Vaid Empire: Conquest Ch. 46

Vaid Empire: Conquest is a massive fantasy series that aims to mix erotica with the quality of a published novel. New chapters and artwork are released every month absolutely free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access. The Series focuses heavily on worldbuilding, story, and characters.

The world of Ayphieal is shattered and chaotic, with kingdoms and tribes of six distinctive races vying for territory amongst themselves. It is only when a young human warrior finally pushes back against the chaos that the world begins to shift towards order.

***

23rd of Thriduin, 12 AVE.

Domani, Capital of The Vaid Empire.

The cacophony of shouts and cheers nearly proved to be deafening, for when The God Emperor returned home, all but the smallest of infants and the most infirm old men gathered to welcome him.

Marching upon the main road towards the city gates, Dominax looked out across the ocean of citizens filling the poorer outskirts of Domani, seated atop a white lixidion. A bull of male breeding stock, the reptilian beast appeared massive and ravenous as it led the long marching train of soldiers. At his sides rode both Princess Cendra and the heavily pregnant Vixin, while his advisors rode just at his back. Tens of thousands of legionaries followed, their white cloaks bearing the bloody remnants of the war. Those left behind in Kinia continued to enforce compliance upon any city who remained defiant of their new ruler, yet much of the Kingdom had knelt upon the news of Privin's fall.

Nestled between the riders and marching warriors, Lady Felza trudged along with them, the pivotal prize of her people's conquest. A trophy on display, she was forced to walk entirely nude, wearing only fine chains that connected a collar locked around her neck to the fists of two white cloaks, as if led along by leashes. While her wrists were bound tightly behind her back in metal cuffs, her lithe legs were mercifully able to stride free, allowing her to easily maintain pace with her captors. Aside her walked Pelni, in nearly the same state as her niece, yet the former queen's eyes remained lowered to the muddy road as Felza eagerly gazed at the many loud faces of the parted crowd. With little Alia placed safely in the hands of slave caretakers until Pelni's temporary capture came to an end, the former queen stumbled along as if an empty shell.

A Lady only in name, hardly different than before her surrender, Felza hadn't fallen from quite as lofty a height as her aunt. Yet where Pelni's usefulness was nearing its end, Felza would rise again, looking down to see her pregnant belly.

"Your test approaches. You've endured the first, now survive the humiliation of the second. Do so, my necessary trophy, and you shall birth a king." The God Emperor had instructed just before departing Privin. Though they had sailed much of the way, he had disembarked several miles downriver, ever hungry for the dramatic image of an approaching army marching home, rather than the arrival of tired warriors draining from ships. She saw now just how well the calculated manipulation had played, for the population screamed joyfully at their triumphant return.

Men and women from across The Empire had flocked to Domani, eager to once more lay their eyes upon their ruler. Yet as Felza marched, she found that herself and Pelni held a large portion of their passing attention, for many wished to shout at Olvir's former queen. The final remains of Kinia's royal family, nude and chained.

Felza could hardly keep a grin from her face. Bound as a conquered trophy, she had imagined such a fate throughout many long nights. Captured and bred by a barbarian, albeit a quite different and more refined savage than she had expected, she could only feel a warmth of excitement in her loins as she was led along, his baby steadily growing within her womb.

As the city gates approached, a sense of awe filled her. Not for the gates themselves, for Privin's were taller before Dominax's arrival, but rather for the massive pyramid that rose behind them. A mountain of white stone gleaming in the sunlight, she felt utterly dwarfed by its majesty even at a distance.

Entering the city, she felt the humid breeze against her bare skin, far warmer than her homeland. With palm trees interspersed between buildings, she felt as though she were entering the old legends themselves, tales of long dead Chiefs surrounded by concubines in their exotic lands.

The crowds, rather than thinning as they left the entrance behind, only seemed to thicken. Hundreds of city guards held them from pouring onto the main road as The God Emperor led his army, striding towards the imposing white jewel of imperial might. Construction had nearly reached the tip, due solely to Lalian's ingenious methods of moving the monolithic stones into place. A project thought to take a lifetime already neared its completion.

The army slowed to a stop as Dominax halted them, reaching the base of The Grand Pyramid's colossal stairs. Cendra joined him as he assisted Vixin from her mount, his princess appearing as if she could fall into labor at any moment.

Cendra glared with annoyance as her father swooped her sister from the ground, unwilling to subject her to a climb that seemed to take the breath from many visitors seeking an audience in the throne room. Yet this day only the trio of Vaids pressed forwards, climbing the steps as the remainder of the army waited patiently behind.

Reaching the top without a hint of weariness he carefully lowered Vixin to her feet and finally let his eyes fall upon Irith as she waited for him near the grand entrance. The Concubine Empress cradled Arinax in her arms as her face lit up with joy, rushing forward to meet him. A future God Emperor, the boy nearly appeared too old to carry, yet he clung to his mother all the same. Princess Nafalya followed closely behind, leading Zela along by the hand with evident care, as if a mother herself.

Dominax closed the distance, nearly tempted to lift his mate from the ground in an embrace if his son hadn't been pressed against her shoulder. Instead he grabbed her head from the back, pulling her into a deep kiss.

"Our conqueror returns." Irith greeted him with a smile as their lips parted, only for her expression to shift slyly. "You left me for FAR too long."

"Yet you remain." He replied with a chuckle. After two long and straining years the entirety of The Vaid Dynasty stood together once more, reunited.

Irith maneuvered Arinax within her grasp to hold him out for his father to see. "Your heir has missed you nearly as much as I, my love. I often hear him whisper your name when I lay him down to sleep."

Though he raised a skeptical eyebrow at her claim, Dominax reached down and took the boy from her hands. Already in his third year of life, he had grown much since their last encounter. Hair as dark as the void, eyes silver as Dominax's own, he appeared the spitting image of his sire as he peered with caution upon his face. "Father..."

A smirk of satisfaction crossed The God Emperor's expression, and he touched his heir's mind with his own. The power of his blood felt as strong as before, yet when he brought himself back to reality, he saw a hint of fear within the boy's eyes.

An instant later Irith reached down and took charge of Zela from Nafalya, ensuring the curious toddler didn't wander off before leading her eldest daughter forwards. "Go on."

The Princess approached and bowed her head, meeting his gaze without the fear that he had seen in Arinax. She waited until he reached down with his free hand, grasping hers gently. He then pulled her closer, granting her permission to briefly hug him around his waist. Already the very definition of gorgeous after only twelve years of life, she stepped back with a calm grin and bowed her head.

As a pleased expression claimed Irith at the sight, her attention slowly shifted to her stepchildren as they stood patiently at their father's side. She moved to embrace Cendra tightly before pulling back to assess her. "I cannot say I haven't worried for your safety, yet I see now how foolish that may have been. You appear...older, more mature."

"Broadened, I think." Cendra said at a memory of Lake Ti, amongst other experiences.

Irith lovingly cupped the side of Cendra's face, feeling her royal skin. "Exactly the word I was searching for. You've become a woman without my say."

After a shared chuckle, The Concubine Empress then shifted her attention to Vixin, merely granting her a respectful nod. "When we received word that the princess was with child, I hadn't expected you to be so...advanced. Come, I shall order my healers to see to you at once."

"My healers, my love." Dominax's deep voice cut in calmly. "Though that won't be necessary, I can sense the health of the child. It's time we truly return home."

"Of course, my love." Irith replied with a hint of embarrassment as Dominax turned around and gestured down towards Clin, granting him command over the waiting legion. Cheers erupted from the lower crowds, a city screaming in triumph. Irith turned to follow her mate as he began to lead their family into The Grand Pyramid, nestling herself close as she breathed a sigh of ease. "You cannot know how relieved I am to have you here once again. Ruling...is not a joy."

"For most." Dominax replied with a grin.

***

Hardly had night fallen before Dominax and Irith found themselves atop Crescent's Glory, the common name granted to the cube-like structure that arose from the front of The Grand Pyramid, a tier above the towering entrance. Decorated with the colossal crescent moon of House Vaid, etched from the stone upon its gigantic outward facing surface and coated with gold seized from across The Empire, it stared down over the city as if the judging eye of The God Emperor himself.

When the feasting had concluded, when the tours of the most recently built levels of The Grand Pyramid had finished, Dominax released a sigh as he looked down from the edge of Crescent Plaza, the private area atop Crescent's Glory open only to the royal dynasty. He peered out across the city, over the vast surrounding rainforest and the flowing river caressing the eastern face of the city. "Few men shall ever see these sights from above. I shall say this only to you, my love, but there were times I feared I'd never again witness these heights."

Wrapping her arms around him, Irith joined him at the edge as they viewed the darkened landscape, hearing the distant noises of celebration continuing to echo through the sky. The flickering light of the nearby large standing torches played across her smooth skin as she looked to him with concern, nearly holding her tongue before deciding to speak. "What truly occurred in Kinia, my love? We received word that you were held up in Deci, yet little else."

A weary breath escaped his lips, and he turned to gaze into her brilliantly blue eyes. "The death of certainty, but that is nothing you must worry yourself with."

"And Vixin?" She raised a brow.

"Another matter entirely." He replied, unable to keep an insidious smirk from his face.

"I can only assume the fate of the man responsible for defiling your daughter wasn't a gentle one. You certainly have your ways." Irith stated disapprovingly, even as she ran her hand lovingly across his unarmored chest.

Without granting her a direct response, Dominax once more faced the open sky, looking down upon the open market nestled against the stairs of the massive fortress. Stalls were already in the process of being cleared away, making room for his next project. "Her pregnancy nears its end, Irith, and I plan to make the birth of my first grandchild nothing less than a spectacle."

"Spectacle? Vixin has only just reached maturity, Dominax. Would she not prefer a quiet delivery to enjoy her firstborn child in peace?" She asked with a knowing voice that only a mother herself could give.

"Who is to say what her preference is? She holds duties, and thus, she'll obey." He said before reaching down to caress her midriff. "As did you. While your Week of Ardon required you to merely sit upon the steps of my throne as others come to pray for the health of the heir in your belly, Vixin shall delve a step further. When the time comes, she'll give birth before the masses."

Taken aback, Irith nearly pulled away in shock. "That girl has been through quite enough already, my love. I'd no sooner see her subjected to such a thing than my own daughters."

Dominax could only grin at the firmness in her tone. Though her voice still held her familiar flare of elegance, years of living within The Capital had reduced the prominence of her exotic accent. While an untrained ear would hardly have noticed, he himself could only compare her voice to the strange, accented words of the people of Kinia, boarding her own homeland. "She's a Princess of House Vaid, my love. She'll offer no complaint."

"Then you'd allow others to witness your daughter in such a state?"

"Ah, but such is the point. Let them come, to gaze upon the beauty of The God Emperor's blood. Your former people hold a different view, I'm aware, yet a man here may only feel proud to have sired desirable daughters. It shall coax the respect of the citizens to allow them to view not only Vixin's beauty, but the absolute proof of her fertility, stemming from my blood." He explained, speaking as if he were stating that the sky was dark. "You've adjusted well to our customs, yet you must understand this mindset quickly, for both Nafalya and Zela shall share her fate one day."

Irith's feminine muscles tightened imperceptibly, and she looked to his eyes with a hint of defiance. "And if I can sway your mind before such a thing occurs?"

"You can't." He chuckled before pressing his lips to hers. Tasting her sweet scent once more, he then pulled back as his smirk lessened. "Besides, other matters occupy my mind."

Her expression seemed to soften at the sound of his voice. Having been at his side for years, she knew the accursedly faint signs of his emotions well. "Such as, my love?"

Though concealing his hesitancy, Irith saw it plainly as Dominax caressed her cheek. "Kinia has made many realities clear to me, and I realize now, truly realize, that the day may come when I no longer walk Ayphieal. Contingencies must be made, else I risk allowing The Empire to crumble upon my death."

"Ah, so that's the look I see in your eyes." Irith said with a kind smile. "I'll admit, even as you've remained an enigma in many ways to me, with these...powers, I cannot say it isn't comforting to see that even the mighty God Emperor fears death. You're still human after all, Dominax."

Though his expression hardened for a moment, it couldn't help but ease at the sight of her smile, and he found himself grasping her hands in his. "Even so, many things must be ensured, beginning with the succession."

"Arinax is your heir. You've said so yourself."

"Said, yes, but I must be certain. Before my time, many Chiefs granted their thrones to their firstborn son, such is true, but just as many others were succeeded by their eldest child, regardless of sex. The Empire consists of many peoples, clinging to many traditions, and I must remove any confusion. I plan to officially proclaim Arinax as my heir, not merely with words as before, but sealed in blood."

Irith's smile increased. "Then we celebrate thrice this moon. Your victory, Vixin's birth, and Arinax once more."

"Indeed, I've already sent word to my vassals." He said, running his fingers through her silky black hair.

"Then let us put aside thoughts of death this night. You're home, my love, and I shall hear no more of it." She said with a smirk of her own.

"Won't you?" He said with grin, finally allowing his mind to ease somewhat. "It's a dangerous thing to defy a God Emperor."

"So it is." Irith replied as she slid her hand over his chest, tracing over his muscles through his thin one-suit. "Yet I'd prefer a different subject. You've granted the court much of your attention today, though what of me?"

Feeling her touch, he ran his hand down her arm, gliding over her soft skin. "Do you think I'd forget my prize? A mate worthy of a deity?"

"I feared you might, surrounded by northern women." She said, no longer bothering to hide the hunger in her gaze. "How many did you claim?"

Hands sliding down to hold her waist, he pulled her closer. "A Concubine Empress holds no need of jealousy."

"Jealousy?" She laughed, her tone flavored by her accent. "You'll find none in me. Distance and time can simply make a mind wonder, that's all. Besides..." she said, pulling from his light grasp to gracefully lower herself into a squatting position. "I'd like to know who I'm about to taste..."

He felt her hands move over his thighs, seeking the groin slit of his one-suit. "Had I bothered to ask all their names, perhaps I'd tell you."

The answer only served to heighten her interest, and she bit her lip in lust as she guided his manhood from the slit in his suit. It hung heavily in the open air, a conqueror in its own right. "How I've missed this..."

Dominax felt her elegant hands wrap around his girth, lightly caressing his cock as it steadily hardened.

"You've been gone for FAR too long..." she said before kissing his tip, then sliding her lips along the side of his shaft. "You reduce me to myself, my own fingers, as if they could possibly compare..."

His own lips parted slightly as she returned to his tip, teasingly slipping it only an inch into her mouth before pulling back. "I granted you permission to enjoy the harem."

"The tongues and fingers of slaves? No, this is my only craving..." she said before sliding him in once again. This time she delved deeper, taking half of his length before pulling free, wetting him.

A moment later he gritted his teeth, feeling her slide down a third time to accept the entirety of his cock. It pressed against the back of her throat, nearly forcing a gag as it continued to slide inside until she reached its base.

Holding him in her mouth for a moment, her head then began to move back and forth, sucking lovingly.

Dominax held the back of her head, gently guiding her as she pleasured him. High above the city they remained alone, save for the Truthseekers that waited just inside the towering doors to the plaza, ready to burst forth at a single hint of danger towards their God Emperor.

Pulling him free, Irith slid her tongue along the underside of his shaft, before moving her hand to continue jerking his manhood. "You're going to take me with you next time. I won't be left alone again."

As she took him into her mouth once more, he felt her tongue tease his length, watching her head move back and forth. "Careful, Irith, else you risk overstepping. You don't...ahh...grant me commands, yet I'll consider it."

Hungrily sucking up and down his cock, she firmly gripped his base before stroking him as it slid from her mouth. "You left me to a cage far worse than you first granted me, my love. The citizens...their problems seem to multiply swifter than your bastards. Worse yet, they expected me to solve them all!"