by Beva John
“Good heavens,” Lottie said. “I suppose we should be thankful that he supports you.”
“Indeed.”
“Do you think the Royal Army will blow up the palace?”
“No, if they want me dead, they will want a body. Otherwise, there would be rumors that I was still alive, giving hope to a resistance and a possible civil war.”
I speak to the Palace Army, encouraging everyone to be ready to defend the palace, but warning them not to attack unless I give the order.
And we wait.
Within hours the palace is surrounded on ground and in the air by the Royal Army. I tell Lottie, “I am sorry I brought you into this.”
“I’m not sorry. If you had not chosen me as a surrogate, I would still be in a pod. And without you, I would never have fallen in love. No, I will not accept your apology. I think it is better to live life fully even if it ends too soon.”
I look into her eyes. She is brave and wonderful. “I love you. Come what may.”
She smiles. “I love you, too.”
At the end of the day, Korak contacts me. He wishes to speak with me.
I have little choice. As First Commander, Korak has too much power. He could destroy the entire palace with the press of a button. He and I both know there is no point in having a siege. “Yes, I will speak with you.”
The leader of the Palace Army wants me to wear armor, but I tell him that I will not. “Armor will not save me, and if I am going to die, I want Korak to feel guilty for killing an unarmed man.”
Korak marches into the palace, dressed in full armor and accompanied by twenty guards, all of them carrying massive weapons. Korak removes his helmet so he can face me. “Your Majesty,” he says and bows.
I smile. “I thought there was some question about that.”
To my astonishment, Korak kneels on the floor and looks up at me. “No, sir,” he says fiercely. “You are the rightful king of Allathone. I commit myself and the entire Armed Forces under my command to you and your reign. The Assembly will be disbanded until there are true elections to replace the traitors.”
“Why did you choose to support me rather than my cousin Chell?”
Korak says, “You are King by right. According to our laws, someone who is half Human can inherit the throne. This is the law and the Armed Forces will make sure that the assembly follows the laws that have been set.
I am grateful and overcome with emotion. “Thank you.”
Korak says, “You don’t need to thank me. I am only doing my duty as I know you will do yours.”
I wish every citizen of Allathone felt the same as this fine traveler. I hold out my right hand in the human gesture I learned from Lottie and say, “So you don’t mind that I am half Human?”
Korak takes my hand in his and gives it a hearty shake. “Why would I mind? I’m half human myself.”
EPILOGUE
LOTTIE
Today is my wedding with Magnar. The entire planet is watching a live viewing. My beautiful daughter Betsy is held by Princess Emjer who has greatly reduced her consumption of Trig since the Queen’s funeral.
Some of my closest friends have come as well – Dorothy who has recently found herself a husband, and Sylvia who had her baby a few months before. Syvlia’s baby is darling with its little yellow scales and tiny tail.
Korak, the First Commander is attending, but he came as a friend and not as security, although we will be glad to have him if there is any crisis.
We were surprised to learn that Korak was half Human, but as it turns out, many of the military is half Human as well, which helps Magnar’s cause.
The past few months were rocky after the martial law, but everything seems to be settled now. The Assembly is back in session, and I believe Allathone is gradually accepting their half Human King.
One thing I’m particularly proud of is that on the day of our daughter’s birth, the Assembly passed a new law prohibiting the surgeries that modify Brune women when they are children. If, when they are adults, they wish to do this, that is their right. But it is now illegal for this to be done to children.
Brune weddings are complicated ceremonies with lots of singing and speeches from the priestesses. As I sit in my red dress, keeping my hands folded, I get a little fidgety.
Magnar notices my restlessness and sends me a quick thought. Are you all right?
In the past few months, our ability to communicate through our mind bond has improved radically. I think: I’m fine. Just waiting for the priestess to say ‘you may kiss the groom.’
I sense his amusement and he sends me a mental image of him kissing me, but instead of a stately proper kiss, it is a push-me-up-against-the-wall-and-kiss-the-living-daylights-out-of-me-kiss.
I can just imagine what the news media would think of that. So, I respond with a schoolmarm tone and this thought: Behave, Your Majesty.
More amusement. Never, Your Majesty.
The End
AUTHOR’S NOTE
DEAR READERS:
Who doesn’t love blue-skinned aliens? I know I do.
And for those who are thinking the lion-like Katolls sound fun, there’s a quick blurb of the next book in the series:
Atok is looking for mindless escape... not the love of his life
ATOK
Having been forced to retire from my job as a high-level assassin, I am planning to squander my hard-earned fortune on a pleasure planet.
But then I see her – a beautiful human with the voice of an angel – and suddenly, I have something worth living for.
MARTHA
I was abducted from Earth in 1934 and now I am singing in a disreputable casino with a boss who thinks I’m his private property. An enormous Katoll shows up at my dressing room with flowers, of all things. He may be the answer to my prayers – my escape route.
But what’s this about fated mates?
Tender Cargo is a steamy alien abduction romance with a sweet heroine, a wounded alpha hero, and a heartfelt love story.
If you’re looking for my other stories, you can find them here.
Thanks for reading – and if you could leave a review, that would be greatly appreciated.
<3
Beva
Forgotten Cargo Series
Precious Cargo
Clever Cargo
Tender Cargo
Fierce Cargo