Title: When Her Word Didn't Stop
Characters/Pairings: DG/Cain, rest of the cast, O/Cs
Rating: NC-17
Warnings/Spoilers: Adult content. Smut
Summary: Companion piece to After His World Stopped. Cain and DG learn to work as a team to help the O.Z.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, anyone or anyplace.

Chapter 2

All talk in the dining hall stopped as soon as Cain and DG entered. Besides Jeb, the man he had left in charge of his resistance cell, Lucas McCalhan; the Commander of the Finaqua Guards, Philippe Gordon; Gordon's second-in-command, Randolph Harlton; Raw and four other officers DG did not know were studying a map spread out on the table.

"The Finaqua guards?" Cain asked as he and DG approached the table.

"Loyal to a man to the Princess," Jeb assured him. "As are the servants."

Cain let out a sigh of relief. He kept an arm around DG as he turned to look at the map.

Without waiting to be asked, Jeb began pointing out troop movements. "It looks like Zero had been hiding in the area we suspected … where the Eastern Guild's area bumps against the Northern Ice Guild's sphere of influence."

Cain nodded.

"For some reason," Jeb continued, "Ahamo's new generals were able to convince the royal couple that Zero only has a small squad that would completely bypass Central City and head directly for Finaqua. They're planning on pinning Zero between you in the front and them in the back."

"And Zero is actually?" Cain asked.

Jeb pointed to the various points where Zero had deployed troops.

"So he has over 200 men and has Central City virtually blocked off from us?" Cain questioned as he estimated the deployments Jeb was pointing out on the map.

Jeb nodded. "Yeah. Possibly as many as 300. Besides the troops around the city, he has another column marching straight south. He can attack Finaqua and there is no hope of getting help from Central City. I've picked out the safest route, but it'll take us at least an extra day and we'll have at least two firefights we'll have to go through in order to reach the city."

"No." Lieutenant Gordon answered. "Finaqua is the easiest royal palace to defend. You must not take the princess out of here."

"What about your supplies?" Jeb asked.

Gordon looked slightly chagrinned. "Low. Too low to maintain 200 men," he admitted.

Cain was studying the map.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?" Gordon asked.

"My orders?" she asked.

Cain could feel her tremble. She looked up at him with wide, uncertain eyes. She glanced nervously at the men standing around the table.

"What's the best thing for the O.Z.?" she asked.

"Making sure Your Highness is safe," one of the unknown officers answered.

She shook her head. "My safety is only secondary to the Zone."

"They're one and the same," Jeb assured her.

She looked to Cain again. "I didn't grow up studying politics. I haven't learned enough about the O.Z. yet to make this decision. I don't even understand exactly what happened."

She sighed with frustration. Cain gently stroked the side of her head.

"Your parents have done what I told them they were never to do again. They've used you as a pawn in their schemes without regard to your safety or wishes. They've broken the trust you placed in them when you supported Lavender's return to the throne."

"You make it sound like you think I should oppose my mother."

"Highness," Jeb stated, "when she allowed Ahamo to put you in danger, she signaled how little she appears to value your life. Lavender wouldn't have lasted a week on the throne without you standing behind her. With this move, she's destroyed her slender hold on the Land. The O.Z. is openly hostile to her and rebelling because she risked your life. Before sunset today, almost everyone in the O.Z. will be declaring you Queen openly."

"Wyatt, you have to help me decide," she whispered as she laid her hands against his chest.

He stared at her for a long time, his hand holding both of hers over his heart. He glanced at the men around the room and then looked back at her.

"There is a way for you to defer these decisions to someone else. If you want to, since you don't have a bondmate, you can appoint an advisor to be your Consort."

She looked confused. "But … I thought …"

The fingers of her right hand twisted the bonding ring she now wore again on her left hand. She glanced down at it and then back up at Cain.

"I thought you were my Consort," she answered in a small voice.

There were gentle chuckles around the room.

"He is now," Gordon told her.

She looked confused.

"Not being officially bonded, you had to state it in front of witnesses," he explained to her.

She smiled her thanks then turned back to Cain. "Can't we just get married right away?"

Cain looked a little uncomfortable.

"I don't want to celebrate our bonding in secret," he told her. "Besides, we need to register it to make it legal."

"There'll be a magistrate if we can get to Central City," someone commented.

There was a murmur of approval around the table. Cain nodded his understanding of their support.

"But we aren't going to Central City," he announced.

There was sudden quiet. He let go of DG and leaned over the map. He pointed.

"We leave for the Western Guild tomorrow at first light. We travel off the main roads. You have today and tonight to get as many supplies as possible loaded on pack animals."

Jeb smiled broadly. "Brilliant. The Western Guild will guard her to the last warrior while we rally the old resistance cells."

The mood brightened visibly at this new strategy.

"What about my sister and Glitch?" DG turned to Jeb. "Are they safe? And what about Carolynne and Arianna?" she asked about her lady-in-waiting and her small daughter.

"I'm not sure about Az and Glitch. I didn't get a chance to see them. I had to separate the guardsmen loyal to you and loyal to your mother and get out of the city before we were cut off by Zero. I did manage to get a motorized supply convoy out, too. They should be here before nightfall. I was able to get Carolynne and Arianna in one of the trucks with some of your personal belongings."

"Thank you for taking care of them," DG responded.

"I hate it that the little girl is coming," Cain stated. "We need to find a way to keep her safe."

"Arianna stay at Raw's village with Kalm and family."

Everyone turned to look at the viewer.

"Raw's people support DG. Will care for child."

"You say your people are supporting DG," Cain moved closer to the viewer. "Have you been able to view your village?"

Raw nodded. "Viewers from village communicate with Raw. Jeb right. O.Z. in revolt. Must keep DG safe."

Jeb and Cain looked at each other and then turned back to look at the men around the table.

"Is there anyone who doesn't understand what's going to be required of them?" Cain asked.

Gordon looked at his men. He turned to look Cain in the eye. "We understand. We stand with the Crown … with Queen DG."

Gordon and his officers bowed to DG. She put her hands to her mouth to stifle a soft cry.

Jeb pulled his father off to the side. "You need to take DG and spend some time with her … get her settled down. I'll see that everything is ready to go in the morning."

Cain led DG out of the room. Everyone watched them leave for a moment.

"We have to find them a magistrate," someone commented.

Jeb smiled and pointed to the map. "Surely there's at least one magistrate somewhere in the West."

The men laughed.

*************

"I don't want to be queen," DG whispered with dread.

She and Cain had been lying on the floor of the sitting room, just holding each other for a long time. They had their mid meal alone in front of the fire and then just stayed where they were … comfortable in the silence.

"I know, Darlin'." He sighed. "I didn't want this for you so soon. I'd hoped we could have a few years of getting to know each other better before you had to take on this responsibility. Time for us to become more of a team." There was a long pause and then he added, "You don't have to do it."

She laughed. "Yeah, and listen to you lecture me for the rest of my life about how I didn't do my duty?"

He kissed her forehead. "I am so sorry."

She shook her head. "You tried to talk to them. They should've never done what they did without letting you know." Another pause before she asked, "What do you think happened to Az and Glitch?"

"I honestly don't know. Glitch would've understood what was happening. Since he didn't move with Jeb I have to guess he isn't coming south. Maybe he took Az to the Northern Island."

"Can we send someone up there to look for them?"

He picked up her hand. "When we get to the Western Guild I'll ask them to send runners to the north. We need to call the Resistance Fighters from up there anyway. I promised never to lie to you so I can't guarantee we'll find them. But I will do what I can to find out what happened to them."

She laid flat on her back and he moved onto his elbow so he could look down at her.

"Make love to me," she murmured.

He drew her against him and kissed her. Helping her to her feet, he walked her into the bedroom. After locking the door, he turned back to her. As gently as if she were a small child, Cain undressed her. She allowed him to take total control making no move to initiate any activity. He laid her naked body on the sheets they had left so hurriedly a few hours earlier. Stripping quickly, he moved to lie along her length.

She lay still, feeling leaden and numb. Seeming to understand her mood, Cain allowed his hands to roam over her cool skin. He followed wherever his hands touched with his mouth. He positioned her arms above her head and allowed his lips to devour the skin of her exposed neck, down along her side, across her stomach and slowly up to her breasts.

His lips placed soft kisses all over the breast closest to him. He moved so he was partially covering her as his lips moved to the other breast. His mouth fastened on her nipple and sucked hard.

She moaned and one of her arms languidly drifted to touch the back of his head. He continued to tongue the nipple that was now firmly in his mouth, scraping the tender tip with his teeth as he pulled away.

Her skin was warmer as he moved down her abdomen. Her hands fluttered against his hair as he moved out of her reach, pushing her legs apart so he could lie on his stomach between them. Starting at one knee he kissed his way up her thigh, ignored her blushing center and down the other thigh to the opposite knee.

Now she was responding to his ministrations, trying to push her nether lips toward his face. Again he kissed his way higher. This time his rough tongue ran the entire length of her womanhood.

She took in a sharp breath and breathed out, "Yes!"

He allowed his mouth to kiss, lick and suck all around her silky folds. He could smell the release of juices deep within her. His tongue snaked inside her so he could taste the sweet moisture. As he removed his tongue he ran it over her clit. She moaned out his name and he sucked the small bud tenderly between his teeth.

DG buckled as Cain alternately sucked and licked her nerve center. She cried out sharply and her hips jolted off the bed as he slipped a thick, blunt finger inside the area his tongue had left a few moments earlier. He stroked her velvet lining as his mouth continued to play with her clitoris. His finger flexed and massaged the tender spot he had discovered deep inside her secret chamber.

She was whimpering as he skillfully raised and lowered the intensity of his attentions. Her arms became too heavy for her to lift using her own power. She grabbed his hair to maintain her contact with him. She had never experienced anything like this. She fought blacking out as his fingers curved and twisted while he sucked once more on the small bud that had become the center of her world.

She called out his name over and over. Suddenly it stopped. Before she could react, she felt her hips lifted from the bed. Then something hard and throbbing slammed into her center. She cried out again as she realized that Cain was holding her legs off of the bed and he was driving into her as hard as he had ever used her.

As her mind cleared, she bent her knees, locking her legs around him. Every time he moved against her, another burst of sensation flared from her tender, burning clit. Her hands began to flutter, trying to touch him.

One of his hands pinned both of her wrists together. He moved them over her head. The movement made her breast stretch upward. There was nothing gentle about the way he sucked an exposed nipple. She arched her back, thrusting it even deeper into his mouth and felt his teeth holding the rosy tip so it could not escape.

Still he slammed forcefully into her moist cavern. She no longer could register all of the sensations battering her brain. She rode a wave that was almost pain that she never wanted to stop. Her head thrashed back and forth. She moaned yes and then no and then yes again. Cain threw his head back to watch her. He released her arms and placed his hand splayed on her stomach.

Her eyes snapped open to watch his hand. A single finger drew a tender line down her stomach.

"DG, look at me," he growled.

Her eyes locked on his and he moved his finger the final fraction of an inch to rub her engorged clitoris.

She couldn't believe that she could come again. Her hips bucked so hard he had to grab her hips so he didn't lose his purchase. Her legs went limp and still he drove into her again and again.

She lay limp, gasping for air as she felt a flood of fluid deep inside her. Her inner muscles spasmed hard and Cain collapsed on top of her. His mouth planted gentle kisses over her damp skin as he panted against her. He shifted slightly and his organ left its sheath. She murmured softly, protesting the loss.

He gathered her against him and stroked her trembling body as she recovered from his assault.

*************

DG felt heavy but relaxed as she opened her eyes. It was getting dark in the room. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt Cain's hand gently stroke her back as she lay cuddled against him. He kissed her forehead.

She rose up on her elbow and looked at him in amazement. A single tear fell from her eye and landed on his chest.

He looked concerned. "DG, was I too rough? Did I hurt you?"

Her smile was brilliant. "You are not capable of hurting me."

She said it so simply and with such conviction, he knew in his heart that it was true. His finger traced the line the tear had taken on her cheek.

"Then why?"

She smiled. "That was better than anything I've ever imagined … so much more." She blushed. "Each time is more and more amazing."

He signed with relief as she lowered herself to kiss him tenderly. She snuggled back against his side.

"But I don't know how you're going to explain to all those soldiers why I can't ride a horse all day tomorrow."

He laughed out loud as he moved away from her.

"You stay here and I'll get some food."

"Hand me your shirt," she said.

"Why?" he asked as he did so.

"I'm chilly."

She slid her arms into the sleeves and buttoned a few of the buttons. She shifted so she was leaning up against the headboard.

Cain looked at her, feeling a strange sense of well-being as he looked at her in his shirt.

"That may be the sexiest thing I've ever seen you in," he commented.

"Bring me something good for final meal and maybe I'll let you talk me out of it before the night's over."

Her gentle laughter followed him as he hurried off in search of food with every intention of getting his shirt back before first light.

TBC