She waltzed into the water from the end opposite the waterfall and swam over to him, barely noticing the cold temperature of the water as her athletic body sliced through the water. She went to the deepest part of the water and stopped, staring at him. She hadn’t sensed him near, that surprised her. He hadn’t sensed her either if the way he was still standing there showed anything. Perhaps the cold water was blocking their signals from each other.
Kaia stopped wondering when Zed turned and his back came into view. She’d heard Cora and Tessa talking about the men’s tattoo but now she could see it, though faintly. The man’s physique caught her attention far more than the tattoo, however, and she felt her mouth water as she looked at him. Her body started to warm up then, and she felt an awareness of Zed that she hadn’t felt moments ago.
Zed felt it too, she knew, because he straightened up and started looking around. A smile split his face as he spotted her treading water. He dove into the deeper water and was soon in front of her.
“You come here often?” He asked jokingly and Kaia burst out laughing. Swimming over to him the laugh ended as their lips met and her legs wrapped around his waist.
Zed kissed her back, his own smothered laughter making his lips tremble on hers. He moaned as he felt the heat of her when she wrapped her legs around him and began to swim backwards, pulling them to an area where rocks formed a natural seat in the water. Kaia was still wrapped around Zed and as she felt her torso come out of the water she pressed her breasts to his chest.
Their kiss became hotter as her lips opened to allow him in and his hands moved down to her ass, pressing her into his lower abdomen. He’d grown hard the moment he saw her and Kaia felt him throbbing against her own heat, she wanted to feel him inside of her. His hardness pressing into the outer lips of her aching pussy was enticing and she writhed against him, but she wanted to feel him inside of her!
She thought their first time would be in her room, on her soft bed, the passion slowly building as they teased each other into the heights of passion but they’d waited far too long and she knew now that there was no better place than out here in the open, with this instant heat that they felt driving them to join.
Zed grabbed her by the waist and lifted her before letting her slide down onto his hard shaft. The thickness of his cock made Kaia’s eyes widen but she soon felt him sliding into her wet depths, the muscles all but sighing as they enclosed his stiff flesh. She breathed out slowly as she felt him invading her body, and moaned slightly as the thick length filled her. She felt whole for the first time in her life.
Wrapping her arms around his neck Kaia pulled her torso close to Zed and began to move in a slow pace, letting her body adjust to him, and letting him adjust to her. They moved together then, his hands moving up to cup her breasts as she moved to press her lips into the crevice where his neck met his collarbones. Kaia felt the sensation of him sliding in and out of her as pleasure, as a building pressure that sent sparks throughout her body.
More than that, Kaia felt an emotion growing inside of her, a feeling of love and devotion, total adoration filling her as the pleasure grew. Between the physical and emotional sensations Kaia lost her train of thought and began to pant erratically. First fast, then slow, following the pace Zed was now setting as he moved below her, pushing back onto his hands for leverage.
His own breathing became erratic as the sensations Kaia felt grew. He felt it too. Kaia opened her eyes, wanting to look at him as her body began to signal she was close. Their eyes locked together as the first piercing cry of orgasm left her mouth and blinding light filled their eyes, taking away everything but the sensation of total pleasure and being joined as one. They were one person in that moment, on organism floating in a world of pleasure.
Kaia’s body shook as Zed’s clasped at her, his movements never stopping as she began to feel again, the pulsing sensation of his orgasm making her clench at him once more. They were joined now. They were one. Only death could tear them apart now. She looked into his eyes as his breath calmed and smiled.
“Hello mate.” Only she didn’t mean friend, or spouse, she meant partner, the other half of her, her life-mate.
“Hiya back my own lovely mate. How are you?” He kissed her cheek as he fell back against the rocks, his eyes closing in satisfaction.
Kaia moved back into the water, pleased herself with what had just happened.
“I have never been better, Zed. It seems we’re joined now. You alright with that?” She sounded concerned, though she knew it was what he wanted.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more, Kaia. Not a thing.” He put his arms behind his head and smiled.
Kaia thought there were a few things he could ask for but didn’t want to spoil the moment. She’d tell him later. She had to.
“Kaia?” Zed’s words came from her bed a few hours later. They’d come back to the resort, had some lunch, then went to her room. The waterfall had been a beautiful experience but now they wanted comfort over passion. Well, no, passion was good but comfort and passion was even better.
Kaia smiled as she thought about it and turned to Zed.
“Yes darling?” She asked, her hand running down his bare stomach beneath the duvet, down to the very root of his desire.
Kaia heard his breath whistling through his teeth as he sucked in air and thrust up into her hand.
“Stop that. I want to talk.”
“Oh, a man that wants to talk instead of making love. I’ve heard it all now.” Kaia laughed as she removed her hand. She felt nervous about what he wanted to talk about but tried not to let it show as she rested her head against his chest. She let the soothing sound of his heartbeat ease her tension and let her hand fall to his flat stomach instead. She liked rubbing his stomach, it made him purr.
“What are you? I know you’re a shifter but what kind?” His words sounded as though they came from far away.
Kaia didn’t move her head but her eyes opened to stare out of the glass doors of the balcony. Sighing deeply she began to speak.
“I don’t know what I am, I’ve never shifted and my parents, well, they’re even more unique because they produced me but as far as I know they’ve never shifted either.” It was only a half-lie but it still hurt Kaia to speak it. Her parents hadn’t shifted since they came to Earth was the truth of it, there had been no need to.
“But what about your eyes, why aren’t they brown? And why don’t you have a tattoo? I though they just appeared when we turned 18? Where’s yours?” His questions were coming quickly together, questions Kaia didn’t want to answer at the moment but the only offer of a way out of answering wasn’t exactly the offer she wanted.
A loud, doom-filled tone was coming from her bedside drawer and Zed looked over at the drawer before pulling out the device. Kaia flew across him to pull it out of his hand.
“No, no, no, no, no, not now, please not now!” Kaia cried out before she disappeared, leaving Zed and their bed behind.
She’d been summoned by the ministers and it wasn’t a good thing.
“Kaia Philips, stand at attention please!”
Kaia heard the deep androgynous voice as the world shifted and then firm ground appeared beneath her feet. Her head was spinning from the speed of it all and she looked gratefully at the droid that brought her a robe. There was always a robe when a Talerian had been summoned and transported with little notice. People were caught at the most inopportune times, as it happened.
Kaia slipped into the robe and faced the twelve ministers before her. They sat on a rounded raised dais, three in each row. The highest most powerful ministers were at the top, with the lower, more junior ministers at the bottom. Kaia looked up at them without fear. She hadn’t told him anything yet, she’d revealed nothing. Nothing important anyway.
“Kaia Philips, daughter of Aurulla and Keskoi Prindup, known as Ella and Koi Philips, you are brought before this court to answer for your crimes. You are accused of revealing top secret information to una
uthorized personnel, obtaining confidential information, through subterfuge, and subversion. How do you plead?” The top minister, in the middle of the top row, was neither male nor female, but something in between. Their imperious tone and smarmy attitude set Kaia’s nerves on edge.
Knowing she was in deep trouble Kaia looked for a representative. Not really lawyers, representatives were meant to help guide the accused through the legal process, not take on tasks for the accused.
“Where is my representative?” She demanded to know, not seeing one.
“There is none. You broke into highly confidential records and used them for your own gain. This information cannot be revealed to the public it is so confidential. You will have no representation. Now how do you plead?” The second minister, definitely a female, wheezed through her long thing nose. A pale, thin woman the minister offered no comfort to Kaia.
Kaia stuttered, unsure of how to proceed. She’d done something wrong but she had done it for her mate. In other situations that excluded a person from prosecution. Why was it not being excluded for her?
“I am mated to Zed but I have revealed nothing. Any accusations should be excluded because of our mating.”
“The crimes occurred before you were properly mated. How do you plead?” The third minister, an overweight male that was sweating profusely under the glaring overhead lights asked as he mopped at his face with a towel. He sounded bored.
“I don’t plead anything. Not until I’m represented properly and have some kind of assistance. I’ve done nothing wrong and I refuse to enter my plea until I’m represented. It is my right as a Talerian!” Kaia spoke the words loudly and with force, her voice carrying all the way to the top rafters of the twenty foot high ceiling. The top ministers were easily at a height of sixteen feet.
The room was dark except for spotlights that shone on the ministers individually and one on Kaia. She stood rooted to the floor, terrified but brave before the ministers that could take her freedom or her life.
“Bring forth Zed Bruin, it is so ordered.” The highest minister called out. Kaia gasped in protest but before she could even blink Zed stood before her. The time to explain was over. He’d see it all for himself now.
Chapter Four
“Zed Bruin, you are brought before the Council of Ministers as a witness. What has Kaia Philips told you of your origins?” The highest minister asked in their deep but gender-neutral voice.
“What? Where the hell am I? What’s going on here? Kaia? Are you alright? Is this a dream?” Zed was understandably stunned and outraged at the same time.
Kaia looked over at him sympathetically but knew better than to speak to him. The minister with the nasally but feminine voice made sure he understood that.
“You are not to speak to the accused Mr. Bruin. Answer the question.” Her voice was irritating and demanding.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about or who you people are. Now, before I become rude, where am I?” Zed must have dressed soon after Kaia disappeared because he at least had his jeans on.
“Has the accused told you of your parentage, your true origins, or about her own?” The thin man at the end of the top row asked. Those at the lower levels began to grumble and Kaia watched them, hope springing in her chest.
“No, we were just getting around to discussing it when she disappeared. Now please, where the fuck am I?” Zed’s voice demanded an answer and the ministers sat back, aghast at his tone. They were never spoken to in this manner.
“You are a Talerian but you were not raised here or taught our ways. Your rudeness will be forgiven but watch your tone, Zed Bruin, or you will pay the price.” The female minister at the top answered.
“I don’t care who you are, I’m not from here! I demand you send me home and Kaia with me!” Zed’s words were angry but brave, and Kaia feared for his safety if he kept it up. The ministers had total authority over all Talerians.
“Shh.” Kaia tried to whisper to him, wincing as the ministers turned back to her.
“Silence Kaia Philips!” They all spoke at once.
“Yes ministers.” Kaia spoke deferentially, her bravery and obstinacy gone now that Zed was here. He was in danger, she must keep him safe, even if it meant she lost her own freedom.
“You are both impeding justice. I suggest you start giving us some answers.” The middle minister spoke again, their voice grating now and insidious. The tone was almost sibilant as they continued to speak. “Zed Bruins, you swear before us all that Kaia Philips has revealed nothing to you about your origins? She has not told you that you were born here, that you were sent off to Earth by mistake, or what your mission on Earth is?”
“What? No, I have no idea what you’re talking about! I demand you release us at once. Wait, did you say I was born here?” Zed looked amazed for a moment then confused.
Kaia had to imagine he was wondering where here was exactly.
“Silence! Kaia Philips, you have revealed nothing to this man it would seem. You are not guilty of that crime at least. But you did break into the Hall of Records did you not?” The female minister now spoke.
“I did but that was for my mate, as I’ve already pointed out.”
“Correct, though the mating had not taken place.” A voice from the lower ranks spoke up. It was quite similar to Zed’s voice and Kaia looked to the minister. An older but eerily similar version of Zed emerged from the darkness to stand beside Zed!
“Your highness!” The other ministers shouted as the man appeared from the dark.
“Be seated ministers. Zed, I am your uncle, Alerius Breon. I am the kind of Talerion and you are my heir. I have not married so that puts you next in line. Your parents were killed when you were a month old and somehow you were lost to us. I expect these bumbling idiots had something to do with that.” The king could speak as he chose, the ministers had a lot of power on Talerion but the king was the ruler and could overrule anything they decreed, if he should choose to.
“Your highness, I assure you…” The androgynous minister began but the king cut him off.
“Silence! We will discuss this later. Now, Zed, Kaia, if you will join me please we will find you some clothes and get this matter settled.”
Alerius led the couple out of the chamber and into a waiting car, though it was unlike any car on Earth. The contraption had no wheels and sped along the streets without actually touching the ground. Zed was amazed at what he saw but held onto Kaia’s hand as if he’d never let go of it again.
“Zed, this is your homeland, as it is Kaia’s. She is a first generation Talerian/Earthling hybrid, mix, whatever you’d like to call it. Her parents were born on Talerion but she was born on Earth. You were born here. From what I understand from observation reports you can only shift into a bear?” The man asked. He was well-dressed and well-groomed but his face was lined and his hair grey with age.
“I’ve never really tried to shift into anything else. I’ve always shifted into a bear form. My tattoo is of a bear.” Zed reached around to his back as he turned in his seat.
“Ah, I see. You are marked then. We’ll have to study this, if you don’t mind. We thought only the descendants of very old clans from Earth experienced this but you aren’t one of those. Perhaps it’s environmental. Intriguing.” The man’s words trailed off as they pulled into a long driveway that led down to a squat building with four skyscraping towers at each corner. This was the palace of white stone. The Talerion sun, more red than the Earth's sun, gave the building a pink tinge as the sun began to set.
“I am so confused!” Zed declared.
“Kaia will soon explain. I will see you both in the dining room. One of the droids will bring you to it after you’ve dressed.”
Zed and Kaia were led to a room where the common dress of the Talerians, silk robes with silk pants, were waiting for them. The silk was of the highest quality and the clothing resembled items seen in China even still today, but without the designs that could be found on Chinese cloth
ing. This clothing was decorated in an almost Celtic pattern. Kaia’s black and dark blue while Zed’s was black and dark brown. Soft cotton slippers were available for their feet and they put these on as well.
As they reunited, an awkward moment occurred when Kaia pulled away.
“I should have told you about this.” She stammered out.
“No, from the sounds of it, it was best you didn’t. And at least I know who I am now, why there was never a search for me, and all of that. My parents died.” He’d ask more questions about that part later, now he was just too stunned.
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Kaia answered sitting down on the bed as they waited for the droid to arrive.
Soon enough the droid knocked at the door and they went in to dinner with Zed’s uncle, the king. Kaia supposed that meant he was a prince. Her mate was a real Prince Charming! The thought made her giggle as she looked over at him.
“Ah, here we are. Do sit down. Now, Zed, before we get to the business of eating I have a question or two. You are both released and the slate has been cleaned, as the Earth saying goes.” That wasn’t quite it, Kaia thought, but close enough. “Now you have a choice. You can stay here or go back to Earth. But know that if I produce no heir and you are needed, you will be called back to Talerion.”
“To be king?” Zed gulped.
“Yes, you will be king; Kaia will be your queen. You are mated now, after all.”
Kaia’s eyes widened as she realized she was now a princess, a real princess! She wanted to shake with laughter! Being a princess was never something she’d considered but now that she was one, well, she wanted to squeal in joy!
“Unless you don’t wish to be mated? We can undo that here, if you so desire.” The king looked at Zed with a blank stare, not wishing to influence his decision.
“Of course not! I am happy with Kaia. Happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I’d never wish to be parted from her!” Zed protested immediately and the tense feeling around Kaia’s heart eased.
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