with benches and several tinkling fountains. It was a most soothing

environment, one that his rattled nerves needed just now. They sat side-by-side on a bench, backs

propped against one of the large gray-barked trees.

 

“Thanks for saving my life.”

 

 

Her gaze slid sideways, coy and twinkling with mischief. “You’re welcome. But, it really

wasn’t saving, just giving directions.”

 

“Call it what you will.” He picked up her petite hand and kissed it softly, and then laid it on

his knee, his much larger hand covering it. Laying his head back against the tree, he almost

drifted off to sleep.

 

The adrenaline rush was over, his body wanted to relax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Thirteen

 

 

 

While Zira watched her wizard sink into a semi-sleep, she realized he was right. He could

have easily died today. That thought caused a sick feeling to well in her stomach.

 

The world…the universe without Xandor.

 

It was a most unpleasant thought.

 

Cuddling up closer to his side, she laid her head softly against his arm, not wishing to rouse

him. He muttered, but seemed to sense her and moved his arm, bringing it about her shoulders.

She readjusted her head to lie against his hard chest. It was not the most comfortable position she

could have chosen, but it felt very soothing nonetheless.

 

She listened to the rise and fall of his breathing, enjoying the movement of his chest beneath

her temple. He was so strong, and he’d been brave too. Now she realized he had a fear of

heights, but still had consented to go flying with her.

 

Again, pictures crowded into her mind of him plunging to the ground. Squeezing her eyes

closed tightly, Zira held back the tears that threatened to fall. Why did she suddenly care so

deeply? The next instant she answered back—because she had come to admire many aspects of

this wonderful man in just two short days.

 

The mystery of her feelings went beyond her ken. The Jekar guaranteed a match of physical

lust and pregnancy. But, couples who attained the three day Jekar still had to work on their

marriages, build trust, friendship, and set common goals. Yet, from the first time she’d set eyes

on the dark stranger, she was drawn to his power, beyond that explained by the passion of the

Jekar.

 

She gently fingered the chain that secured the necklace beneath his vest. This soul matcher

had drawn him to her across countless stars and two galaxies. Who was she to question such

magical knowledge? But then, if she gave in to its influence, that would mean leaving this world.

 

Glancing up at his handsome face, she was totally confused. She wanted him. Desired him

above any lovers she’d ever encountered. Yet, it was not just his commanding lovemaking she

was drawn to, it was him.

 

He had so many mysteries about the universe yet to uncover and share with her. But she’d

avoided his telling, not wishing to be enchanted by the power of his spoken words. Xandor had

tried to share the wonders of his enchanted life and she’d buried her head in the comfort of

home.

 

Did she dare ask him now?

 

Perhaps his answers would pull her outside her own comfort zone and make her desire to be

a seeker of knowledge and stranger wonders beyond her own experience. Did she really want

this? She just wasn’t sure. But, she did know she had to give him that chance. If not, she’d

always wonder if she’d made the right decision.

 

She sighed. One more Jekar to go and she would have to make a choice. Go or stay. But

then, she really didn’t think any of it would matter—his desire for her, his power, and the exotic

 

 

mysteries he offered to share with her. How could she go when her very existence depended on

the life force of her planet.

 

Just like that, Zira’s mind was made up. She would ask him to share his knowledge and

sorcerer’s world, and then she would explain to him why she couldn’t go with him. It would

break her heart and probably his too, but sometimes things just weren’t meant to be.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Xandor drifted in and out of sleep, but once fully awake, he stayed silent, watching his blue

siren through barely-cracked eyelids. She appeared deep in thought, sometimes staring off in the

distance, at others staring up at him in confusion. He guessed the flow of her worries. Did she

dare leave her safe haven and venture out into the unknown with him?

 

She’d been an air goddess today, winning his admiration of her spirit as well as other

qualities he already appreciated. Without a doubt, he knew she would love exploring other

worlds with him, but he had to convince her of that fact first. Did he dare broach the subject of

the dazzling planets he’d visited? Last time she’d fended off his efforts, changing the subject

with verbal flare.

 

He wanted her to choose to go with him because she wished to, not because lust flashed

between them in the Jekar, nor because his power thrilled her. Barely holding in a chuckle, he

had to admit, she seemed impressed with his magic, but it did not make her run into his arms.

When he first started on this venture, he’d been intent on finding his true love in order to return

immediately and begin work on his fifth level of sorcery. He’d never stopped to consider a real

woman would be involved in the equation or that his feelings might come in to play, as well as

hers.

 

Now, all he seemed to think about was convincing Zira to return with him. He lusted after

her body and the spectacular sex it was true. But, he also desired her unique spirit. He wanted her

by his side from now on. He wanted to exchange thoughts and views with her bright, untainted

mind. He wanted to hear her light, tinkling laughter and to be the one who caused it, often. He

wanted to be the one who brought the sparkle to her lovely blue eyes, the one who deepened her

sexual need.

 

The real clincher was, he had an answer she would desire to hear, one to which he was sure

she’d answer, “Yes, I’ll go with you.” But it was the easy way out. He wanted her to want him

with every fiber of her being, not to say yes because he provided an easy out for her attachment

to her home planet.

 

Was this love? Xandor wasn’t sure. But his emotions were certainly more intense then

anything he’d ever felt about any other woman. The necklace rested warmly against his chest,

reminding him of its properties. If he truly believed in his own and the Dragon Fire’s magic, then

it was true. Why did he continue to question himself and his destiny? Shaking his head at

himself, he made up his mind to do just that; accept the Dragon Fire’s guidance.

 

“Awake?” Her soft question broke into his thoughts.

 

“Uh huh.” He smiled down at her tenderly, swiping a lock of silver hair behind one cute,

pointed ear.

 

“Can…I ask you something?”

 

“Sure.” Her hesitation made him wonder what had her worried now.

 

 

“Will you tell me of some worlds you visited and how you helped them?”

 

His breath caught in his throat, he couldn’t help it. She asked that which he had wished, but

didn’t think she ever would. It was as if she read his mind.

 

Taking the hand that still rested on his knee, he rubbed the back gently. “Once I was asked

to a small planet, one barely known in our galaxy.”

 

“Why wasn’t it known?” she interrupted.

 

“Because it held no riches others would seek. The planet was desolate and its people poor.

They scraped a living from the earth with much effort, but it was their home. And even when

they sent an emissary to Varzkar, only I and one other wizard agreed to hear their case.”

 

“Why?” She sat up straighter, her eyes curious.

 

He smiled at her and she grinned back. Her enthusiasm bordered on a child’s, a surprising

and welcome change. “The coin they offered in exchange for a sorcerer’s talent was small, pitiful

compared to other planets.”

 

At her wide-eyed stare, he continued, “The emissary had already taken all possessions

collected and sold them offworld, turning them into the few gold coins he offered. The planet has

a sparse population, but the people gave everything they claimed as valuable—jewelry,

silverware, crystal glasses—treasured inherited pieces.”

 

“Why did you choose to help them?”

 

Shrugging, he answered, “I had more than enough money by that time to last me several

lifetimes. And their problem was a challenge.” Should he add he’d felt pity for the people as

depicted by the emissary?

 

“What was it?” She rubbed his knee.

 

“Simple, really—they’d had a drought going on six years. All their crops were dying, cattle

barely hanging on.”

 

“What about the other wizard?”

 

“Oh.” He chuckled. “Lucky for me, unlucky for him, he caught a bad case of Taluson

stomach virus.”

 

She smiled. “I thought wizards didn’t get sick?”

 

“Not often, but sometimes there’s a bug out there that even we have problems controlling.”

 

“So, how did you help these people?” She was truly interested and watched his face, as if

gauging his expression as well as his words.

 

“I have some good friends who taught me how to search out water with the power in my

hands and a few selected phrases.” He stared down at his hands. “It took me months of walking

the planet to find enough underground water sources…if I had been a fifth level wizard, I could

have pinpointed all with a wave of my arms.”

 

“That might be true, but you still helped those people. You used the talent that you had in a

very caring way.” She smiled gently, seeming impressed with his mission.

 

He blushed slightly. No need to add he’d slipped away from the planet, leaving the coins

they’d paid him with a note instructing them to utilize the money for building wells. He didn’t

want Zira to think he was a martyr.

 

Feeling uncomfortable suddenly, he sidestepped the issue and asked, “Do you want to hear

about my unusual friends—the ones who taught me how to find water?”

 

 

At her nod he told her about the fairies and their magical planet. “Their world is peopled

with the Taweeg, tiny humanoids reminiscent of the fabled fairies of Earth.”

 

“What are fairies?”

 

Xandor smiled. He forgot not every species knew of fairies or had myths about them.

“Fairies are magical beings, legends on most planets. But, there are a few worlds where the

natives are as true to the fairy mythology as the fairy tales imagine them.”

 

He smiled and purposely looked at her ears. “One feature all stories incorporate, is that

fairies have pointed ears.”

 

Zira briefly touched one ear tip while he talked.

 

“Now, as far as the Taweeg, no wings mark their shoulders, nor can they fly, but in every

other respect they fit the mold. Their lives were made up of merriment, mischief, and

communing with woodland friends.” He paused. “And they do have pointed ears.”

 

Wide-eyed and attentive, Zira exclaimed, “Oh! How lovely!” when he shared the Taweegs

charmed lives. Her face was as delighted as a child’s.

 

When he finished, Zira shared a fairy tale from Sertosh. But his thoughts returned to the

Taweeg and how they figured as an important part of his thought-searching. Other sorcerers

scoffed and dismissed the Taweeg as useless magical beings, but he found them fascinating and

made a habit of visiting every few weeks. Thus, he made friends through his mental contacts and

gained knowledge no other wizard before him had. The Taweeg showed him how to whisper

secret words in their language, words understood by the strange, wondrous animals inhabiting

their land. He learned how to consolidate the powers in his hand and splay his fingers, using

them to seek out sparse water sources.

 

Many other little tidbits came his way over the years, most probably would never benefit

him. He sighed. Certainly, the attaining of the fifth level of sorcery had not grown any closer due

to his Taweeg friendships, or other thought-searches either, but he knew now that he’d had to

find Zira first.

 

Realizing that she’d finished her story, he focused on Zira and her excitement. “We can visit

them one day, you know.”

 

“We could?” Curiosity and anxiety seemed to fight for dominance in her dark blue orbs. “It

would be most wonderful to see such a place.”

 

“And many more.” Xandor used the opening she’d given him and told her of other planets

he’d explored simply for pleasure, or others where he’d provided services required.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

By the time he ran out of steam, evening shadows were draping the leaves around them.

 

“Better walk you home,” he said. She nodded and slipped her hand into his without thought,

as if it were already an old habit.

 

“By the way, thanks for introducing me to the caterpillar. He…it’s been a blast.” At her

curious look, he explained, “I sang a song last night, something with a wild beat and that little

guy went nuts dancing up a storm. It was quite entertaining.”

 

“Glad you are enjoying its company.”

 

“I’d rather share yours.” He squeezed her hand, eliciting a giggle.

 

 

They reached her cottage just before nightfall and made arrangements for the next day. The

big day. Just thinking about it made him nervous, so he turned his mind to the activities they’d

engaged in today. It’d been a time of discoveries for him and of solidifying his feelings for Zira.

And he thought perhaps her feelings for him had grown stronger too. When they stopped at the

door, he got a romantic idea and reached to the side, plucking a large pink blossom. With a

flourish, he stuck it behind one pointed ear.

 

“What…what did you do?” Her voice was a screech while she fumbled with her ear and

lowered her hand, the flower lying upon her palm.

 

“I wanted to give my special girl something pretty. What’s wrong?”

 

Tears shimmered in her eyes, she sobbed and ran into the house.

 

Xandor was shocked. Had he stumbled into a horrible faux pas by picking the flower?

Unsure what to do, nevertheless, he didn’t wish to leave on this note. Knocking softly on the

door, he had to wait a few seconds before Wythoth opened it, a grim expression across his

normally cheerful countenance.

 

Ak chose that moment to fly straight in through the door, squawking “Jekar” twice when he

passed Wythoth. It made for an awkward moment.

 

“Best you come back tomorrow, as arranged,” Zira’s father said in a low, solemn tone.

 

“I’m sorry if I did something offensive.” What did I do?

 

Zira’s father nodded and then eased the door shut.

 

He was left feeling like an idiot, as if his foot was still stuck in that door. Knowing he’d

worn out his welcome, he headed for the inn.

 

Great. Worry laced his thoughts as he walked. Tomorrow would be a challenge as it was,

but now he’d upped the difficulty scale.

 

He didn’t know how, but he guessed tomorrow he’d find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Fourteen

 

 

 

The next day when he approached her cottage, he wondered what his reception would be.

Would she see him? Slam the door in his face?

 

Or would she complete the Jekar with him? Would she turn her anger against him, so that

achieving the final orgasm was impossible?

 

He’d really bungled things by presenting the flower to her—but how?

 

Zira answered his knock, wearing a bland expression. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking

or feeling. But he didn’t read any anger in her body language.

 

Wythoth went through the short ceremony with them, his face as mild as his daughter’s.

 

Clearing his throat, Xandor asked, “Where do you wish to go for the Jekar?”

 

Shrugging, she said, “Doesn’t matter.”

 

Her apathy didn’t bode well for him. “How about your favorite spot?”

 

She nodded and took off down the trail. He had to stretch his legs to keep up with the rapid

pace she set. His stomach was tense. She seemed determined to get to the Jekar as quickly as

possible, and then just as quickly dismiss him from her life. At least, this is how he read her. Ak,

who’d been perched on her shoulder, took off in the air, flying ahead of them.

 

Stopping abruptly in the middle of the pathway, he glanced around and saw they stood at the

edge of the meadow where he’d first seen her. Since they’d paused, he thought maybe it’d be the

right time to apologize.

 

“Zira, I’m sorry about the flower. I’m not sure what I did, but if I broke some

law…whatever I did, I’d like to make up for it.”

 

She looked at him with unblinking blue eyes, turned and waved one hand at the flowers

growing profusely throughout the open field. “I’m going to show you why plucking that flower

upset me so, and why I can’t go with you.” She walked a few steps and turned back, fixing him

with a firm look. “Stay there, don’t tread on the plants, and don’t interfere in what you see.”

 

Curious, he watched her stroll slowly between the blossoms and fronds, never stepping on

one leaf or green vine. Gaining the center of the meadow, where a small area was clear of

anything but the lush silver green grass, she quickly slipped her dress off. Then she stretched out

on her back and spread her arms outward. She began to sing, a haunting melody, like a chant.

The flower blossoms all around her trembled.

 

Xandor glanced at the leaves overhead. No. No wind disturbed the trees’ foliage.

 

Looking again at Zira, he was shocked to see vine creepers and leafy branches begin

crawling toward her. In less than a minute, he could barely see her tiny body. Flowers, leaves

and vines covered the spot where she lay. He started forward, but then remembered her warning.

 

Reassurance hit him when he realized her singing chant still floated from beneath the plants

covering her. The trembling had changed and become synchronized with her singing. Now the

plants swayed back and forth in rhythm with her song.

 

 

Squinting, Xandor tried to zoom in on the activity beneath the verdant growth, but to no

avail. Shaking his head at himself, Xandor whipped up a spell to give himself the sight of the

famed Earth-eagle.

 

Ah. Now he could see vines wrapped around her legs and arms, leaves quivering upon her

flesh, and flowers brushing her body with their bright heads. Some strange ritual.

 

Xandor watched with interest. Some thirty minutes later, Zira stopped singing and the plants

withdrew to their previous positions.

 

When she arose and walked toward him, he was astonished. She looked so refreshed. As if

she just returned from a wonderful vacation. Her skin glowed, her eyes sparkled, and there was a

spring in her step that hadn’t been there this morning. On the way back to him, she picked up the

dress and slid it on.

 

“Please, tell me what just happened?”

 

She stopped and faced him. “We replenish ourselves through the plants, and in return they

gather nourishment from us.”

 

“I don’t understand.”

 

“We don’t eat as you do, except for slices of fruit and the nectar drink. Our needs are given

to us by the plant life using transference through our pores.”

 

“And, what do they get from you?”

 

“They extract all the wastes from our system.”

 

“Really?” What a bizarre but beautiful process.

 

“Yes, we have no…anus as you humans do.”

 

“Interesting.” He rubbed his chin, suddenly intrigued with the prospect of examining her

lovely butt. “But that doesn’t give you an excuse for not going with me.”

 

“What?” Placing both hands on her hips, her expression was annoyed. “I just told you we

depend on our plants for nourishment and to cleanse our bodies.”

 

“That’s right. But plants can be potted and taken aboard spaceships. Many ships have

nurseries onboard; in fact, most do, in order to supply extra oxygen to the ships air flow system.”

 

“What about once we reach Varzkar? They would have to be transplanted.”

 

“Most soil is easy to replicate. I can take a sample and recreate the mix once we reach the

school. We have a very lively horticultural area, since we wizards grow most of our own herbs.

Many exotic species are garnered from across the galaxies.”

 

“I see. You have an easy answer to all my problems.” She sounded annoyed.

 

“No. Please don’t be this way Zira.” He took her hands. “I’m sorry about the flower

yesterday. Now I understand their importance to you.” He paused. “When I came to Sertosh, my

deepest wish was to secure my true mate and return immediately to Varzkar to further my

studies.”

 

He looked into her troubled eyes. “But now, I wish only for you to return with me, not

because of the fifth level, but because I want you.”

 

“You want me? Is that all?” The annoyance in her voice had eased a bit.

 

Tucking a strand of her hair behind one ear, he said, “I desire you. I want you by my side as

my wife. I believe I love you, but to be honest, I’m not even sure what love is.”

 

 

Her eyes flitted to his chest, as if she could see the necklace beneath. “I admit…I’m not sure

what true love is either.” That lovely dark gaze came back up to his face. “I have feelings for

you…I felt like a part of my heart would be torn from me if you’d died yesterday. Is that love? I

don’t know, but I do think it is a beginning.”

 

“Just as I cannot picture returning to Varzkar without you.” Why did that thought make his

stomach knot?

 

“But, I cannot tell you what my answer will be if we get through the last Jekar.” She turned

and stared into the distance. “My emotions are torn. Can you understand?”

 

“Yes.” Without another word, he offered his hand and she placed hers within it. It was a

silent commitment between the two of them, to at least see the Jekar through to the end.

 

Zira’s secret sanctuary was lovely beyond words, even more so than the other day. The

flower blossoms were fully open to the sun, their unusual fragrances saturating the air with a

delightful mix. A light wind ruffled the leaves overhead and lent the air a pleasant crispness,

while a flock of ruhuris birds, perched in trees around the perimeter chirping haunting love songs

to their mates. The small waterfall tinkled cheerfully in the background, completing the natural

symphony. Unexpectedly, an irritating squawk interrupted the idyllic scene when Ak landed

clumsily in a large tree near the tiny pool.

 

Xandor stopped in the grassy area where he’d played upon Zira’s body the last time. He

wanted to do things differently for the last Jekar, to use only his own body parts and skills in

lovemaking to push her into a full body orgasm. He first whisked a large blanket onto the grass,

then doing a quick conjuring spell, materialized the mattress from her bedroom. He set it square

in the center of the open space, over the blanket to keep grassy stains from clinging to it. Next,

he manifested a crituun fur, big enough to cover the surface of the bed.

 

Zira watched in silent curiosity. It seemed strange that he conjured her mattress here in the

middle of the woods, but it would be most comfortable for the Jekar. She guessed that meant she

wouldn’t be floating in the air this time.

 

She couldn’t hold back the smile that tugged her lips at that thought. What magic did he

have in mind?

 

He approached her slowly, a sweet smile on his rugged face. Just the look in his eyes made

her stomach clench in anticipation. Placing both hands on either side of her face, he began

gently, covering her flesh with tender kisses. He switched tactics, turning from tender to

conquering. His lips were demanding and hot. He pressed hard into her lower lip—so hard she

knew tomorrow it would be swollen.

 

Only after her whole face had been loved by his masculine lips, did he truly concentrate on

her mouth. She sighed, taken once again with the expertise of his tongue and lips. He smelled so

good too. Not like her people—not flowery. His odor was slightly spicy with an undercurrent of

something indescribable. She thought the mystery scent might be his magical essence.

 

Giving in return with her tongue, she enjoyed hearing his rough groans and loved catching

them in her mouth. The strokes of her tongue became bolder while the heat in her mid-section

spread outward. Sometime during their intense kisses her arms had circled his neck, while his

brawny arms had pulled her to him in a fierce grip. She pressed her breasts into his unyielding

chest, enjoying the prickling in her nipples as they hardened.

 

One calloused hand caressed her shoulder and then slid her tunic down. His hand trailed

across her exposed breast, causing the nipple to pucker immediately. Those long fingers, their

 

 

magic sheathed today, rolled her nipple and tweaked it gently. Cupping the mound, he kneaded it

over and over, until it expanded, filling his hand. His caresses made her breasts ache. She wanted

him to squeeze them harder, to suck on her nipples until her body melted beneath his lips.

 

She thrust her breasts into his hands and he complied by kneading them with rougher

strokes. “Oh, yes.” She moaned.

 

“Your breasts seem to desire my kisses.”

 

Zira ignored the teasing humor in his statement. “You’re so right, my wizard.” She rubbed

his male nipples, felt them pucker beneath the leather. The heat in his eyes told her he liked her

caresses.

 

His head descended as he trailed kisses down her neck, setting her blood on fire when his

tongue dragged across the tender flesh. “Mmm, just so.”

 

He laved her breast, round and round, coming near, but never touching her aching nipple.

Groaning in frustration and arousal, she shoved her nipple toward his tongue. He chuckled, and

then drew it into the wet heat of his mouth. The suckling caused searing heat to lance from her

sensitive nub to her kora, which throbbed with excitement. She had a sudden urge for him to

bury his vunu deep inside her. His intense attention to her breasts made her wonder what it would

feel like if he sucked on her kora as he did her nipple?

 

His hand brushed the second strap down exposing her other breast to his attention. Soon, it

too had plumped up. Withdrawing for a few seconds, Xandor held each breast in his hands,

staring at them, until his fiery stare made them swell even more.

 

“Beautiful,” he whispered, bringing his eyes up to hers so she could see the desire shining

within his dark orbs. Her lover definitely appreciated that her breasts swelled to at least twice

their normal size during sexual arousal, sometimes more if she had grown very excited, as she

had now—for her breasts more than filled his two large hands.

 

Leaning down, he renewed his assault on her breasts, lavishing attention on each in turn. His

long hair brushed over her sensitive mounds. It both tickled and excited her further, especially

when it slid like silk over her hardened nipples. When he briefly returned to kiss her mouth, she

undid the clasps on his vest then slowly slid it from his muscular biceps and let it fall to the

ground.

 

Pressing her swollen breasts into his rigid chest threw her body further into feverish heat.

The sensation of softness against unyielding hardness sent a flood of moisture to her flakora. He

moaned softly into her mouth gratifying her that it affected him as well. Delighted, she kissed her

way down his chest. When she licked one nipple and flayed it into a hard nub, his whole body

jerked. Xandor groaned and gripped her hair.

 

She moved back up his chest, licking her way to his mouth again. He untied her belt while

they continued the exchange of sensual kisses. The dress slithered off, pooling at her feet. The

cool air brushing her skin, as she stepped out of the dress, felt delicious.

 

Rough, manly hands stroked her sides, slid in hard caresses up and down her butt. It tingled

and sent pleasurable shocks all the way to her toes. His kisses once again trailed down her chest

and he gave her breasts new caresses and licks. His hand slid from her breasts and repositioned

on her bottom, gripping her cheeks and kneading them while he suckled one nipple. She gripped

his shoulders, head flung backward while her kora pulsed unmercifully.

 

Unexpectedly, he stopped and picked her up in his arms, placing her gently on the luxurious

fur throw. Zira stretched upon it lush pile, enjoying the sensual pleasure it aroused, and watched

 

 

while Xandor slowly stripped out of his clinging leather pants. She licked her lower lip when his

vunu bounced free. It was most majestic in its length and width, much larger than those of the

men of her planet. She loved the feel of it stretching her and filling her.

 

She’d examined him briefly the other afternoon as he’d directed the sensual shower, but now

she took the time to really give his powerful vunu the attention it deserved. Its shape was the

same as a Sertoshian vunu, something that brought a sense of comfort to her. The dark pink color

seemed shocking compared to the normal blue of the Sertoshian males. But, it also excited her.

The head puffed out, larger than the shaft. She suddenly wanted to stroke it, to caress the softness

laid over its steely strength.

 

He crawled onto the mattress, rubbing his body against hers. Her breath hitched for a

second, feeling his muscular length brush her whole front. He gave her a quick kiss then trailed

his lips and tongue over her breasts. She arched up for his attention, but he kept moving down

her belly. Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Fifteen

 

 

 

He nibbled her abdomen and swirled his tongue into her belly button. At first she giggled,

but she moaned the next instant. Soft, silken hair stroked her hips. Surprising her, his mouth

moved to her hipbones. He sucked on each gently, strangely evoking sensations in her flakora.

 

Positioning himself between her splayed thighs, he ruffled the curls at her groin. Startled,

she sucked in her lower lip. He parted her nether lips just as he had the last time, setting off a fire

in her belly. Lifting her gently, he ran one hand down her slit all the way to the crease of her butt.

 

“All smooth,” he whispered. His hand caressed the crease in her derriere.

 

She giggled. It seemed hard for him to accept the proof that she had no anus.

 

Her giggle was cut short by the contact of something warm and wet flicking her kora.

Glancing down, Zira was shocked to see Xandor’s nose and mouth between her lips. Sodden

warmth swiped her whole flakora from bottom to the top and she groaned. She had never heard

of such a thing, this licking of genitals.

 

Her whole flakora ached. Her kora throbbed madly.

 

Conceding to this wondrous experience, she lay her head back down and gave herself up to

the new sensations. Xandor’s tongue licked up and down her flakora, over and over, until she

squirmed and fidgeted restlessly. Her kora jumped in some crazy rhythm of its own and she

desperately wanted him to flick it again, but he avoided it, teasing her with his maddening genital

kisses. His tongue slid around and around her whole flakora. Her kora was hard, felt ready to

explode, if he’d only caress it with his wet tongue.

 

When she was sure she would die from his torments, that marvelous appendage of his

slipped into her karra, not filling it as had his vunu, but her inner flesh quivered nonetheless.

 

His tongue moved in and out, imitating the action of his vunu, and she groaned over and

over. “Oh…oh, Xandor…that feels so good. But…I want…I want something…I need your

vunu.” But at the same time, it made her desire his male organ in place of his soft tongue. She

wanted something hard to stroke her inner walls instead of pliable flesh.

 

But then, oh then, his tongue caressed its way upward, licking her kora as she’d desired all

along. His movements changed constantly—from licking to swirls, to suctioning of his lips, and

then quick flicks of his tongue. The slurping sounds made her hitch her bottom upward. That

sound connected with something deep inside her, something that set fire to her blood. She thrust

her hips upward again, gaining a deeper contact between his tongue and her kora. She felt close

to a precipice.

 

“Oh, Xandor, yes. Don’t stop!” Zira panted and then grabbed his hair and shoved his head at

her aching flesh.

 

“Yes, Zira.” Xandor released himself for a few seconds to speak against her mons.

 

The humming sensation of his voice sent a different excitement through her flakora, yet she

still groaned in happy abandon when he reattached his head to her kora. She felt it coming, a

huge orgasm. It gripped her abdomen and clenched the muscles of her lower legs. Zira screamed.

 

 

It was not the Jekar, but so close.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Xandor had been totally shocked by her taste once his tongue dipped into her pussy. The

same wild flower flavor as her luscious nipples.

 

It floored him when she climaxed and a slow stream of nectar dripped from her kora. He’d

suckled madly once he got a taste, enchanted by the ambrosia-like liquid. He was gratified by her

very reactive orgasm, even though it was not the one he ultimately sought.

 

After her breathing slowed, he rolled her onto her stomach and directed her into the doggie

position. He’d been shocked when he got his first good look at her luscious bottom, in spite of

his foreknowledge about Zira’s lack of an anus. But he wanted to explore this phenomenon a bit

further.

 

Her lovely, rounded cheeks were displayed nicely. As he edged his cock into the opening of

her vagina, he kneaded her buttocks and ran one finger up and down the crease of her ass,

fascinated with its smoothness. Her slick juices caressed his cock as he pressed into her. Satisfied

by her feminine moans, he slid slowly inside and circled gently. Then he shoved hard, all in one

stroke. When he withdrew completely and teased her by rubbing his cock against her clit, Zira

groaned. Her hips rotated in circular motions, and then she bucked backward, coordinating her

actions with his, creating even more intense excitement. His balls slapped against her shapely ass

when he increased the tempo of his thrusts.

 

Zira’s groans told him she was close to orgasm again. Whether it was the Jekar or a normal

climax, he wanted to see her beautiful face while she found release. Slipping out, he turned her

over and repositioned himself missionary style, but with her legs raised. Leaning down, he thrust

his tongue into her mouth at the same time as he plunged into her pussy. She moaned against his

mouth, driving him wild with excitement.

 

A loud racket overhead caused them both to glance upward. A huge flock of those strange,

noisy purple birds was flying by, screeching. It took at least half a minute for the group to pass.

 

When Xandor glanced down at Zira afterwards, her distracted look disturbed him. The heat

of desire barely flickered in the blue depths of her eyes.

 

Squeezing her breasts gently, he again took up his thrusting movements. Her expression

warmed, but not nearly enough.

 

Cursing silently, he searched his mind for a method to lash her desire back up to the level

it’d been before the birds had thrown ice on their sensual haze. She had been so close. He needed

to whip her into a sexual frenzy again before the feeling was lost altogether.

 

An idea came to him. It would take magic. But still, it would be his body that would throw

her into Jekar, if it was fated to happen.

 

Continuing to thrust into her wet warmth, he reared back until he was nearly vertical.

Creating a quick spell, he stuck out his tongue and lowered one hand in a flowing motion.

 

With that one wave, his tongue increased a foot in length. Xandor made a few more fluid

motions of his wrist, until his tongue hung down to Zira’s pussy. With a swift adjustment of his

hand, it was able to easily reach her clit.

 

His blue siren had been watching him the whole time, her eyes getting wider at each flip of

his wrist. Adjusting to the length of his immense appendage called for a control spell; he didn’t

 

 

have the time to learn how to direct its movements. He cast the spell quickly and when he lapped

his newly grown tongue over her clit for the first time, she gasped loudly.

 

Rubbing his tongue up and down on her excited nub, he continued to fuck her at the same

time, giving her the double pleasure of his cock and tongue. God, she tasted delicious. Flowers

mixed with nectar. Her honey flowed over his tongue as he stroked her swollen kora.

 

Her arousal came back swiftly and fiercely. Her inner walls gripped him hard, squeezing in

spasms. Zira’s face flushed to a dark hue, her nipples hardened, jutting upward. Stepping up the

pace, he flicked his tongue in rapid strokes up and down her kora, while plunging into her pussy

with deeper, harder thrusts of his cock.

 

An orgasm overcame her within a few strokes. The scream that erupted from her throat was

long and drawn out. Her whole body went rigid and then quivers erupted beneath her soft skin.

Her face and breasts turned almost navy blue. His balls tensed and his cock swelled, so hard it

hurt. The blood rushed to his cock as he continued to drive into her grasping slickness. Her

vagina spasmed around him painfully and he let his orgasm flow into her.

 

Her climax ended with a small sigh of exhalation. It pleased him to no end. They’d achieved

the last Jekar.

 

The birds perched in the branches burst from the trees, chirping in alarm when Ak flew

among them screaming “Jekar”.

 

Withdrawing his tongue to its normal size, he sank onto the mattress and took Zira into his

arms, falling immediately asleep.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Some time later, he awoke to her blue eyes examining his face.

 

“I’ve been thinking,” she said with no preamble.

 

He nodded, he knew where her thoughts lay, but was almost afraid to hear her

pronouncement. What would he do if she refused to go with him?

 

“I will be your wife.”

 

Xandor let out the breath he’d been holding. “What changed your mind?”

 

“It was not changed…I have been trying to ignore my feelings.” She stroked his cheek. “I do

love you. I knew it after I realized you could have been killed yesterday.”

 

He started to question this statement; she’d told him after the gliding incident, that she

thought she loved him, but wasn’t sure. Now she was. But then, he realized he felt the same way,

that he’d been holding back his true emotions from them both, in case he didn’t win her through

the Jekar.

 

“I love you too.” He stroked one finger down her upturned nose.

 

“You are sure?”

 

Her eyes twinkled. Were those tears of happiness shimmering in their dark depths?

 

“Yes, I am. I have felt such an attraction for you from the first time we mind-touched.

Perhaps it was love at first sight. Then, yesterday when you said you didn’t know if you’d come

with me…I didn’t want to think about returning to Varzkar without you.”

 

He stared off in the distance. “Maybe it is fate. Or the fact that our souls are matched as the

necklace indicates.”

 

 

He looked back at her, liking her sweet expression. Picking up one petite hand, he kissed it

softly. “Being a wizard has many compensations—respect, money, power. But it also makes for

a lonely existence, one I never thought much about until I met you.”

 

Smiling, she caressed his jaw. “Am I to be a salve against loneliness?”

 

“No.” He placed her hand over his heart. “You make me feel whole in a way I’d never

thought possible.”

 

“Oh, Xandor.”

 

“And now, I can tell you something I’ve wanted to share all along.” At her curious look, he

said, “Once I attain the fifth level of wizardry, I will be able to cast a spell to transport us

wherever we desire in the universe.”

 

“What?” She propped up on one elbow. “Even Sertosh?”

 

“Yes. We can live anywhere we choose and travel to Sertosh whenever we want, and also to

any planet where my services are needed.”

 

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” She sounded frustrated.

 

“Because I didn’t want to influence your decision.”

 

Those lush lips drew up in a smile. “I understand.” She fingered the curls on his chest and

said softly, “I wish we could make Sertosh our home.”

 

“You read my mind.” He kissed her nose. “I love Sertosh. We can move here after I attain

the fifth level.”

 

Her sweet breath fanned his face and he couldn’t resist capturing her lips in a kiss. Soon,

their loving exchange turned into something deeper and they again made love; this time in a

slow, gentle manner, one that befitted their mood. They spent the rest of the day talking, truly

getting to know each other, and sporadically engaging in rousing sessions of sex. It was an

enchanted day, full of discoveries and a different sort of magic.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Ak made a screeching announcement of their return to her cottage later by screaming

“Jekar” three times while flapping his wings furiously in front of Wythoth’s face. The man

simply raised his eyes heavenward and patted his shoulder for the yeep to perch.

 

Parting was difficult, but Zira had a busy day planned for the morrow and several days

following. She must make arrangements for the marriage ceremony.

 

He was to return three days hence to the cottage. The groom was not allowed near the bride

beforehand, so he cooled his heels at the inn, soaking up the local culture and exploring

knowledge from their small library.

 

He’d decided one thing for certain while he waited. He would love to make Sertosh his

home once his training was completed. And he didn’t wish that only to please Zira. The people

were cheerful, friendly souls and they were the healthiest species he’d ever run across. He put

that down to their natural exchange with the plant life. The environment was clean, the air fresh

and sparkling, thanks to the lack of major industries. Sertosh’s only products sold offworld were

the delicious vegetables and fruit grown in this paradise. And, hands down, this was the most

visually gorgeous world he’d visited. To call it home would be an honor.

 

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Approaching the cottage on the fourth day, Xandor was met by a stream of people coming

and going, more than the last time her relatives had gathered. Greetings and questions about his

sorcery went on for well over an hour before three men with strange instruments began playing a

charming melody. Wythoth pulled him into position in the middle of flowering bushes taller than

he was. So, he couldn’t see but a dozen feet where the plants parted for a winding trail. Leaves

rustled, and Zira appeared, walking slowly toward him.

 

His dream girl. Her slim form was draped Grecian style in a shimmering silver toga, her

long locks melding perfectly with the material. A goddess, albeit an alien one.

 

She stopped. Turning, she faced him and Wythoth went through a ceremony only a bit

longer than the announcement of the Jekar each day. Instead of kissing at the end, though, Zira

rubbed her nose against his and he followed her lead.

 

He thought it strange that the ceremony was peformed in such a secluded setting, but once

the three of them reappeared from the overgrown bushes, the guests cheered loudly. Clearly, they

had overheard the words spoken. He and Zira were grabbed by the hand by two cherubs and

guided to seats bedecked in flowery vines. Xandor noted that the vines grew next to the chairs

and trailed up the sides and back of each. The seat and where their backs would rest were clear of

plant life, though. He idly wondered if the vines were “trained” or if some type of inherent

intelligence guided their growth.

 

The tiny blue children, as lovely as any elf-like child he’d ever encountered, joined a flock

of small bodies gathered in front of them. They wore a variety of colors, almost as if they

represented the flowers on Sertosh. For that’s what they seemed to resemble to him.

 

The musicians sitting on the sidelines started up a merry tune and the children danced

around in abandonment. Their movements seemed to have no particular pattern, merely that of

joy and happiness. Several guests started clapping in rhythm to the music and soon he and Zira

joined in. Giggling laughter melded with the music as the children flowed back and forth in the

cleared space in front of their chairs.

 

After this performance, Xandor remembered little of the festivities that followed. He got too

drunk with his wife’s beauty and the thought of their many heated nights to come.

 

Long after the sun set, people started leaving, including Wythoth, who was staying the night

with relatives, leaving them to enjoy the cottage in solitude. That night, their passion ran as hot

as any previous encounters, but Zira experienced multiple orgasms within the normal range. He

already had studied all he could find in the library concerning the Jekar and knew that one full

body climax a day was the limit. Poor Zira was exhausted by the time sleep claimed them.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

It took a week of checking with the one pod spaceport before they secured berth on a large

freighter. During that time, he and Zira potted samples of the many varieties of plant life that she

deemed necessary to her survival. Though Xandor wondered by the time they were through if

she hadn’t slipped a few in simply because she loved their beauty so much. Then there was Ak,

his food needs, and his mate. After all, the yeep need companionship, just as they did. And he

had to take a long terrarium, big enough to nourish the caterpillar for the trip. They had quite a

load to place aboard ship, but fortunately it could accommodate them.

 

 

Xandor admittedly liked Ak’s mate, a more petite version of him, who acted slightly less

goofy. At least she seemed to keep her perch without falling into an instant snooze. She looked

very pretty perched on Zira’s shoulder actually. But, unfortunately, that meant Ak took up the

habit of making a sliding landing onto his own shoulder. Xandor spent more time then he

thought he should, straightening up the sleeping yeep who had fallen upside down against his

vest. In reality, the yeep had taken a shine to him immediately after the Jekar had ended and had

already insisted on perching on his shoulder constantly. It set Zira off into giggles.

 

Saying goodbye to her father, relatives, and friends, was a sad affair for his wife. Many tears

and hugs passed around before they entered the small metal door of the spaceship. He spent a

good part of the night comforting her, not bad for him, but miserable for her.

 

At first, it seemed their trip back would be made in record time; they knew exactly where

they wanted to go and the ships in this trading route certainly knew where Varzkar was located.

Problems arose when they sought new accommodations in order to keep on track. Some ships

were simply too small for Zira’s plant collection. Hence, it’d taken longer to reach Varzkar then

he first estimated.

 

But the many weeks it took to find the right ship were hardly an annoyance. Zira’s joy at

exploring new planets was delightful and contagious. Xandor rediscovered his own delight of

strange, alien wonders.

 

They were one day from landing on Varzkar when they made a discovery that would change

their perception of the yeep forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Sixteen

 

 

 

Returning to their small cabin after supper one evening, a sudden loud sneeze drew their

attention to the yeeps, who were clinging side-by-side to the perch Xandor had made for them at

the end of the bed.

 

“Poor Ak, he’s been doing a lot of sneezing since this morning.”

 

“I know. He must be allergic to something.” He walked over and petted the yeep, who

squawked.

 

Zira came and stood next to him. “Maybe we should—”

 

Her words were interrupted by another extremely loud sneeze. A scarf draped on a chair in

front of the perch whooshed into flames.

 

“What the—?” Xandor stared at the charred remains of the scarf.

 

He was staring at Ak when another sneeze gripped the yeep’s small body. A small fiery ball

erupted into the air in front of the tiny dragon’s face. Turning to Zira in shock, he asked, “Did

you know he could do that?”

 

Surprise painted Zira’s lovely face. She shook her head slowly, then whispered, “No yeep

has ever spit fire.”

 

Pulling up the chair to the side, so he would not be directly in front of the perch, Xandor

examined the yeeps. They, or rather, one of them suddenly showed signs of magic? Most

mysterious. He rubbed his chin. Or was the fireball magic at all?

 

He had to test this phenomenon. “Ak, can you spit more fire?” The dragon stared at him

sleepily, on the verge of falling into one of his deep sleeps.

 

“Great,” he mumbled, then had a thought. Snapping his fingers, he materialized pepper from

a table in the dining hall. Pouring a few grains onto his palm, he blew it into the yeep’s face. The

dragons’ cheeks puffed out and both sneezed, but only Ak blew out a fireball. Xandor caught the

sphere with a spell, holding it between his outstretched hands.

 

“Better.” Ak squawked, “Pain gone,” then fell into an instant sleep, his mate right behind

him.

 

Maintaining the ball with one hand, Xandor waved the other, materializing a cylinder into

his palm. He asked Zira to lift the glass, then directed the ball inside and sealed it. Carrying the

cylinder carefully, he set it down on the tiny corner desk.

 

It was as he’d guessed. The fiery orb gravitated to the top of the glass. The ball reminded

him of the Dragon Fire, except it was only about three inches across, and the color was

predominantly yellow with swirls of red lacing through it. What this meant, he had no idea, but

intended to ask Master Talorg as soon as he could. In the meantime, he studied the fire and tried

to read its magical emanations, for it certainly had some inklings of enchantment within its

flames.

 

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

He felt fortunate the next day when Master Talorg came to the spaceport. He’d been

expecting a shipment of valuable crystals and was delighted to see Xandor and meet Zira and the

yeeps.

 

Talorg could tell him no more about the fireball than he knew himself. But, the dragon and

tiny ball of fire were taken under study by the Master himself, several fifth level sorcerers, and

Xandor. Were the yeep distant relatives of the highly revered Varzkar dragons? It seemed

unlikely, but that was one theory being batted about by the intellectuals.

 

Whatever the outcome, Xandor enjoyed the silly yeeps, once he got used to their frequent

habit of falling asleep in the blink of an eye. Now that the rumor about the dragons had gotten

around the institution, it didn’t matter if Ak fell into an undignified heap upon his chest. The

wizards smiled and shook their heads, as if this were but a part of the magic embedded in the tiny

blue body.

 

Life fell into a rhythm that he came to look forward to and his training each day progressed

quickly. He loved that Zira awaited his arrival in their apartment every day, ready with a sweet

smile and stimulating conversation. Or sexually sizzling encounter—whatever met their mood

that particular evening.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Six Months Later…

 

 

 

Xandor kissed Zira’s nose and patted her stomach after he entered their apartment. She

seemed to notice the distracted expression on his face.

 

“Is everything all right?” Concern laced her voice.

 

“Yes.” His eyes came down to her blue ones; the faraway look gone. “It’s just that today

Master Talorg said I’ve made astounding growth toward completing the fifth level.”

 

“Really?”

 

Her excitement made him smile. Clasping her in his arms, he gave her a deep kiss, enjoying

the softness of her lush lips beneath his. Drawing back, he said, “In fact, he said at this rate, I

might be through in another six months.”

 

“Oh, Xandor.” She squeezed him around the waist.

 

“We can move to Sertosh just after our son is born.” He rubbed her prominent belly, which

looked rather odd upon her otherwise still slim figure. But he still thought she was the most

beautiful woman ever born.

 

She sighed and laid her head against his chest. “You have made me the happiest woman in

the galaxy.”

 

“Just the galaxy?” he teased, caressing the soft hair at her temple.

 

When she raised her head, her dark blue eyes twinkled. “In the universe, then, great wizard.”

 

“I’ll settle for that.” He chuckled.

 

“And it all came about because of this marvelous necklace.” She fished beneath his vest and

pulled it to lie against the leather.

 

 

She stared at it, her eyes becoming glazed in thought. “Xandor, do you think we should

share such a wondrous object with others?”

 

Shaking his head, he said musingly, “You have read my mind again…we have achieved

happiness because of its charm, perhaps another could benefit also.”

 

“You have someone in mind.” She peered up at him, curiosity flitting across her face.

 

Nodding, he answered, “I was thinking of Thorras. He’s only a third level sorcerer and he’s

been having some problems lately in his attempts toward the fourth.” He paused. “Do you think

we should gift him with the necklace?”

 

“Oh, yes. I like Thorras. He’s so funny and charming. Will you tell him of its magic?”

 

“No, I can’t. I can inform him it will find his true love, if he’s interested, then it’ll be up to

him if he follows through.”

 

She hugged him tight. “This is so exciting.”

 

“Hmmm, but you know what’s more exciting?” He lowered his voice.

 

Zira giggled and then her hand went to his belt and fumbled with it. “I don’t know, let me

see if I can find out.” With that she slid his pants down.

 

By the time she’d tugged them to his feet and he’d kicked out of them, his cock was stiff and

bobbed against her bent head. She rubbed her silken hair against his shaft. It jerked under the soft

caress.

 

Kneeling awkwardly, she continued her erotic play. Her head rotated playfully several times,

and then her lips made contact with the head of his cock. One hand held him steady, while her

lovely eyes stared up at him. At first, she tortured him by simply giving him soft kisses all up

and down his shaft, coming back to press her full lips against the sensitive head. Next, her tongue

flicked out and lapped up a drop of semen shining on top and he groaned.

 

For a woman who had known nothing of oral sex before their marriage, Zira had learned

wonderful skills in six months. When her lips closed over him, he shut his eyes and soaked up

the erotic sensation. Wet warmth wrapped completely around him; her tongue slid against the

head inside the heated cavern of her mouth. He moaned when she started moving her head up

and down, sucking at the same time. The sultry, heady odor of exotic flowers wafted to his nose,

tickling and enticing him. He thought it was the scent of her arousal. Opening his eyes, he

watched her head bob and then how she removed her mouth briefly.

 

“Zira.” He groaned. She stared up at him while she licked the head, her pale blue tongue

flicking rapidly. Her wet tongue slid all the way down his shaft, then she gently sucked one

testicle into her moist mouth. His thighs clenched as she let it plop out, and then nuzzled the

other, laving it as she looked up at him.

 

It was too much. His balls tightened and Xandor gripped her head, driving into her waiting

mouth, pumping his hips in rhythm with her bobbing head. His seed spurted into her warmth,

and he groaned again while he watched her swallow.

 

With a flick of her dark tongue, she licked the last drop from his cock. She smiled sweetly,

pleased that she had pleased him.

 

He knew she got turned on by sucking him off, but she needed her release also. Their

lovemaking was less frequent lately; he had to be considerate of her sensitized body during her

pregnancy, but oral sex was no problem at all and much welcomed by them both.

 

 

Laying her gently down upon the crituun fur, he slipped her tunic off. He kissed her full lips

until they felt swollen. Then went straight to the already excited nub nestled in her sweet pussy.

Her hands clutched his hair. The pain excited him still further. Her clit was hard and when he

laid his tongue against it for a few seconds, he could actually feel it throbbing. He stroked around

and around the nub and only when she wriggled upon the fur did he draw her clit into his mouth.

Her heated flowery scent filled his nose. He breathed in deeply, loving her smell.

 

He kneaded her butt cheeks firmly. Loosing a hand, he gently slipped one finger into her

vagina, waiting until it became slick with her juices before sliding it in and out. Then he returned

to her clit and licked it swiftly while he finger-fucked her in a slow rhythm. Zira moaned loudly.

Her hips began thrusting upward to meet his tongue.

 

It only took a few more licks and swirls and she climaxed, her thighs tightening on each side

of his head while she moaned little “ohs”.

 

He couldn’t wait for the child to be born. There were so many delicious and naughty things

he wanted to do with his lovely wife. But for today, he was more than content. He gathered Zira

into his arms and they discussed mundane married things like baby names and their upcoming

move to Sertosh.

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

It was only a month later that Thorras came to say goodbye. He was on his way to Earth to

look for his soulmate. During a meditation spell, he’d gotten the distinct impression his future

wife was an Earthling. As they waved bye to the enthusiastic young wizard, Xandor could only

hope his protégé had as much luck as he had in finding his true love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epilogue

 

 

 

They’d just returned from the bazaar and Zira spun around the room, delighted with the blue

dangle earrings he’d purchased for her. The silver metal matched her hair, while the dark

sapphire blue reflected her eye coloring. She was a charming picture.

 

His knees buckled under. Confusing, powerful images shot through his head.

 

Lights flashing, alarms shrilling, sickening, intense spiraling motion, and then inky

blackness.

 

Zira knelt beside him and he heard her “What’s wrong?” as if from a far distance.

 

Taking a few deep breaths, he took control of the sharp mind-touch, which had thrown his

system into chaos. Thorras was at the other end of the link.

 

He was in trouble and had reached out to his mentor.

 

While the young wizard’s mind temporarily floated in shock within the arms of blackness,

Xandor told Zira of the mind-touch. Settling his body into a more comfortable position, he

meditated, waiting for Thorras to reach out again.

 

This time the image was stronger, less fuzzy—as if the young wizard looked out a view

plate and related the pictures to Xandor’s mind.

 

Thorras’s ship erupted from the bowels of a black hole and plunged toward the planet

below.

 

Earth.

 

“I wish I could see what’s happening,” Zira whispered.

 

Without breaking contact or losing concentration, he placed one hand over her two hands,

which clutched the material of her tunic. He made mental contact with her and Zira’s gasp told

him she now saw what he did. Earth’s blue oceans, topped with layers of cottony clouds were

breathtaking. But not to the people aboard the ship. The out-of-control vessel plunged through

those lovely clouds, its hull burning a fiery red when it entered the atmosphere too swiftly.

 

The spaceship broke through the lowest level of clouds and spun toward the ground. Xandor

maintained only the slightest contact the next few seconds. Water surrounded the ship—they’d

landed in a lake, river or the ocean.

 

Thorras made it through the shredded metal, swimming away from the chaos. Rain poured

down in painful sheets upon the luckless individuals trying to survive the savage conditions of

their crash landing. Visibility was almost negligible. The ship suddenly upended and sank swiftly

from sight, sucking down floundering people with its powerful death.

 

A huge wave washed over the young wizard after the spaceship sank into oblivion. He was

sucked under for a few seconds, flipped over and over, but then he managed to swim to the

surface. Thorras’s gaze sought something, which floated on top of the raging waters—the

necklace. It had been ripped from his neck by the rushing water and was being swept away from

him at a fierce pace.

 

Gallantly, he swam after it, but its lighter weight and his exhaustion played against him.

Paddling to keep his head above the waves, he watched the direction the waves were moving the

necklace. It was headed toward shore, which could be seen now, since fortunately, the rain had

slackened some.

 

Visibility was still poor, but through Thorras’s eyes, Xandor saw reddish-brown earth where

the waves slashed against the shoreline. Several tall trees, with fringe-like branches only at the

top, waved madly in the whipping winds. Towering, rugged mountains ripped upward in the

background. The whole setting was surreal. It looked savage and untouched. Thorras swam

toward shore, the necklace far outpacing him. He abruptly lost the connection with his

apprentice.

 

Xandor came out of his meditation trance and found Zira’s worried face right in front of his.

 

“What happened to Thorras?”

 

“From the images I received, I think the ship may have been sucked into a black hole.”

 

“But…wasn’t that Earth?”

 

“Yes. For some reason I think the ship was pulled into a time warp.”

 

“Is he all right?’

 

He nodded. “He was swimming toward shore when I lost contact. He’ll be fine.”

 

She smiled, her eyes staring behind him. “I’ll pray to the mother goddess every day for his

safe return.”

 

Hugging her to his body, he whispered in her cute ear, “You’re my goddess.”

 

Giggling, she shoved back from him and stared into his eyes and asked, “What do you think

will happen to the necklace?”

 

He shrugged. “Maybe some lucky person will find it swept up a riverbank.”

 

“Will they be able to use it…I mean, will the magic work for them?” Zira’s expression had

turned excited.

 

“It should. I put a powerful spell on it.” Now he was the one who stared at the wall.

“Although…”

 

“What?”

 

“Hmmm.” His distracted thoughts came back to his luscious wife, who cuddled in his lap in

a most distracting manner. “I was just thinking…if someone with psychic or magical abilities

gets their hands on it…” He frowned. “Who knows what may happen?”

 

“Like what?” Her hands had stopped stroking his chest and she stared up at him with

curiosity.

 

“The necklace may take that power and do different things than was intended for it.” At her

persistent look, he said, “For example, if a telekinetic person held it and concentrated their

power, they might be able to more easily move objects.”

 

“Oh, I see, but not likely to happen.” She wiggled into a more comfortable position and

stared up at him adoringly. “But, the power of love will continue, whether the necklace is there

to help out or not.”

 

“That’s right.” He tightened his arms about her waist. “Our love continues, and grows

everyday.”

 

She giggled, that girlish, tinkling sound that always caused a responding thump in his chest.

 

“Just think. Creating the necklace helped continue the Dragon Fire legacy.”

 

“Huh?” She furrowed her brow.

 

“The Dragon Fire was used to make the necklace…remember me telling you the story?” At

her nod, he continued, “The magic will live on somewhere else now, perhaps behave in new

ways. Help people in ways we cannot imagine, take on new legends. At the very least it will help

fated lovers find one another.”

 

Laughing, she twisted a handful of his hair and brought him down for a sultry kiss. “And

you will continue to torture me with your magic, wizard?”

 

“Always.”

 

He sealed his promise with a fierce, possessive kiss. Pulling back, he caressed the soft hair

on either side of her elfin face. “You have brought more magic into my life by your love, than I

could ever hope to create.”

 

“Oh, Xandor, tell me more. Your poetry affects me more than your sorcery.”

 

He didn’t think that likely when he recalled her sexual reactions to his magical foreplay. But

if words were what she desired, perhaps he could create a few sonnets, even if he had to borrow

some wisdom from such greats as Shakespeare. But first, he thought he’d remind her of the

magic between the two of them.

It didn’t take long to stoke the fires within the blue depths of her lovely eyes. He knew that

for as long as they both existed in this world, their love would sizzle, an eternal flame as bright

and mystical as the Dragon Fire.