I had to know.I had to know. Stand." He helped her to her feet and led her to her bed. His hands were icy cold. He lowered her to the black sheets and kissed her. The taste of Rosella's blood was still fresh on his mouth. "You are not unattractive. This could be pleasant for both of us." Zara said nothing, but lay on the bed and readied herself. She was frightened, although she did not think he could be much worse than Ternec. She had not lied about her barrenness, but he had not asked about her frigidity. The touch of the icy hands drifted over her body. She shivered a bit. "Are you cold?" he asked. "No, my lord, you are," she said, noticing the line of goose-flesh where he had touched her. Was his realm hot or cold, she wondered. "My realm is hot, Zara. Hotter than the center of the sun. It is comfortable there with my low body temperature. Relax, mother of my heir. You do not need to be frightened." "I can not help but be frightened, Lord. This is too great an honor for a mortal woman. I am not worthy to be loved by a god." "No woman is. I have chosen you as the best. Now relax and be silent." Zara calmed herself with a mental exercise her first tutor had taught her when she was five. Vendan noticed the change and smiled at her. "Are you ready to accept me?" he asked, sliding one icy hand between her legs. "No, you are not," he said sadly. The cold hand penetrated deep into her, burning cold. She gasped softly and tried not to cry out. "Now you are ready," he commented. Zara screamed as the unlight faded from around him and she saw what she would be accepting into her most private recesses. She felt the cold metal rend her as he entered, both of the overly large shafts tearing into her softness. The freezing cold of him burned and would not numb. She screamed, knowing that no help would come. She screamed from the pain and impossibility of it. After a tortured eternity, he finished and left a residue like molten lead deep inside her. She felt it burn its way up into her womb. Her senses heightened by the Power and the nearness of her god, she looked down at her belly and gasped. |