by Maia Starr
"Thank you, Marissa," Jarith replied without taking his eyes off of me. It was very distracting. We all sat down at the table and I began to lead the meeting.
"We at Gladonetics are very excited for this new opportunity with the Drackon. Thank you for choosing us, and we are sure that these negotiations will be good for both the Drackon and Gladonetics. Now, should we get down to the specifics?" I said as we had not yet been told exactly what they hoped to accomplish with this first meeting, or what the negotiations would entail.
"Yes, in fact my father has insisted that he be included in this meeting," Jarith said.
Archer Payne and I looked at each other in confusion and I said, "Oh, is the king joining us? We were not aware that he was here."
Jarith stood up and said, "He is not." Then he moved his forearm across his chest and began to type on a gadget on his arm. Then a holographic projection appeared in the middle of the room; it was King Rykor.
Archer Payne and I stood up immediately and bowed to the king. He was a broad and robust alien male shifter, and at this time, he was fully shifted.
My eyes grew wide at his appearance. It was very intimidating. His long, dark-black hair was down past his shoulders and a large, silver crown sat on top of his head. His eyes were the same sea green with vertical pupils like his son, Jarith, and his square jaw was masculine and hard. He did not wear a shirt, and this is where the Drackon aspect could be seen. His chest was partially covered in silver, metallic scales that were shiny and polished. This was not an armor that the Drackon wore; it was part of their skin after they shifted into dragon form. The metallic scales were beautiful, like jewelry, but they were hard and impenetrable. Not even a bullet could penetrate it. But the real magic was behind the king…wings. The wings were a matte silver, not as shiny as the scales, but still beautiful. They stretched out half open behind the king and they framed him in a very regal manner. It was very intimidating but awe inspiring.
"King Rykor, it is an honor," Archer Payne said.
"Introduce yourselves," the king said in a very stern tone.
"I am Archer Payne. I am on the board of the Gladonetics Corporation."
"I am Marissa Volander; I am the CEO of the Gladonetics Corporation. We are honored to do business with the Drackon. Please tell us, King Rykor, exactly what you had in mind so that we can get down to the specifics," I said confidently.
"A human female that leads business agreements. I have never seen such a thing,” King Rykor said to the surprise of Archer Payne and I. Sensing that the king might be offended by dealing with a woman, Archer Payne jumped in and said, "We do things differently here on Earth, but you may directly work with me if it pleases the king."
"No, I want the human female. She seems to have a strong mind," the king replied.
"Yes, that is why we have her leading the business here," Archer Payne said, fumbling over his words, trying to please the king. I took this moment to glance at Jarith, who was smiling a devilish smirk as he stared at me.
"Yes, I am confident that I can handle the needs of this arrangement. Now, what exactly are we looking at in terms of the agreement, King Rykor?" I asked him.
"Yes, I can see that. As you know, my son, Prince Jarith, is currently on Earth to meet with your government administration. But since he is there, I have given him an assignment to meet with Gladonetics Corporation. I would like to broaden our trade of science with your company. But I do not believe this can be accomplished unless you send an ambassador to Mooreah to meet with me personally. You. I choose you," the king said.
We all grew silent. What exactly did the king mean? He looked at me directly. I looked at Archer Payne, who seemed to be shocked. Then I looked at the prince. He seemed to be very annoyed and was restraining himself. His lips were set in a hard line and I noticed that he had shifted from flirty to angry. What the hell was going on here?
"Excuse me, king, but I do not believe we are clear on your orders. You would like someone from our company to venture on a journey to Mooreah to meet with you?" I asked.
"Yes, and I have already chosen you, human female. You will accompany my son on his return journey. Only in person will I discuss the terms of the new agreement."
"Me? But..." I said.
"Miss Volander would be happy to make the journey to your planet, honored king," Archer Payne said, jumping in. I looked at him in shock.
"Excellent. My son will guide you through preparations. I look forward to meeting you, Miss Volander," The King said before he disappeared.
The room was silent for a few seconds. My heart was pounding. I could not do this! I could not go on a journey for weeks in space to a far-off planet. It was impossible. I would have to get out of this.
"You heard my father. We leave at 0600 hours, as you call it, in four days. Good day to you, humans," the prince said as he sternly walked out of the room and his warriors followed.
I waited until they had cleared the room before I turned to Archer Payne and said, "Are you insane?! Why did you agree to that? I cannot go on that journey? This is impossible. Why did you agree?"
"To buy us time. Let me speak with the board and see what they think of the matter. But Marissa, if this is the only way, then this is the only way. You will do it for the company. It is a big opportunity," Archer Payne said sternly, almost as a threat. Then he left the room.
I walked over to the bar and poured a stiff brandy and chugged it down. And then I poured another. This was absolutely insane. There was no way in hell that I was going to go to Mooreah on a spaceship with Prince Jarith. My place was here, running this company. Who knew what the hell would happen once I was out in space alone with these barbaric, alpha-male warriors. They did not respect women. I would despise every moment with him.
True, sitting with the king and negotiating terms was a business deal that was very appealing but it was the only part that was. The rest of it, the journey, being with the prince, and leaving my home planet of Earth was scary, and not in my plans.
I poured another brandy and chugged it down again. I sat in the boardroom drinking myself numb and feeling angry about the quick decision that I had no control over. I hoped that the board would vote down the king’s request and send him a communication for another means of doing this deal. The prince was already here on Earth; could he not act on the king’s behalf? He was already here at our corporation; why would the king want one of our people to go there?
It seemed very suspicious and strange to me the more that I thought about it. It made no sense whatsoever; unless the king wanted someone from Gladonetics to see firsthand the science and source of it that only existed on Mooreah. Maybe it was one of those seeing is believing factors that the prince would not be able to portray in words to us. I thought these thoughts over and over as I moved around the boardroom, getting drunk.
Then I left and went to the nearest hotel bar to drink some more. To think that in four days I could be on a spaceship. It was too unreal.
"Martini; make it a double," I said to the bartender.
"Rough day," a voice said. I turned to see an attractive man sitting near me. He would do. He had black hair, green eyes, and a muscular build hidden underneath a dark-black, expensive suit. I needed to relieve some tension and he was going to do that for me. I knew that his appearance reminded me of Jarith, and that was what I needed for this night.
“Yes, but I know a way that you can make it better. Much, much, better,” I said in a flirty tone as I moved over to him. His mouth opened at my eager aggressiveness. He pulled the chair out next to him and I took a seat.
“I’m David,” he said.
“I’m Marissa. Nice to meet you, David. You are a very attractive man; do you know that?”
Half an hour later, his cock was inside me. Pleasing me. Helping me to release some of that sexual tension as I closed my eyes and pretended that I was with the prince. This was my usual, one-night stand. I guess if I were a man I would be called a playboy. This is what I wanted
, and I always got what I wanted.
I moved in every position possible with this stranger, all the while imagining it was the prince. I had a strange feeling when I was with this man, as though I was being watched. But I lived several stories high in a tower, and all the windows in the building across the street had shades drawn. Still, it was a very strong feeling. And although I released in climax over and over, I was still unsatisfied. Damn.
Chapter 2
PRINCE JARITH RYKOR
I spread my wings wide and hovered over the Drackon females lying naked in my bed, waiting for my touch.
"Yes…prince, touch me."
"No, prince, touch me instead; I beg you."
The females fought for my attention as they arched their bodies up and down on my bed. This was the life of a prince of the Drackon warriors. This is how I chose to spend my days, much to the distain of my father, the king. He thought my indulgence in the luxuries that the life of a prince offered was going to make me a bad leader one day. I gave his warnings very little thought. What was the point of having all this power if I was not going to use it to satisfy my urges?
I was the prince, dammit. I felt I should enjoy the luxuries that the position offered me. Especially since once I became king, it would be all politics, business, and ruling with a firm hand, like my father. For now, I wanted to play and spend my days soaring the skies of our planet, Mooreah.
"I want your cock inside of me, prince. I beg you, please," the concubine known as Braxa moaned to me as she put her hand around my hard cock. I groaned in response. I was on my knees on top of the bed and I stretched up straight and clasped my hands behind my head and let her do her work. Her mouth moved around the tip of my cock and she went to work, sucking and licking. The other two females kissed and massaged my back or kissed me on the mouth.
Beep. Beep. My communication device went off.
"Fuck. What the hell is it now?" I said as I moved away from my delicious moment and grabbed my communication device.
"What?" I shouted into it.
"Apologies for disturbing you, prince. Your father is requesting your presence in the great hall."
"Shit. Tell the king I'm on my way."
I pulled on my derets, which humans called pants, but these were not the ordinary clothing of humans. The derets were made of a synthetic fiber only available here on the planet of Mooreah. It was sort of a thin armor that protected our lower limbs with strong material. I pulled on my calf-high boots and the females groaned in disappointment.
"No prince, do not leave us so unsatisfied. We had only just begun," Braxa said, pouting to me.
"Do not worry; I will return. In the meantime, perhaps the three of you can pleasure yourselves," I said smiling at them knowing they knew what I meant. Braxa grabbed one of the other females and placed a passionate kiss on her mouth.
"Damn, hard to move away from this. But the king calls," I said as I moved toward the open doors that led out to a large balcony overlooking the city of Cerista. I ran very fast towards the edge and then… whoosh... I took flight.
I enjoyed being a Drackon. I enjoyed being a weredragon. I flew as often as I could as my main mode of transportation. I was a very good flyer and was able to dive at top speeds. That was the mark of a great Drackon warrior. I could dive fast before the enemy even knew I was upon them.
I enjoyed combat. I was not cut out to rule the way my father wanted me to. I enjoyed being out in the field, fighting and flying. He wanted me to sit on the throne where nothing happened except for debating, creating agreements, and solving problems, all with the use of words.
It was not for me. But as the eldest son of King Rykor, it was my duty. I would inherit it, unlike my younger brother, Traydon. He would take the position of prince and be an advisor on the council. I envied him for that. It was a much less stressful position and with much more leisure time.
Whoosh! Whoosh! My wings slapped the air until I found an up current draft and soared on it, flying toward the great hall in the middle of the castle complex. I swooped down, landing on the veranda of the great hall, and entered.
"Son! Have you checked the orokye systems as I asked?" he sternly said as soon as I walked in. His voice boomed and echoed off the walls and Traydon stood next to him, the obedient ass-kisser.
"No, father; I will get to it tomorrow," I said as I walked toward him.
"That is what you said yesterday. And it is what I expected you to say today. That is why I am sending you out on an assignment," he said angrily as his fist pounded the arm of the throne.
"Yet again?" I said, annoyed by his ridiculous assignments. All of them were meant to teach me some sort of lesson, and all of them failed.
"Do not question me, son. You leave tomorrow for Earth," he shouted.
"Earth?! What the hell is this?!" I shouted back as I walked up the four steps to the throne platform and faced my father.
"Yes, Earth. It is time that you return to the human planet. You have only been there once in the many years we have been in peace negotiations with them. Now, our peace contract is coming to an end and you will meet with their government to sign a new contract extending the peace terms for another five years. You are expected and you will go in my place, for you will be king someday and it will be you that will be dealing with the humans. It is better that you establish a presence and authority with them now instead of after I'm gone. Is that clear, son?!" he shouted out the orders at me. He was pissed. I was annoyed and pissed as well. I looked at Traydon at his side, who was also angry. He wanted to be the one to go; it was obvious.
"Why not send Traydon? This is more his skill. I am a warrior. That is what I do. When I am king, I will handle the battle side of ruling and I will allow Traydon to handle the political aspects and agreements. We will rule together as brothers," I said matter-of-factly as I did not see the problem with using my brother’s skills, even if we didn't always get along.
"Yes, father. Allow it. I will go to Earth," Traydon said.
"You will do no such thing!" my father said as he stood up from the throne and got in my face. "Your brother’s place is as Prince and on the council. Two rulers do not oversee the Drackon with good reason. There shall be one, and only one, king, not two. Now you will go to Earth and you will stop defying my orders! Go get out of my sight!"
I growled in anger and turned from my father. My wings spread out and I took flight from the throne platform. I flew angrily around the inside of the great hall in defiance of my father. Then I flew out the doors and into the sky.
I needed to release this anger. I flew straight up high toward the blue sky of Mooreah. I let the pressure get very heavy as the atmosphere thinned. It was a risky move, but one that I often did, playing with death.
I had always played like this since I was young; I felt like it made me a harder warrior. It tested my strength and made it stronger. Once I thought I was going to pop, I changed my direction and went straight down. I flew faster and faster, diving straight down towards the ground. Then, when I was only ten feet from the ground, I swerved upwards and grazed the ground, flying horizontal to it. Then I flew off into the forest.
Here, I felt at peace. Here, no eyes watched me. I flew and played like a child. Tomorrow I would be in a spaceship confined for weeks and deprived of the beautiful environment of Mooreah. I was angry at that. I was angry with my father. I did not want to go to Earth; there was nothing for me there. I was not like the other warriors that wanted a human female as a mate. In truth, I had never been with one nor did I have any interest in that experience. There were many Drackon females on Mooreah, and as a prince I would be choosing one from the noble families. I understood the interest in the human females because of what happened to the offspring when the two species mixed, but that was not enough for me. It would never be enough.
Four weeks later, I was on Earth. I was in the monotony of political talks. It bored me, meeting with the human government that always seemed inferior and scared of us Dracko
n. I found it despicable and pathetic. I was having a very boring time on Earth with the negotiations, until I was called by my father for an unplanned meeting with a corporation called Gladonetics. He was just giving me more responsibility to see if I would go through and finish the responsibility. It was one of his many tests. I knew it would be boring, just like everything else on Earth. But then I ran into her. She intrigued me—for a human female.
I was walking around the Gladonetics Corporation as I had never been to the place that my father chose to have a research agreement with. I was to have a meeting with them later: another boring, human meeting. I liked to scout and know as much as I could about a place, or person, before meeting. It was the warrior senses in me that taught me scout. Humans, Drackons, or even corporations were always at their most honest when they thought no one was looking. This is how I found weaknesses in rivaling warriors, and anything else.