Kymberly_Phillips

[Mature Content]*No Rape*


"How long until the Kings Match," I ask, I know the Kings Match is random in time, called whenever the King decides, usually when in dire need. Not much is known of the Match, the last one was four decades ago.




Ryker is the one that answers my question. "We should arrive in less than four weeks. You are the last to be collected so a week after our arrival. The King wanted the last one collected to have more than a day to recover from the journey before the Match began." He responds detached as if sounding bored.




"You speak as if I am an object and not a person. Lovely." I say dripping with sarcasm.




"Ignore him. He sees everyone as objects or objectives, so do not take any offense from it." Stated his twin Casey, I raise a brow at that. Both twins have timbre like voices, however, Casey is like silk while Ryker is rough.




I let out a giggle at a thought that went through me, one I could not help but laugh at. Both twins look at me with raised brows wanting to know what is so funny.




"You two would be amazing to bed but complete opposites it seems in how you would handle a woman," I say with a lightness to it. Duncan who was drinking water gasps as he nearly chokes on a laugh. All the men look at me for a moment before laughing, Ryker a rasp of a low laugh. All except Koal who just smirks, better than the emotionless face.




While I had them laughing I couldn't resist the urge to add, "Actually I think you two together in bed with a woman would be a combination no one could resist. Especially how you two would meet all needs." Saying this the laughing turned into howling from the three others. Ryker looked at me, intrigued as if actually considering it, while Casey had a blush come across his dark skin, still laughing.




"Seems you need a better man in your bed if you are considering trying to get the twins into your bed just to fill your needs." I turn to the voice of no other than Koal, with a challenge in his eyes.

*I Do NOT Own the Rights to the photo cover.*

The King's Match

"No. In Elyrea, your second and third in command are not appointed by you, they have to fight for their position. I was my grandmother's second for a year before she resigned the position and in the case of her stepping down it was a week-long worth of challenges for whoever becomes Warlord or lady." I finish.


"What do you mean a week-long of challenges? You need to help us out here, no one speaks of your traditions and ways of hierarchy." Zale states.


"When my grandmother did not die from her age or be killed for her seat of Warlady, she started something no other Warlord or Lady had ever done. She retired and willingly left her seat, in that case, she stated that for anyone to take it they would have to battle for it in the old ways and let the Gods choose the victor and new ruler of Elyrea." I pause and the only one that seems to understand what I am saying is the twins that sit on each side of me.


"So, Ma announced as her last act as Warlady for all who want the title to step forward to be named for their matches. Sixty people step forward, my brother Nike, my third Lea, and myself included. With sixty people we had to divide everyone into pairs for their first match, which was hand to hand, winner proceeds to the next round, no weapons. We fought until there were only six left, my grandmother and the elders did not pair us up against each other. Not until the end at least." I stop to collect myself, it was one of the longest weeks of my life.


They all wait for me to continue, none of the men press me to continue. The only sound for a few moments is the crackling of the fire.


"Lea, Nike, and I all won our matches, the seventh and last day of the matches and it was only us. I was to face Lea, and I won, we had weapons for this round and the last. She now bears a scar on her thigh that left her limping for nearly a year. Nike and I were the last to fight, brother versus sister, both trained by the best of our territory. I have a scar that stretches from my shoulder blade to hip from him while he has one from his right collar bone to his navel. All three of us were tended to for a week before any challenges could be declared."


"Only a week was given for recovery?" Casey asked I bit of horror coming from him on this.


I let out a hollow laugh. "Yes, a week, my Ma could not hold off the challenges any longer. I first had to fight her third prior to taking the seat, Lea beat my Ma's third prior to me so I had to show my strength first. My brother and Lea had to fight to determine the ranking of the two since neither fought in the matches leading up to. After that, we each had at least one challenge a day from people all across our territory for two years. My position was challenged more than theirs, I have held the seat for eleven years, and yet out of the eleven years I have only had two years where I did not shed blood on a daily basis." No pride is in my words, just honest cold truth, I am not proud of my bloodshed, its just fact and our way of life.


Something like respect shows in the eyes of the men around me, even Koal, however, it seems he has the look of understanding more than anyone else. As if he can see that I don't enjoy the acts I have done to keep my seat of power. The twins show some understanding as well, shadows show in both their eyes.


It seems this cabal of men all have their own stories to tell, the twins and Koal interest me the most though. They seem to be the closest to understanding what I have been through.


The Rising of Dea