Priest-King / Huntress vs Huntsman Book 6

He’s as lethal as he is beautiful, desired and feared by all.
She’s big, bloodthirsty, and obliterates her enemies.
Never should they have met.
But they did...

With the Serpent God’s ultimatum hanging over them, Honryn and Verdria know they are running out of time. The Festival of the Vine is only four months away. And on that night the deity will claim Honryn as his mortal vessel and Verdria as his consort—a fate they both want to avoid.

Yet one of the Serpent God’s new ‘gifts’ to Verdria allows her to wield soul mage magic, and she discovers she can now create long-distance portal spells like Honryn.

This proves groundbreaking because Honryn has been building a secret settlement—a city situated between dragon territory and Verdria’s own homeland—and with Verdria’s help Honryn can now supply his secret new settlement twice as fast, thus guaranteeing he can evacuate all his people to the new settlement before he becomes the host for a hostile god.

But there is just one problem with his plan.

Honryn isn’t planning to go with them.

He’s going to stay behind and become the new Priest-King and the mortal vessel for the Serpent God. Because if Honryn doesn’t stay behind, and he flees with his family back to the mountains, his uncle will send the might of the empire to crush Verdria’s homeland and ‘rescue’ Honryn.

As far as Verdria is concerned, she only has two choices—find a way to free Honryn from the Serpent God or stay by his side and become his consort.

Because there’s no way she’d abandoning him.

The first rays of dawn crept through the arched windows, casting a pale glow across Honryn’s chambers. He stirred and covered his face with an arm. Then groaned at the pain that first slight movement caused. His entire body ached with a deep, pervasive pain that radiated up from his very bones. Groaning louder, he pushed himself up on to his elbows, the silken sheets pooling around his waist.

His skin felt too tight, stretched thin over muscles that trembled with exhaustion. Even breathing hurt.

“Lovely.”

He looked down at his hands, expecting to see the iridescent scales and curved claws of his naga form, but found only human flesh, pale and unmarked. He didn’t remember returning to his human form or getting into bed. Verdria had likely helped him back to bed once he’d regained his human form.

The door creaked open, and Verdria slipped inside as if his thoughts had summoned her. She froze upon seeing him propped up in bed. “You’re awake.”

“Unfortunately.” He managed what he hoped was a weak smile, but it was probably more of a grimace.

She crossed the room in a few swift strides, then sat heavily on the edge of the bed. Her hand found his and laced their fingers together. “How do you feel? Don’t lie. I can see you’re in pain.”

“Like I was rolled down the side of a mountain.” He winced as he shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. “Can’t say I recommend becoming a god’s vessel.”

Verdria’s grip tightened. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something more I could do.”

She looked away, but he still heard her softly muttered, “Like kill that meddling snake’s ass for you.”

“Unless you can convince the Serpent God to find a new chosen one, I think I’m stuck with him.” Honryn sighed, his gaze drifting to the window. The sky was lightening to a soft blue, streaked with pink and gold. Charming and mellow. Two things he certainly wasn’t feeling at the moment. “But that’s not what worries me most.”

To his surprise, Verdria leaned closer and tenderly adjusted his pillows. When a lock of her red hair brushed his shoulder, he resisted the urged to lean closer, to flick his tongue out and taste-scent her. But he stopped himself moments before he did, realizing the origins of that thought. Perhaps his new naga nature wasn’t as deeply buried as he’d hoped.
“Talk, Mage.”

He hesitated, the words sticking in his throat. How could he voice the fear that had been gnawing at him since the god’s possession? The demands he could clearly remember hearing the Serpent God make using his voice. Those words echoed softly in his mind again now, dark and insidious even as he remembered the lewd way he’d treated Verdria.

“By this point, I think we can tell each other anything. What’s on your mind?” Her voice was gentle for once, soothing and coaxing even.

He swallowed hard. “The Festival of the Vine is only a little over four months away. And the Serpent God... he expects us to be intimate. He wants to use me to... rut with you. To claim you as his Consort.”

Verdria’s eyes narrowed, and her lips thinned before she schooled her features into a mask of calm. “Yes. I’m aware of his plans in that regard. But I’m not—”

“I can’t... I won’t do that to you. To force myself on you, to hurt you like that.” His voice sounded thick with emotion even to his own ears, and he cleared his throat to hide the anguish twisting in his gut at the thought of the Serpent God forcing him to do to Verdria what his sire had done to his mother. Only this might be even more painful and traumatizing for Verdria, especially with her snake phobia and their size difference. His hands curled into fists. “You’ve never even been with a man, and my naga form is... I have two members. Two very large...”

“Yes, I noticed those.” She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. “Stop talking. We’ll figure this out, together. I’m not afraid of you, or your naga form. I’m not even afraid of your big naga cocks. I know you would never willingly harm me.”

“But the Serpent God—”

“Is not here right now.” She cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze. “And the Festival is four months away yet. For now, you need to rest and heal.”

He wanted to argue, to make her understand the danger she was in, but she was too stubborn. Or she didn’t think he would hurt her, but he now knew how easily the Serpent God could take command and Honryn knew he couldn’t keep Verdria safe. But she was correct. That was a problem for later. He had a more immediate problem to face in the form of what to tell his uncle.

“Fine,” he said softly. “We’ll discuss this more later, when I’m recovered and thinking clearly.”

She patted his sheet covered thigh with her free hand. “Good. I’m going to go find Jardeen. She’ll want to check on your injuries. And I’ll let the rest of your family know you’re awake.”

Verdria rose from the bed, her hand slipping from his. He watched as she crossed the room, her steps purposeful and sure. Always his brave, bold mountain woman. She paused at the door, glancing back at him with a reassuring nod before slipping out into the hallway.

The moment the door closed behind her, he allowed himself to slump back against the pillows, his breath leaving him in a shuddering sigh. Every muscle screamed in protest as he shifted, trying to find a position that didn’t send bolts of agony through his body.

Normally he’d heal himself, but his magic was strangely sluggish to answer his call, so he’d let his mother tend to his injuries for once.

He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, letting his mind drift as he waited for Verdria to return with Jardeen.

While he might be locked into his fate, Verdria didn’t have to be. His secret rebellion was still working toward his ultimate goal. And two-thirds of the new colony was already carved from the mountains and the fourth load of supplies and personnel would make the trip shortly. Just as soon as he recovered enough to create the portal.

He’d already planned for his people to be safely away from the empire long before the Festival of the Vine. He would just have to remain focused on that goal and make sure Verdria went through with the others. Even if he had to knock her out and have someone carry her across the portal, he would make sure she made it safely back to her mountain home.

And that the Serpent God hadn’t challenged Honryn about his plans, suggested the deity wasn’t all knowing. Either that, or the Moon Goddess was shrouding him and his people in her protection.

The creak of the door jolted him from his musings. He opened his eyes to see Verdria entering, Jardeen close behind. His mother’s face showed her concern as she hurried to his bedside, her hands already glowing with the soft blue light of her healing magic.

“My son,” she murmured, laying her palms on his chest. “Verdria said you’re in pain. Where does it hurt?”

“Everywhere.”

“That wretched snake god.”

Honryn winced as her magic seeped into his skin, knitting torn muscles and soothing inflamed flesh. “Nothing I can’t handle, Mother. I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ll be able to heal myself once my magic recovers.”

Jardeen snorted, her eyes narrowing. “Stop trying to downplay it. I can feel the damage.”

Verdria hovered nearby, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Is there anything we can do to help him recover faster? Maybe share my magic with him?”
“Normally I’d say yes, but his body was damaged by too much magic. Time and rest will be the best help to speed his recovery. But I can ease his pain and hurry the healing process, at least.”

Honryn felt the various pains slowly receding, replaced by a soothing warmth that spread from deep in his bones outward to his fingertips. He let out a shaky breath and some of the tension drained from his muscles.

“Thank you, Mother.”

Jardeen smiled, brushing a tender hand over his brow. “I’ll go and let you sleep. I’ll even keep the rest of the family away until you are ready to face them.”

Honryn laughed. “Don’t say that. You’ll tempt me into having a relapse just so I don’t have to answer their ten thousand questions.”

But even humor wasn’t enough to drive away the shadow of the Serpent God looming large in his mind, that constant, oppressive presence who would one day consume him.

“You should listen to your mother. Rest now and stop worrying,” Verdria murmured. “Let your mother’s magic do its work. We can worry about the future later.” As if sensing his inner turmoil, Verdria leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “And I’m sure the most feared soul mage will soon be on his feet again and terrifying his enemies.”

He wanted to resist, to push himself up and face the day head-on. But his body betrayed him, exhaustion dragging at his limbs. His eyelids fluttered closed, and he felt himself sinking back into the pillows.

The last thing he heard before he drifted off was Verdria’s voice, low and fierce. “We’ll figure out a way to stop the Serpent God. I swear it.”


* * *

Hours later, Honryn stirred from his healing slumber. The slant of the sun told him it was early afternoon. He blinked, disoriented, his mind struggling to piece together the fragments of memory.

Then it all came rushing back—the Serpent God’s possession, the searing agony of his transformation, the dark whispers of the god’s desires. He shuddered.
“Honryn? You’re awake, aren’t you?” Verdria’s voice, sounding loud in the otherwise quiet room, drew his gaze to the side of the bed where she was sitting in a chair.

“I would be awake now even if I wasn’t before, having your booming voice in my ear.” He grinned at her. She leaned closer, a worried look on her face.

“How are you feeling?”

He pushed himself up into a sitting position. “Better, I think.”

Verdria nodded, relief flickering in her eyes.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m just sorry for what happened. How the Serpent God treated you. I can’t help feeling responsible. If I hadn’t been chosen by the Serpent God…”

“Then you wouldn’t have become the man I admire either,” Verdria said fiercely. “The man who has fought so hard to protect his family, his people, to bring justice to the most morally corrupt of empires. But to get to my point, I have a plan.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“We both know I can’t lie to save my life, so I don’t think we should lie.”

“About what?”

She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. And he noticed a bright red flush staining her cheeks.

“I think we should do it,” she said.

He frowned, a flicker of suspicion sparking in his chest. “Should do what?”

“Should capitulate to his demands that we become intimate.” Verdria’s eyes glinted with that usual fierce determination he loved so much. “If we can convince the Serpent God that we are honoring him, that we are preparing for his...” She cleared her throat. “For his claiming of me, then perhaps he will be satisfied. At least for a time and not go looking too deeply while we work on, shall we say, a more long-term solution.”

Honryn’s heart stuttered, a sickening dread twisting in his gut. “You mean you want to go through with his wishes? With me in my naga form? With your phobia?”

“Yes. That.” Verdria blushed even more strongly. “I mean, maybe we can pretend and make him think we are being obedient to his wishes if we just share a bed, but I think it will be more believable if it’s real.”

Honryn stared at her, watching as her face burned a darker and darker red. Her idea wasn’t without merit. But it was a dangerous gamble, one that could backfire in a thousand different ways.

“I mean, we seem to like each other well enough…”

“Are you sure after what the Serpent God was doing to you? I’m pretty sure he used magic on you to make you more willing.” He glanced down, too ashamed to meet her gaze.

“I suspected as much, but he probably didn’t even need to use much,” she snorted bitterly. “I’m already quite fond of you, Mage. Getting to touch you is hardly a chore. And you seem to like me in that way too.

Unless I was misreading things.” Verdria’s cheeks were flushed a deep shade of red, her eyes shining with embarrassment and a hint of vulnerability. She fidgeted nervously, avoiding his gaze.

“You aren’t mistaken. I like you very much, my Fierce One.”

“Good.” She squared her shoulders. “I don’t see the problem with the first part of our plan.”

“Alright,” he said slowly, his voice rough. “We’ll try it your way. But Verdria...” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “If you can’t handle being close to my naga form, we’ll find another way, no matter what the cost.”

“And I know I’m not the only one with trauma. I won’t let him use you as a tool of my violation. I won’t allow him to do that to either of us. We’re in this together. I mean, I can geld you if I must.” She chuckled darkly.

Honryn winced even as he stared at her, his heart swelling with a fierce, overwhelming pride for his Fierce One. She knew his deepest secret fear and would do what she had to do to prevent that. And he didn’t doubt she’d carry out her threat and geld him if she had to.

How had he been so lucky to have this incredible woman by his side? She was his rock, his anchor in the storm of chaos that had become his life.

“Wow, Mage. I may not know that much about men, but I’m pretty sure a normal man would not get that sappy look on his face when a woman threatened to geld him. You truly are an extra special one.”

“I am one of a kind. And I don’t deserve you.” Laughing, he reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles before she could pull back in surprise. “But I am beyond grateful you jumped through that portal to take my head.”

He tossed back the sheet, stood, and then pulled her into his arms for a hug, grinning into her wild mane the entire time she grumbled about his near nakedness.

Though he knew she secretly liked him in nothing but a loincloth.

Finally, Verdria pulled back, her expression turning serious. “I should be going. I was supposed to report to the Priest-King the moment you awoke.”

“Fine. You can send him to me. I’m well enough to handle his interrogation now.”