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Lords
of the Var:
THE SAVAGE KING
By
Michelle M. Pillow
Dedication: To
Amelia and My
Readers. May you all
find the one true
Prince, who will
give up everything
in the galaxy just
for you. (loincloth
optional)
"To
be ruled by a woman
is to be ruled by
weakness and
kingdoms are only as
strong as their
rulers. A King must
stand alone,
beholden to none."
--King Attor of the
Var
Chapter One
Agent Ulyssa Payne
grumbled and banged
the communicator
across her knee in a
last ditch effort to
make the very
expensive piece of
junk work. Her
campsite was close,
but it was cloaked
so she couldn't see
its exact location.
She wouldn't chance
revealing it until
she made sure the
perimeter was
secure. If anything,
experience in the
field had taught her
to be extra careful.
She knelt on the
ground, looking up
at the bright
Qurilixen sky in
frustration. The
blue-green haze of
the planet's
atmosphere shone
through the gigantic
leaves of the
forest. The planet
was always cast in
daylight due to its
three suns, with the
exception of one
night a year when
everything fell into
perfect alignment.
The evening she'd
arrived with a
shipment of Earth
women on a Galaxy
Brides ship, it had
been such a night.
She'd been forced to
haul her backpack
through rough, dark
terrain while the
Draig warriors
partied with their
mail-order brides.
"When I get back, I
am so quitting the
Agency," Ulyssa
ranted under her
breath, smacking the
communicator harder
in her frustration.
She would never
really quit. The
Human Intelligence
Agency was her life.
It was her whole
reason for being.
"After this I am
definitely taking a
vacation. I'm going
to have a bath, a
bottle of hard
liquor, and a rare
steak as big as this
forsaken hellhole,
and a male
prostitute--a mute
male prostitute who
only knows how to
follow orders. First
I'm going to get
clean, then I will
get drunk, and then
I'm going to get
laid."
It
had been nearly five
months since she'd
had a man and he'd
hardly been worth
bragging about. The
sex had been
mediocre and
afterwards he'd
wanted to cuddle.
She had more fun
getting out of his
bed than actually
being in it. Ulyssa
smiled, remembering
how she'd scaled out
his window and down
fifteen stories
while he went to the
kitchen to get her a
snack.
Part of the reason
she'd been celibate
since then was that
she'd been in
quarantine,
uploading her
mission, and in
training. As soon as
she was finished,
the Agency had made
her go undercover on
a Galaxy Brides ship
as one of the
prospective brides.
She'd spent a whole
month surrounded by
nothing but women,
morphed into a
hideous character
she could barely
stand, with a
shipload of
too-much-estrogen-producing
females who talked
of nothing but the
men they were going
to marry.
"Ugh," Ulyssa
snarled in distaste.
"Why anyone would
ever want to get
married is beyond
me. Poor, poor,
misguided fools.
They really have no
idea what they're in
for."
The reddish trees of
the alien forest
were colossal, some
of them spanning
wider than an Earth
home. Yellow ferns
spread out about
her, growing wild in
the red earth of the
planet's surface.
She felt like a
dwarf running around
in the land of
giants.
Only the inhabitants
on the planet
weren't technically
giants, though they
were quite large and
fierce. They were
all
shifters--nothing
but male shifters.
It was a little fact
the Agency had
forgotten to tell
her about. The
northern half of the
small planet was
ruled by the Draig,
a tribe of dragon
shifters. The
southern half was
ruled by the Var, a
tribe of man-cats.
If not for seeing
them quarrel from
her perch in the
trees, she'd never
have known.
From what she
gathered from the
Galaxy Bride
uploads, radiation
from their blue sun
made female children
rare. Over the
generations, the
radiation had
altered the men's
genetics to produce
only strong, large
male, warrior heirs.
Maybe once in a
thousand births was
a Qurilixen female
born. The fact that
they had no women of
their own was why
the services of
corporations like
Galaxy Brides were
so invaluable to
them. In return,
they would mine ore
that was only found
in their caves. The
ore was a great
power source for
long-voyaging
starships, all but
useless to the
Qurilixen, who were
not known space
explorers.
Good thing she was
extra cautious and
masked her scent
before leaving camp.
Shifters usually had
a great sense of
smell and the Draig
warriors would have
detected her
presence in the
forest for sure--and
if not them the Var
would have found
her. If she had to
choose, she was sure
she'd rather be
captured by the
Draig. They appeared
to be the more
civilized of the two
creatures.
The Qurilixen were
classified as a
warrior class,
though they had been
peaceful for nearly
a century--aside
from petty
territorial
skirmishes that
broke out every
fifteen or so years
between a few of the
rival houses. The
best comparison
anyone could make is
that the men were
like the warriors of
Medieval Earth--the
romanticized version
anyway. The
Qurilixen worshipped
many Gods, favored
natural comforts to
modern technological
conveniences, and
actually preferred
to raise, grow, and
cook their own
food--the true mark
of a primordial
society.
Although, it seemed
times were about to
change. The forest
literally crawled
with both races. She
wasn't stupid. She
could tell the
planet was on the
verge of an all out
war. The last thing
she needed was to
get caught in the
middle of it.
This was definitely
a primitive planet,
perhaps one of the
most primitive she'd
been assigned to in
a long time. As far
as she could tell,
her campsite was on
Var land. It didn't
matter. It's not
like she'd stopped
to ask permission to
set up camp. In
fact, neither race
knew she was there.
She preferred to
keep it that way. If
Galaxy Brides went
looking for her,
their lost bride,
all they'd find was
a ghost trail to a
woman who never
existed.
Ulyssa growled under
her breath, swearing
every dark curse she
knew. She needed to
report to
headquarters--if the
damned communicator
would ever turn
itself on--and tell
them her mission was
over. Realizing
she'd gone through
the Galaxy Bride
torture for nothing
didn't make her
happy. But, on the
bright side, she'd
gotten some
permanent hair
removal done and a
few itchy battle
scars removed,
although such
foolish luxuries
hardly made her
present situation
worth it. Shaving
had never been a
primary concern and
she would only
collect more battle
scars to replace the
old ones.
Picking at the dried
mud caked to her
tanned skin, Ulyssa
grimaced. She so
needed a
decontamination
unit. Hell, she'd
even try a primitive
water bath, just so
long as she could
scrub clean.
Suddenly, the
communicator lit up.
She sighed, not
liking the fact that
she had to report to
her superiors that
her mission had been
fruitless. She liked
less the fact that
she was trapped on a
barbaric planet
until one of the
company ships could
swing by and get
her.
"Hello?" a sweet,
elderly voice asked
from the
communicator.
"Agent 596," Ulyssa
answered. The unit
clicked.
"Report," a grim
voice ordered from
the small handheld
unit, replacing the
first computer
generated operator.
"Ulyssa
596, codename Gena,
Qurilixen," Ulyssa
said into the unit.
"Go ahead," the
voice answered.
"Target dead, killed
by his own." Ulyssa
pulled the unit back
to add a bitter
curse. She had just
spent the dusky
night in the forest,
huddled by a tree
while the Medical
Mafia clones packed
up camp. Her target,
a leader in the
Medical Mafia, Doc
Aleksander, was
killed by his
daughter in
self-defense. They
assumed Doc had been
on the planet to
make a trade for
some of the precious
ore. "Daughter has
disbanded family
line, no information
to be had."
"What?" another
voice demanded,
harder than the
last. Ulyssa
recognized the
mission director,
Franklin. She rolled
her eyes. "What do
you mean she
disbanded the
family?"
"Are we secure?"
Ulyssa asked,
careful to keep her
voice soft as she
glanced around the
forest. The trilling
call of a sofliar
came from the dense
underbrush, carrying
over the hum of
insects. All was
peaceful.
"Yes, Agent, speak
plainly," Franklin
said.
"Doc is dead. Nadja
has married one of
the Princes from the
Qurilixen House of
Draig. She's
disbanded the family
and left everything
to her mother. The
Aleksander branch is
ended. I'm
transmitting a full
report now." Ulyssa
stopped talking and
pressed a button.
When the report was
sent, she demanded,
"Now, get me off
this damned floating
barbarian rock,
Frank!"
"Got it," Franklin
answered. "Good
work."
Ulyssa snorted.
She'd hardly call a
fruitless mission
good work. "What
about my ride?"
"Well, Agent,"
Franklin cleared his
throat, "to tell you
the truth you don't
have one. We didn't
expect this to
happen. The seers
didn't predict Doc's
death, only that
he'd be on the
planet. We were
planning on having
you there a lot
longer than a few
weeks."
"How long Frank?"
Ulyssa asked, her
voice hard.
"The closest ship is
three months from
there."
"Three months!"
Ulyssa hissed. "I
didn't spend a month
on that damned
Galaxy Brides ship,
simpering like a
morphed bimbo fool,
grabbing my breasts
and making inane
comments, just to
spend three hellish
months on this
nowhere planet for
no darned good
reason! You get me a
ship faster!"
Franklin chuckled.
"What? We'd thought
you'd like
pretending to be a
girl for awhile
596."
Ulyssa frowned.
Great! Here come the
'you're worse than a
man' jokes. Kick a
little male behind,
never call them back
after you have your
way with them, and
you get branded a
heartless bitch.
"Ugh," she groaned.
"I so need to get
some action. This is
getting bad."
"What was that,
596?" Franklin
asked.
"Nothing, sir."
Ulyssa fought the
urge to laugh.
"How are your
supplies?"
"I'll be fine."
"I
know, Agent."
Silence came over
the intercom, but
she knew he was
still there. Very
quietly, Frank said,
"You take care of
yourself, kid."
"Don't worry about
me, Frank. I'm just
like a cat, always
landing on my feet."
"I
know, Agent, I know.
It's not the landing
I'm worried about.
It's those nine
lives of yours.
Don't use 'em up.
You owe me a date
when you get back."
"Dream on,
sunshine." Ulyssa
laughed, eyeing her
rustic surroundings
in displeasure. She
kept the irritation
from her voice. She
knew if Franklin
could get her off
the floating rock
sooner he would.
"But I will let you
buy me a drink. You
owe me at least
that."
"Done," Franklin
agreed. "Contact
only if there is
trouble, otherwise
call in eleven
weeks."
"Know the drill, 596
out."
"Command out."
Ulyssa pressed the
button to the
communicator and
watched it turn off
before moving to
latch it onto her
belt.
"Three months,"
Ulyssa began with a
dark frown. "Just
gre--"
Suddenly, she froze,
holding very still.
The birds weren't
singing and the
forest had gone
quiet--too quiet.
Slowly, she reached
for her leg, feeling
blindly for her gun.
Her thumb hooked
around the leather
strap, flicking in
the dried mud caked
over it.
A
loud roar resounded
from the trees, as
she drew her weapon.
She frantically
pulled the gun,
falling on her back
as she turned toward
the noise. She was
too late. Two thick
paws pressed into
her shoulders. Fangs
snarled at her from
a hot mouth.
"Oh," she gasped,
nervous. From her
place on the ground
it looked to be an
overgrown mountain
lion. "Nice kitty.
Easy, big fella.
Take it easy."
The cat snarled at
her soft words and
lifted a meaty paw
to the side of her
head striking her.
As the paw made
contact, it wasn't
claws and fur that
smacked her, but a
very human feeling
fist. Her visions
swam. Pain shot
through her face
from her cheek.
Blood trickled into
her mouth, spilling
over her pale skin
in little rivers.
When she looked back
up, she gasped. It
was no longer an
animal that pinned
her down but a naked
man. His bright blue
eyes glared into her
with lethal intent.
"Look what I found
wandering around in
my kingdom," the man
said with a dark
laugh that left her
cold. "A dirty
little gwobr."
Without warning, he
jumped to standing,
hauling Ulyssa up by
her wrist. Her feet
flailed in the air
before landing
awkwardly on the
ground. On reflex,
she kicked. Her foot
hit the man's very
muscular waist. He
dropped her wrist
with a grunt, but
did not double over.
Ulyssa smiled, but
her victory was
small and
short-lived.
Right as her foot
landed back on the
ground, a dozen
half-dressed
warriors poured out
from the treetops as
if falling from the
sky. She squared off
to defend herself,
but she was
outmanned by the
gathering of blond
Vars. They fought
back with a liquid
grace she'd rarely
seen in a species,
sleek and smooth of
motion like ancient
Earth ninjas. She
tried to fight back,
kicking and punching
as she found her
mark on hard steely
flesh. But, within
seconds, she was
subdued.
Ulyssa screeched,
showing the proper
amount of feminine
anger a barbaric
people would expect.
Her heart raced with
adrenaline, but she
never lost her cool.
Heathenishly strong
hands clasped ahold
of her struggling
body, lifting her
high. She was bound
and gagged with
swift precision.
She'd been caught
unprepared, and in
the end she was no
match for their
brute force. Panting
through the gag, she
fell limp.
One of the large
warriors lifted her
over his broad
shoulder. In the Var
tongue, the warrior
said, "King Attor,
what shall we do
with her?"
Ulyssa was suddenly
very grateful for
her intergalactic
translator chip.
She'd been wary when
the Agency implanted
the little device
into her ear. It
couldn't translate
every foreign word,
but usually it was
enough to understand
what was going on.
And, since it was a
smart chip, it
learned as she went
and widened its
vocabulary.
"Take her and have
her cleaned so that
I may examine her,"
the Var King, who'd
first trapped her to
the ground, said.
She glared as he
forcibly grabbed her
chin to better study
her dirty face. His
strong body was
completely naked and
he moved as if
unconcerned by it.
The others were
dressed in loose
fitting tunic shirts
and tighter pants.
Ulyssa assumed they
stripped as they
shifted. "If she is
anything like her
sweet smell, I will
enjoy her immensely
at the victory
celebration--just as
soon as we send
those Draig cowards
into the ground
where they belong."
The warriors
cheered, their
heated eyes lit with
battle and
bloodlust. Ulyssa
tore her chin away
from King Attor's
grip. The King only
laughed at her
defiance.
"Oh, I'll take
pleasure breaking
you in, briallen.
You'll make a nice
little addition to
my harem. If you're
lucky, I might even
breed you," the King
laughed harder,
prompting his men to
do the same. The
beefy shoulder
beneath her stomach
jolted with
movement. Her hands
tingled from the
tightness of the
binds.
One of the warriors
handed the King a
loincloth and he
wrapped it around
his waist, leaving
his chest bare. With
a look of severe
consideration, the
King didn't take his
eyes from her, as he
ordered his men, "If
she gives you any
problems, throw her
in the dungeons
until I return. I'll
be more than willing
to teach her the Var
penalty for defying
the King's order."
Ulyssa grunted
against her gag,
glaring and cussing
at her captors until
her face turned red.
Attor leaned over
and plucked a green
plant with a yellow
center from the
ground. Squeezing it
between his fingers,
he rubbed the pollen
beneath her nose.
Instantly, her eyes
darkened. She fell
completely limp,
fast asleep.
©
copyright Michelle
M. Pillow, October
2004
This is a work of
fiction. All
characters, events,
and places are of
the author’s
imagination and not
to be confused with
fact. Any
resemblance to
living persons or
events is merely
coincidence.
REVIEWS
4
STARS!
"4
STARS! Get ready for
a thrilling ride to
planet Qurilixen,
where gorgeous
cat-shifting alphas
rule. Pillow's
futuristic world in
the first
installment of her
Lords of the Var
series is one that
readers will
anticipate
revisiting, although
this book can be
enjoyed on its own.
Intrigue, romance
and sizzling sex
keep the story
moving. The two main
characters have a
strong physical
attraction, but
their complex
personalities have
them struggling to
overcome issues of
control, pain and
trust. A touch of
humor keeps the mood
light." Leigh
Rowling, Romantic
Times
"5
ANGELS! RECOMMENDED
READ! I can’t say
how much I enjoyed
returning to
Michelle Pillow’s
Dragon Lords
universe, this time
starring the Var. To
say I am anxiously
awaiting the next
story in the series
is a HUGE
understatement. Ms.
Pillow, I beseech
thee, don’t make me
wait too long before
my next Var fix." -
Tanya, Fallen Angel
Reviews April 2005
"5
UNICORNS! I
absolutely loved
this vivacious and
fiery story. Book
One of the Lords of
the Var series flows
so well that, before
I knew it, I had
reached the final
page...Ms Pillow has
written yet another
awe-inspiring novel
that kept the action
intense and sexual
attraction alive
throughout The
Savage King. I
highly recommend
this highly
enjoyable novel."
Francesca, Enchanted
in Romance, June
2005
"5
UNICORNS! Lords of
the Var: The Savage
King is the other
side of the coin to
the Dragon
Lords...(and) I was
quickly drawn back
into life on
Qurilixen. ... I
highly recommend
this series, it just
keeps on getting
better and better
and I really look
forward to the next
in the Lords of the
Var." Lyonene,
Enchanted in
Romance, July 2005
"5
ROSES! I had high
expectations for The
Savage King, and Ms.
Pillow just blew
those expectations
out of the
water...The love
story, the plot, and
the secondary
characters (the
other Var Princes)
make this story a
stellar read. Ms.
Pillow is quickly
establishing herself
quite clearly as an
amazing and talented
voice in futuristic
romances. This is
one story you won’t
want to miss."
Sarah, A Romance
Review, May 2005
"5
STARS! As a master
storyteller,
Michelle Pillow can
always imagine
innovative
storylines and then
vividly make the
stories come to
life. With her
clever settings and
detailed
descriptions, I feel
as though I have
been transported to
another place and
time. Her characters
in the Lords of the
Var series are
charismatic with
their magnetic
personalities...
LORDS OF THE VAR:
The Savage King is
another prime
example of Ms.
Pillow’s remarkable
writing abilities
for telling a
captivating romantic
story." Amelia,
ecataromance, June
2005
"5
CUPS! My heart broke
at certain points of
the story, my pulse
raced at other(s)...
This book was
wonderful... a
riveting story with
vivid characters
leaping off the page
and into this
reader’s heart.
Thanks Ms. Pillow, I
look forward to more
of the Lords of
Var." Jenn, Coffee
Time Romance, August
2005
"9/10! The Savage
King has been
excellently written
by an author who has
developed her
characters to the
point that you can
envision them in
your head....which
make for a good,
solid plot that keep
the reader intently
engrossed..... This
tale is one that
draws out all the
emotions, from
happiness when
things are going
right for the
characters, to
exasperation when
they mistake each
others actions, to
worry when it seems
as if they will be
unable to work
through their
differences. I have
thoroughly enjoyed
this story and
cannot wait to read
the others in the
series. Ms Pillow
has most definitely
got my vote and a
space on my
authors-to-look-out-for
list." Reviewed By
Elizabeth © October
2005, Novelspot
"4
STARS! This book is
another great
captive
adventure...Michelle
M. Pillow has done a
great job of
creating two
characters that is
sure to become
favorites with
plenty of readers."
Angel Brewer, TRS
"4
BLUE RIBBONS! Kirill
and Ulyssa meet with
such passion that
you can’t help but
hope they stay
together. I enjoyed
Ulyssa’s
personality; she’s a
tough woman who can
more than hold her
own... As they both
fight for power, you
watch the mutual
respect and love
grow. I really
enjoyed reading this
latest offering from
Michelle Pillow, and
eagerly look forward
to reading the next
one, PRINCE QUINN,
book two in this
great series."
Julia, Romance
Junkies
Additional
Book
Information
Amazon
ASIN:B004IEA1MG
Electronic
ISBN:978-1-4524-7774-9
PRINT
ISBN-13:
978-1460963067
PRINT
ISBN-10:
1460963067
Release
Date: Jan
2011
Series
The Savage King
The Playful Prince
The Bound Prince
The Rogue Prince
The Pirate Prince
Series is related to
Dragon Lords Series
Available at the following vendors
Eros Ebooks, Smashwords
Print Version
(if applicable)
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