Precious Starlight (Quads of Galafrax Book 3) (15 page)

It could have been some fantastical epic movie set some director would have spent billions of dollars building. If not for all she’d already been through, Daisy could have easily believed this was all one big, unrealistic dream.

She sighed, listening to the low hum of the gathered crowd. There was not one empty seat. Guess it wasn’t every day you got to see ex-High Councillors get their butts kicked, nor them fighting over a human woman.

From what she understood, the human wife of her escorts from her chambers to the arena, the High Lords Gol and Hul, had forbidden them to go through the mating challenge. She simply declared her men hers, and that seemed to be the end of it.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Because, through strong confidence and brain scrambling kisses and bringing her to orgasm a few times with multiple fingers and tongues, they’d convinced her this was the right thing to be doing and they could hold their own in combat.

The Councillors couldn’t be allowed to get away with what they’d done, and Justice had to be served Galafraxian-style. By a good ol’ fashioned whoop-arse.

Despite the warmth of the planet, a shiver ran down Daisy’s arms as she gazed at the dark, almost black clouds slowly rolling across the tinged purplish red sky, blocking out the high midday red sun.

“Is it too late to put a stop to this nonsense?”

“Sorry, Daisy, it must be seen through to the end. Your men know as well as we, the things they did to you cannot go unanswered. This battle as much for your men as it is for the whole of Galafrax, or more quads will start abusing their females.”

Damn him for making an irrefutable point.

“Do you know what to do once the challenge is over?” Gol glanced down at her.

Her men had made that part clear before handing her off to Hul and Gol. “Yes, I’m to go down the steps and accept or reject the winners, at my discretion.” Not that she had any intention of rejecting her men.
They are mine.

Hul nodded his approval and went back to crowd-watching.

The hum of the crowd grew louder and applause broke out. Daisy watched as her men emerged from a dark tunnel into the light of day. Her eyes swept greedily over them.

Wow…

She couldn’t help herself, despite not liking the fact her men had to fight at all. They broke all scales of sexy hotness in their battle dress. It didn’t matter where in the universe you came from, red and black was a match made in the heavens, especially when thick shiny black leather-looking material stretched from the shoulder down to the thick belts of her men’s waists. Gold plates covered the front of their knee-high boots, which matched their wrist to elbow cuffs where even more of their muscle and skin was on display.

Daisy forced her hand to stay in her lap rather than start fanning her heat and lust-flushed skin.

She licked her lips. Yeah, she was going to get them to wear that later on. Although physically impossible, she wanted to throw all four down and have her extra-wicked way.

Bad Daisy, a challenge battle is serious, you can’t be thinking about smoking hot sex with them now.

“Yes, my love… I understand, I miss you too… I have to go, the challenge is about to start… See you soon, my love.” Gol talked into a sleek black banana-shaped device. She glanced up at him. For a big, muscular tough guy, the sappy look on his face as he talked to his own wife: almost comical, if not for knowing how her own men looked at her.

Internally, she sighed, knowing it was the best feeling in the world to be so adored and treasured by men you love equally so.
Men
, plural… how normal it sounded now. Never did she want to go back to her solitary life on Earth. Here she belonged, and here she would stay, even if she had to go out into the arena and kick those Councillors' arses herself.

A hysterical little giggle broke free, making Hul glance down at her, his brow dipped in puzzlement.

“You are amused by the coming challenge?”

“No, just thinking how crazy this all is, and how almost unreal it feels, being human and all.”

Hul nodded. “This I do understand. Our wife explained how she felt as she started to learn our ways and accept Galafrax as her home. Do not fear, all will be well, and your quads will win. Just let us know if you feel faint or unwell. It is common for Demos females to attend a challenge, but I am certain you are unaccustomed to seeing challenges fought.”

They took centre stage, side by side. She knew Loz and Tos from their harder expressions. Standing to the pair’s left stood Cir and he glanced up to where she sat. Even decked out ready for battle, he was trying to comfort her with his gorgeous, reassuring smile. Bex, standing on the eldest two’s right, hand blew her a kiss and waggled his eyebrows. Daisy fought not to shake her head at his antics, knowing the seriousness of the fight ahead of them.

Her heart swelled with pride, knowing these men were hers, though at the same time she was filled with fear they would get hurt.

Confidence and trust––she placed everything in her men’s hands, including her heart. But, God help them, if any one of them got killed. She’d go after them, demand that any god of the afterlife give them back.

A roar of boos and hisses filled the arena, drowning out the sound of her pounding heart, as the ex-Councillors strolled into the area, each with a confident, arrogant swagger. Their smiles failed at all the negative crowd feedback.

Daisy liked the fact word had gotten around about their maltreatment of not only her, but also the other human women.

They moved to face her men and she couldn't hear what was being said, but the heads of her men shook.

Bex said something making the R’galas quads lips thin into a tight line and their eyes turn to clear anger.

A horn blared and the Councillors charged, attacking her men aggressively. Daisy couldn’t tell the R’galas brothers apart as all four of her men defended against their flurry of blows and kicks, which were driving them backwards.

Not once did her men initiate an attack, they simply continued to defend each blow. Over and over this went on, making her heart pound faster. Why were her men not attacking? Teach the ex-Councillors a lesson, as they said they were going to do.

“Smart play,” she heard High Lord Hul mutter.

Daisy, confused, glanced up at him. “Why?”

He met her gaze, then gestured to the fighting men. “It is clear the R’galas brothers lack practiced stamina. Your men are making them waste energy and strength. Sometimes a fight isn’t just about proving your power over another, but the endurance to see it through to the end.”

Daisy’s eyes swung back to the fighting. Watching the R’galas men, she saw their chests were heaving rather heavily and the light reflected off a thin gleam of sweat on their softer bodies, whereas her men hardly seemed bothered at all, no sweat, no laboured breath.

She smiled, loving how smart and strong they were. She felt her shoulders relax in relief that they did have a plan, until Cir was caught by a heavy blow, which knocked him off his feet and onto his back. Loz, plainly enraged by his brother's fall, quickly struck out at his opponent. While taking a firm grip of the arm which swung at his head, Loz landed a powerful front kick to the other Demos's midsection, sending him sprawling back, and Loz raced to protect Cir as he flipped himself back onto his feet. Her four men nodded at each other and she knew they were up to something.

Daisy forced herself to breathe as her men went from defence to attack. The utter rage in Tos’s face as he struck with swift precision against the strongest of the R’galas quads, more than likely But, though she couldn’t tell. Loz was not far behind Tos as he kicked and punched, and the R’galas defended more sluggishly than her men had.

Hul was right, her men had worn them down. It was an impressive display, far better than a high action martial arts movie. She blew out a breath as her Tos jumped and spun in a roundhouse kick, making his opponent fly back and land with such force it left a deep groove in the arena’s sand. Her guys had some serious skills.

She found she couldn't resist cheering when the other Demos men hit the ground. The crowd backed her up when they erupted into excited yells. But her men were far from finished. She winced as all her quads jumped onto their flattened opponents and connected their fists with the R’galas brothers' faces. Blood spurted across the red sands of the arena.

Tos, filled with obvious battle lust, jumped away from the unconscious body of his opponent and shoved Bex aside, brutally smashing Bex’s ex-opponent until he too fell limp.

Daisy wondered at all the pent-up anger Tos kept inside. Her Demos man had some issues to deal with. She made a mental note to talk with him about it later.

The remaining two R’galas brothers quickly held up their hands in surrender.

Bex glanced around the area as he stood up straight, his chest now heaving, and, damn, did he look, oh, so sexy, all sweaty and mussed from the fight.

A second horn blared, making her jump in her seat as she clutched at her chest.

“It is done.” Gol patted her on her shoulder. “Your quads are the victors.”

Well, that is rather anticlimactic
, but then it was for the best, having already had enough drama in her life. Daisy heaved a sigh of relief it was finally over. She followed Lord Gol as he rose from his seat, offering his arm.

“What happens to them now, the R’galas quads?” Gol escorted her down the short aisle to the top of the stairs. Her gaze was firmly on her men as they regrouped, huddling together having some kind of pow-wow.

“They will be taken in for trial now and sentenced according to their crimes.” He helped her down the larger carved steps. Hul followed behind her as they stepped onto the arena sands.

Her heart sped up as her men stood side-by-side, golden eyes ablaze with carnal hunger making her insides quiver and count the seconds until they could be alone.

She felt a rushed thrill of excitement.
These wonderful men are all mine.

“A fair challenge, Stormstrong brothers,” Gol nodded at them. “Daisy, do you accept the victors, will you be their
sheraz
from this moment forward until the end of the universe?”

“Hell, yes!” her voice squeaked as emotion bubbled up, spilling over with so much love. “I love them all.”

“Then no more words are needed, you are officially bonded, which means in human words, you are married. Daisy, these are now your husbands.”

Daisy wanted to do a happy jig in the sand.
Husbands
. She was married.

They all grinned, wide, so proud. Before they could move and snatch her into their arms Hul held up his hand, stopping everyone in their tracks, gaining some growls and irked glances. Hul simply grinned.

“Before you take your wife, there is one other matter which needs to be addressed.” Everyone’s attention moved to Lord Hul, who glanced at Lord Gol, who nodded.

“As you have defeated the R’galas brothers and have proven your strength, truth and cleverness on countless occasions.” Gol’s glance went to Bex. “I ask in front of all here today, will the Stormstrong brothers accept the position of High Councillors of Third City to watch over and guide the city and its people into the future?”

“Us, the High Councillors?”

“We could hold another challenge, but I feel the outcome would be the same,” Hul added. “So, what say you?”

Her men glanced at her before each other. “Would you give us a moment to discuss this?”

“Of course,” Gol nodded.

A flush of hurt washed over her as they huddled together, leaving her out of it, but she guessed in the end it was their choice. After all, it was a big decision to make.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the R’galas brothers regathering and helping their now awake and bloodied siblings to their feet.

She tried not to fidget as she and the High Lords waited, then they turned and Loz approached. “We will accept only if,” Loz dropped to his knees before her, making her suck in a sharp gasp at his action, “…our
sheraz
permits us, for we would not want to rule without her blessing.”

“You silly men, of course. Even if you were the lowest or poorest in all of Galafrax, I would always be yours and you mine, all of you. If you want to be High Councillors, then I’m with you a hundred percent.”

She squealed as he suddenly grabbed her waist, tugging her into his embrace. They were all suddenly around her, touching her, lips on her skin in loving adoration.

“Guess that’s a yes then,” she barely heard High Lord Gol say from behind them.

“The new High Councillors of Third City, the Stormstrong brothers and their
sheraz
!” High Lord Gol loudly proclaimed, the crowd erupting in deafening cheers. Her men held her close to them as they turned to wave to the crowd.

She smiled, pride making her chest feel like it would burst. “Come, let’s get you out of here, I want you away from prying eyes and naked,” Bex whispered into her ear. She shivered in sensual delight.
Oh hell, yeah
.

She laughed as they lifted her up onto their shoulders, carrying her towards the exit.