Kol came and Lara told him of Macia’s fall from grace. “You would punish them for taking pleasures?” he asked.

“Nay, my lord, but I would punish them for defiling our marital bed. I must have a new one at once! I cannot spend another night in a bed where my servant has entertained her lover. She has sullied the few memories I possess, for I can no longer think of the magnificent times I lay in your arms in this bed and received the homage of your passion. I can only see this low servant female enjoying her lover’s rod on my sheets. His juices will have surely stained the mattress! Their essence will linger despite the fresh linens, my lord.” She put her face in her hands and sobbed convincingly. “The distress of this will injure your son!”

Kol put his arms about his mate. Lara and his son were the only things that mattered in this situation. “A new bed will be installed in your bedchamber within the hour, my darling,” he promised, brushing the tears from her cheek. “Come, let us go and watch as the punishment is executed, my precious.”

“And when they have been well whipped,” Lara purred at him, “you will use them thoroughly to take the edge off of the lust you have been storing up for me.”

“Which deserves the most of your sweet anger?” he asked her.

“Anka, for she knows not the meaning of loyalty,” Lara said.

Kol smiled. “Then after I have taken pleasures of her I will give her to the Punishment Master for an hour.”

“Oh, my lord,” Lara murmured, looking up into his face with a smile. “You do know how to please me well. May I watch while he abuses her? Please?”

Kol laughed and caressed her cheek. “You are becoming so deliciously naughty, my precious. I find it more and more difficult to adhere to the rules of your confinement as set forth in the Book of Rule. I think after today I shall not seek your company until our child has been born. Your growing wickedness piques my lust for you, my beautiful mate.” He placed a lingering kiss on her lips.

Lara sighed. “I want the brat born quickly, my lord, for I long for your love rod and wish to spend my life pleasing only you. Have you found the wet nurse for me?”

“She arrives at the castle today. You will see. She is perfect,” he told her.

Lara finished her breakfast, her two serving women helped her to dress and then in the company of the Twilight Lord she escorted them to the Punishment Master. Kol watched with a mixture of both pride and amusement as she carefully instructed him as to what she wished done. The two men-at-arms guarding Lara’s door had accompanied them and Lara surprised the hapless Alvar by ordering him to be punished, as well, but only after he watched as his lover received her due.

Then Lara and Kol reclined upon a double chaise as Macia was stripped naked and hung between two marble pillars and the biting whip cut into her flesh. As her screams rent the air Kol slowly stroked Lara’s belly and felt the life within moving with apparent excitement. He smiled, well pleased.

Next, the man-at-arms was to be punished. When he was naked the Twilight Lord called to the Punishment Master and murmured something in his ear. The man nodded and returning to his victim turned him about to face his lord and his lady. The Punishment Master took a small jar from a nearby shelf and drew a wad of thick cream from it with three thick fingers. He rubbed the man-at-arm’s love rod with the cream and within minutes the love rod thrust itself hard and tall from its owner’s body. Now the Punishment Master raised the biting whip and skillfully drew it across Alvar’s torso, the tip wrapping itself about his love rod. Surprised, Alvar did not cry out until the second blow touched that most sensitive organ. Then he howled with his pain while Macia wept bitterly to see Alvar so abused.

Finally it was Anka’s turn. She was sobbing with her fear and howling even before the Punishment Master raised his whip to strike. The man, who was masked, grinned with obvious delight at her terror. Ten blows fell on the screaming woman’s back and then she was turned about to receive ten more blows on her breasts and belly.

The Punishment Master managed to skillfully nip her nipples several times with just the tip of his whip. It was enough to sting her, but not to break the skin. When he had finished both women were ordered upon their hands and knees and Kol took his pleasure of them. Then Anka was given to the Punishment Master for an hour of pleasures. The man thanked his lord and lady for their generosity, licking his lips as he gazed on Anka.

Lara had been revolted by the whole thing, but she knew she had further impressed Kol with what he believed was her burgeoning darkness. And his decision not to see her until after she gave birth was a great relief to her. He escorted her back to her apartments where the new wet nurse was awaiting them. Lara looked the woman over. She was a big-boned creature with two enormous breasts that reminded Lara of cows’ udders. She stood, eyes lowered before the Twilight Lord and his mate.

“You have weaned your child?” Lara demanded of her.

“Aye, mistress, as I was ordered to do,” the woman replied.

“My son will not be born for another few weeks,” Lara told the wet nurse. “I do not want your milk drying up. The solution for that is to have you suckled by your master at least twice daily. Do you understand me? You are being given a great honor.”

“Aye, mistress,” came the response.

“You have a name?” Lara asked.

“Ema, mistress.” The woman never lifted her head.

“I have had a room fitted out for you, Ema. It is next to my bedchamber. Take your master there now and suckle him so that your milk remains sweet and fresh for our son.” Lara turned to Kol. “Go with her now, my dearest lord. I will keep to my chamber when you come and we will not see one another until the child is born.” She stood on her toes and kissed his lips sweetly. “Farewell until then, my lord Kol.” Then turning Lara entered her own bedchamber and closed the door behind her, sighing with relief. As long as she didn’t have to interact with Kol, or see him, she could hold the darkness in her to a minimum. Oh, Great Creator, she prayed silently, forgive me all the terrible wickedness I have done these past days. Forgive, too, the wickedness I will do in the coming days that Kol not know I have been restored to myself. Help me to return safely to my beloved Magnus. Never let him learn of this terrible interlude in my life! Let Kaliq keep his promise to me so that I forget this time in the Dark Lands.

Had the children missed her? Well, Dillon would have. Anoush had probably come to hate her again and Zagiri would not even know who she was. I don’t care what I have to do, Lara thought, I am never leaving my children again! It was past time she gave Magnus his son. A little boy with his father’s deep golden hair and turquoise-blue eyes. She winced suddenly as the life within her protested her thoughts. One child squirming within her womb was bad enough but two was awful. They would be pale-skinned and dark-haired as their father was, she knew.

Ema came to tell her when the Twilight Lord had left. She looked drained and tired and Lara felt sorry for her. She told the woman to rest. Macia was whimpering with the stripes upon her back. Lara took pity on her and devised a spell that took most of the pain away, leaving just enough to remind Macia of her sins. Anka returned bruised and battered. Lara later heard her whispering to Macia that the Punishment Master was the finest lover she had ever known and that she would be visiting him again when she could find the time. Lara let Anka live with her pain, which did not seem so great, leading her to suspect the Punishment Master had put some soothing ointment on the woman himself. As for Alvar, he would not wield his love rod for several weeks.

Macia did not complain, instead she served her mistress with devotion. When Lara asked her why this sudden change in her attitude, Macia said, “Because I can now see you are more than just a woman upon whom our lord’s son will be gotten. You are his equal in every way, mistress. You know how to punish. I am proud to serve you. And forgive me if I have spoken out of turn.”

Lara slapped the woman’s cheek hard and smiled. “You think too much, Macia. Remember, you come from the lower orders. But I do forgive you for your boldness. You are almost a perfect servant. Some day soon you will help me to correct Anka’s continuing impertinent behavior.”

“Whatever you require, mistress, I will do it,” Macia said, rubbing her cheek and returning the smile Lara had given her. She was thrilled her mistress obviously cared enough about her to personally punish her. The slap was a badge of honor for Macia.

And then, on a black night when not a star shone upon the Dark Land, Lara went into labor. The Twilight Lord was notified but he would not come until the child was born. It was tradition. Another tradition they would observe was her healing. After their son was born she would be given special herbs and ointments that would be rubbed on her sexual organs. In exactly one week from her delivery Lara would be completely healed and Kol would pierce her with his love rod. They would take pleasures publicly before his chancellor, his underlords and other invited guests to show them that both he and his mate were fit again and that the child who had come from their loins was a strong infant who would one day lead his people. Kol concentrated upon that ceremony as he waited for word of a successful birth.

Lara’s labor was the worst she had ever had. She knew, thanks to Kaliq, that it would not be long. But Great Creator! It was hard and painful. Only Macia and Anka were there to attend her. She hadn’t wanted anyone else. Knowing it was not her first child, Kol allowed her to have her way but a midwife waited outside of Lara’s apartments in case she was needed.