Redeemer For the Pale Breed by K. R. Jones
Pale Breed Book Three

Heat Rating: Fire

Content Warnings: Contains m/f, f/f and menage sexual scenes. Does not contain an HEA. This book is the third book of a series.

Young Timothy must risk his soul and the lives of the powerful women he loves to stop a fanatical god.

There seemed to be no rank or organization in the vast throng. Near the corner a padded ring had been set up and oiled bodies struggled: wrestling and fighting. When someone finally succumbed the losers serviced the winners in full view, to the applause of the watchers, who then begin challenging one another. In another corner, a chaotic dance swirled. There were harpers and Songstresses entertaining at discrete distances. Elsewhere, people sat in learned discussion while couples, threesomes and more groped one another. It had many of the elements of a Mumbai orgy, but the women were not subservient, in fact they dominated, both in numbers and in activities. There were no Levy women for abuse, no rooms full of children from the Temple, and no screams of anguish from torture or tears of shame as a High Man demonstrated his power. And, as yet Riya had felt no wave of uncontrollable passion pass through her soul.

"Where are those women?" Lila asked.

Timothy pointed to the high balcony. "They don't participate; they instigate and Commune. Most Pale Breeds only engage physically to get pregnant or to ensnare some important personage. If they lose control, anyone within their range might die. Often they talk business or plot strategy. Don't worry; the fact that there are so many of them ensures no one will try to enslave us. It would be bad manners and insulting to try and pull a fast one while the Pale Breeds were watching."

Lila laughed. "They are a strange lot."

"Scary," Riya mumbled.

Lila nodded and pointed to her soul-stone, named Lady Lisa, which she was afraid to remove since she understood her ghost reported to the Dark Mother. "Not as scary as some."

Even Timothy nodded. He had left his dagger and sword in their room, protected by cold steel.

Riya felt her nipples stiffening and warmth growing in the bud between her legs. She had learned to take pleasure from sex as a defense. Years of rape either broke you or changed the way you worked inside. But she turned her desire on consciously, not like this. Lila looked distressed. Riya noticed Timothy turned to the side, presumably trying to hide his growing erection. The laughing and casual chatter in the background suddenly changed.

Timothy mumbled hoarsely, "They've started up there. Ladies, if you have any desire to be with anyone else you'd better start moving in that direction. Choices will soon not matter. Lila, you can't kiss anyone!"

Lila trembled. "I don't think I have any abilities right now. My power depends on my mind controlling my voice or my kiss. Don't kiss me if you're worried, but right now I have no powers. Oh my gods, what are those women doing to me?"

Riya had never been with Lila. The two looked at each other. The longer they looked the more Riya wanted to touch Lila's hard brown nipples. They were both Mumbai by birth. Lila was the more common stock: light brown skin, thick black hair. She was an older woman made young by a bargain with the Dark Mother. Caesar had reached inside her and changed her nature so she grew younger until reaching some equilibrium. Of course, as with any bargain with the Dark Mother, should Lila rebel, Caesar's spell would end and she would age quickly. By contrast, Riya was an exotic from a conquered province. Her skin was lighter still, not white like the Free Brits or some of the High Plateau, but very fair compared to the norm in Mumbai or Clan Bane. That and her almond-shaped green eyes had always served her well in bedding a victim. To her shame, she still thought of her sexual partners as prey.

Lila reached out and pulled Riya's gown off her shoulders, "Better to be with friends than strangers, if you wouldn't mind."

Riya wanted to rebel, but she liked Lila and she loved Timothy. He never took her on his own; ever since the first time, someone else had been involved. The almost painful burning in her nipples and button pushed her mind to the side. Lila's embarrassed smile shifted into naked desire. Timothy moaned. Their hands were on each other with an unnatural desperation. Timothy was normally hesitant, almost gentle; so rare in a young man that women openly pursued. This time his strong hands pulled each of them to his lips, and after deeply tasting them both he pushed them together.

Riya's mind went red with fire. Something powerful surged through her and her claws dug into Timothy's arm and Lila's flank. The Siren bit into Riya' shoulder and crashed against the lithe assassin, squirming for contact. All of her training and calculation seemed locked away with her caution and fears. Some outside power pulled animal lusts from the recesses of her mind. Timothy guided them to a couch. A dozen other lovers in various combinations writhed on or next to it. Hands reached out to touch their flesh as they passed. Lust ruled the room, mad lust. Worse, the character of it changed from moment to moment, as if differing compulsions entered everyone's minds in turn, pushing each set of buttons differently."

Timothy lowered them slowly, touching them and urging them to respond sanely. "We're being touched by different Pale Breeds. The nature of lust changes with each Pale Breed. It's more confusing than I remember."