A Grave Exchange by Jane White Pillatzke Page A

dress for the occasion.”
    Dying of mortification , I tried to pull myself out of the k ing ’ s grip , but he was unmerciful in his hold, tightening it all the more . Gasping for breath , trying to breathe through the pain, I stole a glance at Lucius , who was standing frozen in place, facing us . This was going to be a fight to the death ; there truly could be no other conclusion than a grizzly knock down orgy of testosterone . I turned to face the k ing, and he stopped looking at Lucius long enough to leer at me .
    “I will not , for any reason in this world or our own , let Lucius live . Y ou will see him fall to his knees and beg me to let him die.” Turning away from me , he laughed .
    Something in that laugh hit a switch inside me . N ever before had I felt so enraged , so completely removed from my normal , sensitive self . And yet, I felt totally in control, totally empowered . Gazing down at my wrist , I saw once more it was a blood red tear drop , and I smil ed as I realized why . It was somehow up to me to get Lucius and I out of this deadly predicament , and quickly . Of course , knowing and doing were two very different things . L ooking around the room , I wondered what I could possibly do to tip the scales in Lucius’ favor . Perhaps , if I could distract the k ing and his guards, Lucius could do his —well , whatever it was he did . W hat ever he did , I hoped he was good at it . Realizing I had precious little time , I lunged forward toward the bed . J umping on to it , I spread my legs wide open, confident the k ing would at least follow me . The k ing’s jaw actually dropped; perhaps he’d never seen a modern, clean-shaven woman before.
    Slowly , he inched his way toward me, his leering men following closely behind him . O ne stayed with Lucius, whose face , I noticed, was void of emotion . I hoped he knew what I was thinking, I hoped he knew I had no intention of bed hopping with these frightening men, that he truly was the only man I ever wanted to be with . M y heart tripped over its own beats with fear that he thought I could ever look at another man .
    “Ivy, dear , sweet , tempting little Ivy, you surprise me.”
    Swinging my head around , I was shocked to see the k ing had reached the bed . He grabb ed my ankle s and pulled me nearer to the edge of the mattress , spreading my legs wide open in front of him . Whimpering , I tried to kick myself free, but the k ing had a death grip and yanked at m y ankles to stop me from moving . Crying out , I felt my bravery wane, but something, something small inside me , willed me on . I smiled up at the k ing and licked my lips . T he k ing dropped to his knees .
    N ow or never , I told myself. I shifted lower, nearer to the k ing . As he watched , I slid my fingers down to my core and rubb ed my clit . I moaned, half closing my eyes , but keeping my gaze pinned on the k ing and his men, two of which had partially disrobed and had taken themselves in hand. I swallowed back my revulsion and used th eir own depravity against them. I started to rock my pelvis, harder and harder , as I slid my fingers along my core . Finally , out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucius spring into action. No one but I saw him dispatch the one guard who’d stayed with him. No one but me noticed h im as he crept up behind the king and his remaining men. Rolling my hips, licking my lips, gasping with pretend pleasure, I continued my careful distraction. Slowly , I slid one hand up to my breasts and rolled and flicked my nipples, all the while riding down on my fingers . T he k ing slid forward , as did his men, and anger filled me to think the y thought they could have me . S lowly , ever so slowly , Lucius came up behind them . S heer will kept me going, my determination to see them all brought to justice riding on this very moment . Faking my near orgasm , I cried out , and with that , Lucius struck . He raised his arm in an arc and swung swiftly , removing three men’s