Blood of the Goddess Book I: The Locust King
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Locusts at the Gate Chapter 2: A New Name Chapter 3: The Capital Prepares Chapter 4: The Princess is Dead, Long Live the Princess Chapter 5: Outside the Gates Chapter 6: Inside the Black Tent Chapter 7: Surrender at the Temple Chapter 8: The Cult of the Locust Chapter 9: The Locust's Tenets of Faith Chapter 10: Mourners on the Cliff Chapter 11: The Eye of Betrayal Chapter 12: The Dead King's Bedchamber Chapter 13: The Arms of the Goddess Chapter 14: Zayaan of the Narim Chapter 15: The Eyes of the Priestess Chapter 16: A More Permanent Disguise Chapter 17: Tribute Chapter 18: Sacrifice of the New Moon Chapter 19: The Lost Bird Chapter 20: Manah and the Priestess Chapter 21: Desert Creatures Chapter 22: Become the Swarm Chapter 23 The Price of Betrayal Chapter 24: Life Under the Locust Chapter 25: Wild Rose Chapter 26: The Lady Wren Chapter 27: Thought and Desire Chapter 28: The Lady's Captivity Chapter 29: The Wine Maiden Chapter 30: End of Childhood Chapter 31: The Children of Aisha Chapter 32: The Forest Runner Chapter 33: Three Sisters Chapter 34: The Hunt Chapter 35: Bones in the Forest Chapter 36: Lullaby Chapter 37: The Hunter's Horn Chapter 38: Ways Between Ways Chapter 39: Morning Star Chapter 40: A Prophecy for Baraz Chapter 41: Equinox Fires Chapter 42: The Lord Prince Takri Chapter 43: Evening Star Sets Chapter 44: Chaos in the Courtyard Chapter 45: Dasha Chapter 46: Memories Chapter 47: The Body Slave Chapter 48: Caged Beasts Chapter 49: Message from the Capital Chapter 50: Heresiarch Chapter 51: The Color of Blood Chapter 52: Winter Winds Chapter 53: The Bookmaker's Closet Chapter 54: Wrapped in Dignity and Beauty Chapter 55: Vessel of the Goddess Chapter 56: Cracks in the Walls Chapter 57: Two Brothers Chapter 58: The Court of Women Chapter 59: Favored of the King Chapter 60: The Sweetest Fruit Chapter 61: Daughter of the Temple Chapter 62: A Nation of Bastards Chapter 63: The Lute Player Chapter 64: Aisha's Prayer Chapter 65: Promises Chapter 66: Lives Lost Chapter 67: The Tea Maker Chapter 68: Object of Desire Chapter 69: Empty Shelves Chapter 70: Darkness and Light Chapter 71: The Love of Men Chapter 72: The Cursed Ones Chapter 73: Hiding Places Chapter 74: Old Men's Tales Chapter 75: False Prophecies Chapter 76: The Lord Prince Radu Chapter 77: Love Becomes Life Chapter 78: Mistress and Mother Chapter 79: A Test of Strength Chapter 80: The Strigoi-Viu Cometh Chapter 81: Scraps from the Table Chapter 82: A Fool's Errand Chapter 83: The Little Ghost Chapter 84: Stolen Honeycakes Chapter 85: Breathe Chapter 86: Beneath the Palace Chapter 87: Red Pebbles Chapter 88: Common Men Chapter 89: Love and Duty Chapter 90: Nightmares Chapter 91: Earth and Sun Chapter 92: Love and Creation Chapter 93: Until My Last Breath Chapter 94: Fruit and FlowerChapter 94: Fruit and Flower
"Takri, you are my heart and my love." Nasreen wrapped her arms around him and laid her head upon his chest. "I felt the Goddess move within me in our joining, Takri. We were created to be together. Not even the Locust King can stop us."
She could hear his swift intake of breath as his hands wrapped around her waist, lifting her to the table in front of him. He covered her mouth with kisses, the heat of his desire marking a trail to the top of her collarbone. She untied the lace at the neck of her garment, loosening it to expose her breasts. Takri took one nipple in his mouth and sucked gently while Nasreen did her best to stifle her moans of pleasure. His mouth trailed lower as her red robes pooled around her waist. She fumbled with the hem of her temple robes to allow him space between her legs. Takri pulled her hips towards the edge of the table and knelt before her.
"I worship you, my wild rose," he whispered. "Your delights are sweeter than any served on the king’s table."
Takri nudged Nasreen to lay back on the table and she lifted her knees to give him access. Her breath hitched in anticipation as he lowered his head to her flower. His eyes locked with hers as she leaned forward and separated her nether lips before taking his first taste. Nasreen writhed underneath his tongue until she convulsed in pleasure. While the waves of pleasure still crashed upon her, Takri quickly loosened his breeches. Nasreen still breathless in pleasure struggled to sit up, perching herself on the edge of the table. She grasped his hard member as soon as it sprung free, guiding him inside her. She reveled at the feel of his love merging with hers. Following the pace she set with her hips, he helped her climb higher again. Wave upon wave of pleasure consumed her, spinning outward from her womb. Takri released a low growl of joy and pleasure as he spent his seed inside her. He held her close as they both returned to the reality that lay before them.
"Perhaps one day, we could have children," said Takri. "One day when we are free from this place. One day soon."
Nasreen still basking in the warmth of his love, guided his hand to her belly and locked her eyes with his. "One day very soon." A smile spread across Takri's face before he gathered her into his arms and kissed her deeply. When she pulled away, he looked puzzled. "Takri, I know for men of the Swarm it is important that they only care for the children born from their own seed. I do not know for certain you sired this baby. She is a child of the Lady, like me. Born to a temple prostitute who serves all who desire her."
"The child is mine if you desire me to be her father," said Takri. "Any child carried in your womb is my child. For you are my love, and you bear that love within you. How could I not love a child that comes from you?"
"Takri, there is one more thing," she said. "There is an orphan girl here named Aisha. She is far too young to take vows to the Lady, but she serves here for she had nowhere to go. I love her as my sister. We must take her with us."
"Of course," said Takri. "If she is your sister, she is my sister."
"Do you really think we can escape?" asked Nasreen. "That we can survive outside the walls of the city?"
"My people have survived in harsher conditions," said Takri. "We will live and thrive in the caves and hunt in the foothills. There are wild grains and nuts to be foraged. Fruit grows further up the mountain. We will drink from the streams like deer, and our baby will grow strong like a mountain goat."
Nasreen giggled at the thought. "And we can have more goat babies if we can feed them."
A frown furrowed Takri's brow. "Nasreen, you are thinner than I remember you before the Day of Between. Is there enough food in the temple?"
Nasreen nodded. "There is food enough, but it grows more water than food every day. The Procuress sometimes sneaks Aisha and I some of the food stored here, but I fear even that grows sparse."
"If you are with child, you need to eat," said Takri, adjusting his clothes into place. He retrieved his bag from where he had left it and pulled out the stolen piece of cheese from inside. "Here, you can have this. I took it from the cellar under the palace before I left. The cook keeps the best for himself."
Nasreen unwrapped the wedge of cheese, and her stomach growled. She broke a piece off and put it in her mouth, savoring the play of salt and fat on her tongue. "Aisha and I were reminiscing about how much we miss cheese the other day. I am going to share this with her!" She took one more bite before rewrapping it and putting it in her pocket.
"I will bring you more," said Takri.
"You can't," said Nasreen. "The Procuress made me promise I would keep you from here. You are a danger to us. If anyone recognizes you..."
"No one will know," smiled Takri. "Watch!" He wrapped his face in his scarf and pulled his hood over his head. "I may not be able to kiss you as you deserve while I am in disguise, but on a crowded day in the temple of the Locust, I am merely a scarred foot soldier trying to get his dick wet."
Nasreen smiled and shook her head at him. "You may think the Swarm will not recognize you, but we will. I beg you, do not show yourself here again."
"But I must see you again," said Takri, covering her belly with his hand. "You bear my child. You are my future, and I am yours. I will come again. The mother of my child must eat, and if cheese she wants, cheese she shall have. The finest cheeses in all of Adyll! Do you know where the temple storerooms for the poor are?"
"I can find them," said Nasreen. "Aisha has found the building plans for the entire temple, and maps of the catacombs underneath. I can find where the storerooms are."
"Meet me in two day’s time," said Takri. "If I cannot make it there, I will leave you a message in the room."
"You know how to write?" said Nasreen. "Most men are not taught, and I did not think the Narim..."
"I have someone I can trust who can write for me," said Takri, taking her hands in his. "Now, you must pretend to scorn me, and I must make a show of disappointment for the Procuress as I leave to return to the palace."
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