WICKED GAMES is a collection of short stories. The longest is The Once and Future Lover, a great nod to one of many Arthurian legend fans' favorite book by T.H. White. This prequel novella to Knight's Mageverse books tells how the Mageverse began. Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table were made vampires able to change into wolves, and Guinevere and her women made witches by being from another world in order to protect humanity. Merlin and Nimue offer those who pass a challenge proving themselves worthy a drink from a chalice that turns each immortal. "By drinking from my Grail, the men will become Magi, gaining physical speed and strength far beyond mortal abilities, while the women will become Majae, with magical abilities like those Nimue and I have." For the men, feeding on blood is intertwined with the need for sex, creating a bloodthirst with massive sexual desire.

Arthur is warned that he should remain close after Guinevere is turned, but in his hubris, he leaves to hunt down Mordred. While Arthur is gone, Lancelot is turned immortal. Guinevere enters just-awakened Lancelot's room to feed him her blood, and the two, overcome by their new- onset need for blood and sex, have intercourse. Guinevere panics and changes Lancelot's memories so that King Arthur in his anger is not deprived of his champion, shifting all the blame to her shoulders for their mutual sin. It was lovely to see Gwen presented as trying to do the best thing for Arthur here, making her a much more sympathetic character than she is typically presented.

I've always hated the love triangle of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. The pain and anguish the three suffered is so difficult to read, but I love the Arthurian legends so much that I devour all the books I can find about the subject. This was an interesting twist on the Arthurian legend, however, with vampires and witches, and then Knight's signature erotic component added in. In Arthur's anguish at their betrayal, he punishes Guinevere in many inventive sexual ways. There are many very spicy scenes with graphic language, anal sex, and BDSM. It was disconcerting to me to have these elements added to Arthurian tale, but for those not wedded to the classical telling of this legend, it may be intriguing to you. The story ends with forgiveness and love, which is very satisfying.

One of the other short stories is Bondage, Beauty and the Beast which adds a Dominant/submissive twist to the retelling of the traditional fairy tale. It includes enchanted sex toys, whipping, gags and other restraints, and sex with multiple partners. Definitely an unusual twist on the beauty/beast theme! The last very short story is of a Confederate spy caught by a Yankee major in A Question of Pleasure, who is sexually tormented instead of physically tortured in an attempt to find out who her spymaster is.

Those looking for a quick tale with kink will find what they are searching for in WICKED GAMES.