The dream vanished the moment Shanna shuddered awake.
She blinked, vague, familiar shapes above her in the darkness. An image stayed with her, floating before her eyes. It was...
It was gone. Shanna closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Her dreams always fled the moment she woke, all memory of their content vanishing into the beyond. She knew she dreamed. She remembered the act of dreaming, even at times knew WHILE she was dreaming. The act of opening her eyes, for whatever reason, erased even the most vivid nightmare from her conscious mind.
Given the last vestige she had felt just then, she was thankful of that.
Now she had to get back to sleep. Shanna rolled onto her side.
There, before her, were two eyes.
"Gah!" She almost leapt back, an interesting act to perform while snuggled under thick covers. Even as she wondered if this was still a dream, as that was NOT the face of Piotr, her mind recognized the intruder. Shanna composed herself, hand coming up to her forehead. "Jesus, Anelie, don't jump out at me like that."
"Sorry."
And the girl did sound sorry. Shanna could not help but let out a tired laugh.
"Don't be, you silly girl. I'm the one that let you in here, you'd think I'd remember to expect you when I woke."
"Did you have a bad dream?"
Shanna rolled onto her back again, eyes focusing on the dark wooden beams almost unseen above. Had it been a bad dream? Probably. The emotion of it had not left her. Dread. Loss. Had it been about Piotr? Helmut? Her family?
Who could say.
"I don't mean to pry," Anelie's voice said from the darkness. Shanna shook her head.
"You aren't."
She lay there, pulling her covers up a bit. Sealing in the body heat. She heard somewhere that ninety percent of a person's heat fled through your head, but she suspected that was mostly because the rest was kept nice and snug under clothing and blankets. She thought her curly hair was thick enough to act as a rather nice insulation.
"Shanna."
"Yeah?"
"Um... nothing."
Shanna turned on her side again. The room seemed a bit lighter, either her eyes adjusting or more starlight was coming through the window closest the bed. She probably should have the shutters closed, both to keep the heat in and for safety. An arrow through the glass would not be good...
"What, Anelie?"
"Um... do you want a massage?"
"A..." Shanna pushed herself up on one arm, looking down at the green eyed redhead. "Where the hell did that come from?"
"You look tense, from the bad dream. I just thought..."
Shanna couldn't help it. She laughed. Shaking her head, she spoke before the girl could think she was laughing at her.
"Sorry. It's not you. Well, a bit, but... God, there's no way you could know!"
"What?" Now the girl's curiosity was awoken. She rose on one elbow as well, long braid tossed out of the way behind her. Shanna grinned.
"Back home, in bad romance stories, people use the excuse of a massage to seduce someone."
"Oh." There was a hint of guilt in her voice. Shanna wasn't surprised to hear it. "Did it work?"
"If the writer of the story wanted it to, yes!" Shanna chuckled again. Reaching out, she poked Anelie's forehead gently. "Is this one of the things Bogdi taught you?"
"Yeah."
"Thought so! He doesn't seem the massage type, though."
"Oh, he doesn't do it. He said women have used it on him!"
They both let out giggles at that.
Shanna looked at the girl. She felt like she was a kid again, having a slumber party with her best friend. The two, or three, of them in bed together, whispering silly things. Never nude, though. Long nightgowns had been the order of the day. And never had there been sexual tension. Not that she had been aware of, at least. If one of her friends had felt something, they had kept it quiet. Shanna could feel it rolling off of Anelie. She was nervous. Frightened, even. Had Anelie even been able to sleep? Or had she been awake next to Shanna all this time, worried she would touch her the wrong way, WANTING to touch her? Hell, had Shanna tossed an arm on the girl in her sleep? That could have sent so many mixed messages, no wonder the girl was nervous! Maybe Shanna could relax her.
"I have an idea," Shanna said, sitting up. The covers fell off her upper body, the chill of the room not as bad as she expected. "How about I give you a quick back rub? Try and relax you so you can get some sleep."
Anelie stared at her, those green eyes wide. Shanna could see her swallow hard.
"Um... sure." She rolled onto her stomach, eyes staring at the headboard. "Like this?"
"Good enough." Shanna walked on her knees across the bed, pulling the blanket off of the girl. As she did, a cloud must have floated out of the way. Starlight filled the room, illuminating the girl before her.
Shanna's breath caught in her throat.
It was not the shape of the young teen, the curve of her hips, the swell of her ass. Nor was it the white skin, perfect in every way. It was what lay under that skin. Muscles. Hard, firm muscles, well defined after months of training. Even without laying a finger on her, Shanna could feel them. Feel the power, the strength.
It was like looking at Piotr.
Shanna had fallen for him because he fit her type. Strong, yet feminine. Long blond hair, yet muscular in a graceful way. Legolas, basically. How was Anelie different? How was the power in her arms, her shoulders, less attractive to her? Yes, her hips were wider. Yes, what was between her legs differed. As she stared down at the girl now, though...
Anelie shifted, as if aware of Shanna's gaze, but unable to interpret it. Her hands went to the pillow, under her head. Shanna shook herself. Moving, she straddled the girl, legs settling on either side of Anelie's just below her ass cheeks. Leaning forward, Shanna placed her hands on the girl's shoulder blades. She felt the girl shudder.
"Shh. Just relax." Shanna moved her hands over the smooth skin. It was more a caress than a massage. Just her getting her bearings, she told herself. Discovering the feel of her friend. She slid her hands down below the shoulder blades, thumbs tracing either side of her spine. Shanna's eyes followed that line down, down to where it became the valley between those two firm globes of her ass. Shuddering herself, Shanna sent her hands up again. Applying more pressure, she began kneading those muscles.
****
Time in that cool, darkened room seemed to stop. All that existed were Shanna's hands, Anelie's body. Her fingers pressed into muscles she herself had given the girl, long hours of training forging her lean power. Shanna traced the edges of what lay under the skin. Teased. Caressed. Her hands almost seemed to have minds of their own. Shanna did not notice when they slid down Anelie's sides. Did not catch the sharp intake of breath as her fingers brushed the sides of two breasts before returning to the job at hand. Her focus, all of it, seemed to be on the point between those shoulder blades. Below the base of the girl's neck. Shanna... Shanna wanted to lean down. Kiss it. Kiss her friend there. Kiss her soft skin...
Shanna wet her lips, shivering. Her body heat was dissipating into the room. Only where her skin touched Anelie's was there heat. Between her legs, where they straddled the girl. Unconsciously, she widened her stance, as if to break the contact. The girl's legs followed, though, themselves spreading, not wanting to be away from the warmth that was Shanna's skin. The movement drew her attention away from those shoulders. Drew it down that long spine. Her fingers followed, tracing either side just behind her gaze, unseen. Slowly, like a bee drawn to the most perfect flower, Shanna's eyes fell on Anelie's ass.
It was raised now. Moving. Slowly... undulating. Dazed, Shanna could only watch as her fingers made their way to the end of Anelie's spine. Made their way into that crevice. Unable to breath, Shanna saw her thumbs, briefly, touch the hole which marked the end of that line, drawing a shuddered gasp from beneath her. Her hands then spread, caressing the two white globes on either side. They were firm. Strong.
Beautiful.
Her friend's body moved faster under her hands. Shanna's caresses became firmer. A thumb again traveled to that forbidden place, drawing another gasp, a harder press up against her hands. Shanna felt her legs being pressed against as Anelie moved her legs farther out still. Felt them slide against her skin, as her position shifted. Saw that ass raise up off the bed.
Saw the shadow that was the treasure between those thighs.
She had not wanted to seduce this girl. Had not wanted to tease her, frustrate her. What Shanna did want, she did not know. Her mind was a whirl. Not since her first time alone with a boy had she felt this way. Not since Zak, his body pressed against hers, his heart felt through thin cloth. Shanna wanted... wanted to...
Anelie...
All conscious thought gone, Shanna leaned forward. Hands on those smooth cheeks, her head lowered. Lips touched the skin between Anelie's shoulders. A gasp escaped the girl. It became a moan as Shanna let one of her hands leave those cheeks, let it slide down, between those spread legs. Her fingers felt the heat. A moment later, the wetness. The girl groaned. Shanna, eyes closed, placed kiss after kiss on the smooth back under her, her fingers slowly exploring a new world. Anelie practically shoved herself down onto those fingers, her legs snapping shut.
"Oh! Shanna!"
The girl shuddered. One finger of Shanna's pressed against what could be the most magical of places. Another found itself partly in the girl, flesh squeezing hard against it, all movement impossible. Shanna pressed her body against the girl's back, her free hand again sliding up against that smooth skin. The girl's body now raised, Shanna hand easily slid down under her, cupping a breast.
Anelie let out a sobbing cry.
"I love you! I love you!"
Shanna did not hear the words. She felt them. Felt all her closest friend, her... her best friend, was telling her, the body pressed against her conveying emotions more pure than any ever spoken. As the girl trembled and buckled under her, Shanna turned her head, letting it lay on that smooth, strong back.
"I love you, too..."
****
James bounced the baby up and down as he carried him down the hallway. Marik looked up, eyes half closed, expression one of contentment at a tummy now full of the best milk being King could provide. Not as good as straight from Mommy, no, but given his current Mommy couldn't provide that there was no point him asking. And, he was too polite to do so. James was glad for that. With luck, such consideration would continue after the boy learned to talk.
Quietly, he moved past the two guards outside the Royal Chambers. Nowak held the door open, nodding as the King passed with his burden. As the door closed behind him, James saw Felek raise his head from the sleeping pallet against the antechamber's far wall. James motioned him back to sleep in the faint light of the shielded lamp. Ruta, to his amusement, never stirred from her bed on the opposite wall.
Shifting the now sleeping baby in his arms, he freed a hand to open the door to their bedroom. James slipped inside, closing it as silently as he could. The room was dark, but he knew it by heart. Tiptoeing in his slippers, he made his way to the crib. With a kiss to his adopted son's forehead, he lay him down, pulling the warm blankets up over him. He moved one of the stuffed animals up by his head, slipping it under the covers as well. Marik's arms grabbed his furry friend in his sleep. Unable to help himself, James leaned down for one more goodnight kiss as he gave the blankets one final adjustment.
How had he become so lucky? He didn't know. Certainly, it was not merit. Nor some grand plan of God. If so, God had yet to tell him exactly what was expected in return. And he was going to be blessed again, in the spring, a new year bringing forth his own child with Ewa. He stood up, looking at the bed. Ewa was awake, eyes on him. She was not sitting up, but stayed nice and snuggled under the covers. Grinning, James moved around to his side of the bed, letting his thick robe fall to the floor. Stepping out of his slippers, he slid under the covers next to her. Her body heat felt wonderful.
"Very few Kings," he said, quietly, pulling her to him, "would get up for midnight feedings."
"Very few Kings," she replied, hand slipping down to grasp his manhood, "are trying to make up for finding another woman."
"True. Most would just bring the woman into their bed, and expect both women to accept it."
"Oh?" She squeezed, gently. James chuckled, hands finding their own places on her body to grab.
"It is good to be the King."
"I like her." Ewa's touch became a caress. "I don't want to share you, or see her with you, but..."
"But maybe we can make her happy. If she can't bear children..."
"She won't find a good husband." Ewa ducked under the covers. A moment later, James felt her mouth on him. He closed his eyes, hands on her head.
Why was he so lucky?
****
Shanna held the sleeping Anelie in her arms.
What had she done?
It was not the being with a girl part. Not fully. That had been... nice. Not as she had pictured it, not that Shanna had given more than a casual thought to what it would really be like, but she had no regrets for that. Anelie had needed her, Shanna and Piotr were (for now) single, so... it had been a rather one sided one night stand. Nothing horrible there.
But she had crossed a line.
Shanna caressed the girl's head, Anelie's body unconsciously snuggling closer. Anelie was her servant. Her soldier. To be her lover, too, was not right. There were laws about that back home. Restrictions on relationships between boss and worker, General and Private. Anelie would never think she had the ability to say, "no". Anything Shanna said could be taken to be a command. It was not right. COULD not be right. Yet, she knew Anelie would never want to leave her. Would fight tooth and nail to stay her soldier. Stay her servant. Such was her nature. There could be no sending her to a different unit, no bringing in someone else to command this fort. It would solve nothing.
And what of Piotr?
Shanna closed her eyes. She loved the fool. That it was a first love for him, and thus probably doomed to fade, did not change that. That she had sensed her own feeling towards him start to do the same also was moot. The love was still there. She was glad she had delayed the marriage, yet...
Could she have them both? No. No, probably not. And to even ask would be to insult both her loves. She could end with neither, and where would she be, then?
Sounds came to her from elsewhere in the fort. A commotion. She sat up, frowning. A door banged open. A moment later, a knock sounded at the bedroom door, light from a lamp visible around the edge.
"Lady Shanna!"
The male voice was trying to be quiet, yet get her attention. Not a serious emergency, then. She slid out of the bed, grabbing her glasses off the nightstand, wincing as bare feet hit the cold wooden floor. She walked quickly to the door, pulling it open.
Bogdi stood there, hairy body nude. He held a lamp in one hand, eyes wide, long brown hair a mess. Shanna crossed her arms over her bare bosom.
"Yes?"
"I'm going to be a Father."
****
Shanna stared down at the wooden tub of water.
She could not be seeing this.
Faint steam rose from the warm water into the cool air. Just under the surface, a mass of round, almost clear spheres, stuck together in some sort of gel. They were maybe the size of a large marble, a dozen or more.
Eggs.
Kikker eggs.
Shanna put a hand to her forehead. Bogdi stood on the other side of the tub, Adanya beside him looking miserable. The Kikker Chief's daughter was as nude as Bogdi, although given how little she usually wore, it was not much of a change. Shanna let out a sigh.
"I do not WANT to know how, but..."
"It's my fault," Bogdi said, pulling the smaller Adanya against him. "Ebun must have been too young to mate when I was with her, so when I caressed that place I knew she had loved on Adanya..."
"My eggs came out." The woman looked up at Bogdi. "And he fertilized them."
"Oh, sweet Jesus in heaven." Shanna closed her eyes. Now she had that image she had to forget. The door opening distracted her, Anelie coming in with pants and a shirt. Shanna reached out for them. "Thanks. Now, slap your brother for me, will you? He's an idiot."
"I always knew that." As Shanna slipped on the pants, she saw Anelie go over and hug Bogdi. "So I'm going to be an Aunt?"
"I THINK so," he replied. The man actually sounded a bit happy about the prospect. "I mean, it's weird, but..."
"It should be impossible," Shanna said, shirt sliding over her head. Readjusting her glasses, she looked at Adanya. "How long until you know?"
"I know," she said, hugging Bogdi. "You can see the movement inside the eggs. They're alive. And his."
"Jesus." She looked back down into the tub, trying to remember what she knew of Frogs. It wasn't much. She did know this was going to cause problems. "OK, so, we have some half Kikker, half Pole babies here. What do we do?"
"My father is going to be pissed," Adanya said. Shanna raised an eyebrow at her.
"Only pissed? Will he accept this?"
"I don't know. He likes you Poles, loves your King."
"That's something." Shanna considered. "Maybe we can invite him to the Ball. You can break the news to him there, surrounded by humans." She looked at Bogdi. "You know the people are going to freak over this."
"I know. I'll go live with the Kikker if I have to."
"You will?" Adanya looked up at him, large eyes shocked. He nodded.
"If you'll have me."
"I could move here, to be with you..."
The loving gaze they shared was sickening. Shanna let out a groan.
"Later. We'll deal with that later. For now, given I assume the start of winter is not the normal breeding time, what do we do with the eggs?"
Letting go of Bogdi, Adanya dropped to one knee, a webbed hand dropping into the tub.
"There is a hot spring we usually put our eggs in when it is cold, but it is too far to reach. They will not survive the trip."
That would solve the problem, but Shanna was not going to even hint at that. She was about to speak when Anelie reached over, touching her arm.
"Shanna."
"You think of something?"
"I think so."
"What?"
"Magic.”