by Ciara Lake
Saleeya rubbed her aching wrist. She could already see the makings of a rather ugly bruise and cursed Vitalion again. The Minister’s grip had been cruel and hurtful. Saleeya could feel unshed tears in her eyes.
Mia touched her lightly on the arm to pause before entering the dining area. “Saleeya, are you going to be okay? Should we have a med look at your wrist?” Mia put her arm around Saleeya’s shoulders.
“No.” Saleeya shook her head. “It hurts dreadfully, but I can wait. I’ll go see to it after we eat and conclude for the evening. There’ll be a break for the day. Social events will occupy everyone’s attention. Then I’ll see to it.”
“Saleeya, we should report this to someone. Vitalion really hurt you. I don’t care who he is, he has no right to physically hurt you or say such nasty, suggestive things to you. How was he ever elected?” Mia angrily commented.
“Let’s go into the dining area and sit far away from Kael or any other Xihirians in case they notice something. I don’t want to start an incident,” Saleeya whispered.
As they entered the dining area, Mia pointed to a small, empty table in the corner of the dining area’s balcony. It was empty and set for diners. “Let’s go to that out-of-the-way table. We don’t need to be in the mix now,” Mia said close to Saleeya’s ear.
Only moments after Saleeya and Mia had taken their seats, a cheerful, high-pitched voice caught them off guard. It was the young, sweet-faced Kalinda.
“Hello.” Kalinda glided, almost bounced, over to where they were sitting. “Father permitted me to join both of you for the meal. I’m so excited to be here with you. He said I needed to stay with you once I found you both. I’m so happy to attend and be included.” Kalinda was abounding with happiness. Her eyes were very bright and Wolfton-like. She was a beautiful child.
Mia smiled back. “Sit down, Kalinda. We’re so happy for you to join us.”
“Do you see Kael, Thyson, or Father?” Kalinda looked around the crowded room. Excitement rolled off her.
“We’ve not met Thyson officially, but I think all three of them are standing near the serving preparation table. Will the waiters bring our meals to us?” Saleeya asked.
“No, Father told me it was a buffet and to wait until you direct me to go get our food.” Kalinda clapped her hands together. “Father said I’m grown up now that I have little siblings.” Saleeya rubbed her wrist under the table and smiled back at the cheerful child.
After most of the crowd had been up to the buffet tables, Mia asked, “Saleeya, do you want to wait here for me to get your food?”
“No, that would seem odd. I think.”
“What’s wrong with Saleeya?” Kalinda’s eyes widened with wonder.
“Nothing, sweetheart, let’s go get our food.” Mia led the way. Saleeya quickly changed the tone of their conversation.
Mia led Saleeya and Kalinda up to the tables to fill their plates. If not for the competing pain in her wrist, she would not have been able to wait to eat. However, the pain had somewhat negated her hunger. Mia helped Kalinda with her plate. Saleeya was too pained to help Kalinda and could barely fill and carry her own plate. To her surprise, her wrist was swelling and growing tenderer. Saleeya looked back behind her to make sure Mia and Kalinda were ready to make it back to their table. She turned to lead the way back to their table and bumped her wrist into a wall of familiar muscle. Saleeya cried out, her plate of food falling all over the floor and a pair of shiny black boots.
“Oh my Deity, I’m sorry Admoncor Kael.” Saleeya gritted her teeth in pain. Servants ran to Kael to clean up the mess and assist both Saleeya and Kael. The expression on Kael’s face chilled her. Saleeya assumed he was angry with her. “How clumsy of me. I’ll uh, I’ll clean it up. Deity, I’m such a clumsy oaf. Please forgive me, my lord,” she prattled. The look of fury in his eyes was enough to chill her to the bone.
“What’s wrong with your arm? Bumping into me hasn’t caused this.” He pointed to her swollen wrist. “What has happened to you, Saleeya?” Kael demanded in his deep rough voice. When she looked up into his face, his eyes were shimmering. The room quieted, and Saleeya stared back into the fierce eyes of her mate. The entire group watched their dialogue.
“I slammed it in the cleaning chamber’s door,” she offered in weak explanation. Kael ignored her response, looking over her head to Mia.
“Did you see how Saleeya injured her arm, Mia? Or you, Kalinda? She seems rather confused as to what actually happened.”
Fear raced through Saleeya’s heart, and she looked imploringly at Mia, who gestured with a barely perceptible nod. She couldn’t tell him, not right now. If only she could wait... Mia remained silent and shook her head. Kalinda looked confused.
Kael eyed the trio of women. “Come with me.”
Servants removed the dining plates from Mia and Kalinda’s hands. Kael turned to leave, motioning them to follow him. Kael’s gaze met his father’s as he led the women from the Great Hall.
All three females followed Kael in an uncomfortable silence. Kalinda’s giddiness had entirely evaporated. Saleeya realized that Kalinda’s drastic mood change wasn’t a good sign. The walk to the Med Clinic was a distance away in the direction of the family wing. Kael led them at his usual brisk walk. They entered a brightly lit room that served as a Med Clinic. State-of-the-art equipment outfitted the room. Kael pushed the vid-com’s button to request that a medtor come immediately to the clinic. After calling for assistance, his brightened gaze turned to bore into Saleeya. “Mia, you and Kalinda wait for us in the adjoining room,” he ordered. Saleeya swallowed at the look in his eyes as her friends left her. “Mate, I know you wouldn’t lie to me. What happened and don’t for a moment think I’m going to let it drop.” Kael leaned back against the counter, his arms over his chest. He looked down at her and waited for Saleeya to respond. Unable to hold back, tears quietly rolled down her cheeks.
“Oh, Kael, right now my wrists hurts too much for you to be mad at me. Please let the medtor help me first. After, I’ll explain,” Saleeya pleaded with Kael. “I don’t want to disrupt…”
The arrival of the medtor proved a welcome distraction. Saleeya sighed, the pain growing worse with each passing beat of her heart.
“Hello, I’m Medtor Zodric Fanstal. I serve the royal family.” Noticing Saleeya carefully held her arm, the medtor asked, “Let me take a look at your arm, Princess Saleeya.” Saleeya gave him her arm. More tears rolled down her checks. Her face felt flushed.
“Poor child, I think it appears to be fractured.” The medtor ran cool fingers over her flesh. A telling glance at Kael, who straightened, turned Saleeya’s stomach. “Why didn’t you come to me right away? The swelling indicates significant injury, and the extensive bruising reveals some passage of time. It’s unfortunate you’re not yet a fully transformed Xihirian. You would heal rapidly with a partial shift. Nevertheless, don’t worry. We’ll fix it all up after we scan it to look inside to see the extent of the injury. Come over here. Place your hand and arm on this table under the scan.” A computer screen came up as he scanned her arm and hand. “It appears you have a spiral fracture, caused by a severe twisting motion. You haven’t been around any heavy equipment of late have you?” Saleeya just looked at the medtor.
Mia reentered the room and spoke up, relief thick within her voice. “I couldn’t stay out, I’m worried for Saleeya. The Kriton Minister grabbed her wrist. He wouldn’t let her go. Saleeya twisted out of his hold and hurt her wrist. Vitalion was rude to us both and suggested that Saleeya…”
“Medtor, please excuse us.” Kael waved the medtor from the room and turned to Mia. “Suggested what exactly?”
“Kael, please, it’s not…”
“What did he suggest, Mia?”
Mia ducked her head. “That Saleeya use her tongue to stimulate him in a sexual way. He called her an animal whore. Saleeya yanked her arm away and slapped him. She refused to go to the Med Clinic until after our meal to not cause a disturbance.” Mia added to
soften her response, “We were afraid of creating problems. With the talks so delicate, we didn’t want to cause a scene or disrupt the talks. So, I agreed to be silent until a more appropriate time,” Mia reluctantly confessed. Saleeya could feel her face burning hotter and hotter with each word coming from Mia’s lips. All she could do was look up into Kael’s irritated face. Kalinda slinked back into the room too. She moved to the side of the room, watching with bright eyes. Obviously, she was careful to be out of the way of the clinic door as if she thought Kael might run out the door to go rip Vitalion to bloody shreds. Instead, the door flung open, hitting the stone wall, bouncing back. Kliven entered the Med Clinic, as feral-looking as his son. Kliven stood next to his son, taking in the three women. He had obviously heard Mia’s impassioned explanation. Saleeya made a mental note to be mad at Mia for hours.
“Saleeya, is this true?” Kael’s face showed his anger, yet his tone was tender. Saleeya nodded her head. “Please answer me with your voice so there is no misunderstanding. I don’t want to kill the man by mistake.” Kael placed his hands on his hips.
“Yes, Kael, that’s exactly what happened. It’s humiliating enough as it is. I didn’t want to tell you in front of the others so I made up another explanation. Please don’t be angry with me. I was going to tell you after the dinner. I just didn’t…” Kael and his father regarded her silently. They stepped away as Medtor Fanstal came back into the room. He gave Saleeya a shot in her arm and wrapped her wrist.
“Medtor, what do you think? Is she able to continue with today’s proceedings?” Kliven demanded.
“The Princess needs rest. Princess Saleeya, I’ll need to give you another shot in six hours. It’ll keep the swelling down and give you pain relief. It may make you sleepy. We’ll wake you to give you another shot. You should go get some rest now. Someone will bring your meal to you. You’re on medical leave until I say differently.”
Saleeya nodded her head in agreement.
“Good, don’t disregard my instructions.”
“I won’t, Medtor. Thank you for your assistance.” The medtor left the room, leaving Saleeya to face two imposing Wolfton Alpha Prime males, both towering over her, looking intimidating.
“Saleeya, Kalinda will escort you and Mia to the family wing. Kalinda, Saleeya’s things have been placed in Kael’s suite. Show Saleeya the way to Kael’s room and see to her. I’ll instruct the staff to send all three of you your meals. Stay with Saleeya in Kael’s suite, eat with, and watch over her. If you need anything contact one of us immediately. Don’t tell your mother of this incident. She shouldn’t be upset. This would distress her.” Kliven turned and left.
Kael looked down at Saleeya. “Mate, I’ll pray to Xian that you quickly heal. I’m not angry with you. I hurt with you. I’ll see to this matter. Mia, you’re under our protection. Go with Saleeya and don’t worry.” Kael turned to leave. Saleeya touched his arm to gain his attention.
“Kael,” Saleeya whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Kael turned and hugged her to him and kissed the top of her head. “You’ve no need to apologize to me. You’ve done nothing wrong—other than putting the talks before yourself. I’ll have to work on that flaw.”
“I only wanted to touch and hold you for a moment.” Saleeya’s voice was emotional. Kael kissed the tears that ran down her face.
“Your tears are so salty.” The expression on his face showed that his emotions burned hotter as he held her.
Chapter Eight
“I’m going to rip Vitalion apart and throw his remains to the carrion eaters,” Kael said to himself. Rage pulsed through his blood. Kael stormed through the corridors, ignoring those scurrying from his path. How dare that sniveling bastard touch her! Treating her like some common whore. She’s the mate of royalty, and I’ll show the worthless human just what that means. His anger flamed with each passing second.
“Kael, wait, I’ve already had Vitalion discreetly arrested.” His father stopped him at the dining room doors. “I instructed Thyson to contact the Kriton government to explain that charges are being brought against Vitalion.”
Kael growled, every part of him screaming to just rip and shred.
“Son, trust me, our security recordings are being reviewed from all common areas to collect further evidence. Kriton will, undoubtedly, send one of their best legal representatives.” Anger simmered within his father’s eyes as he offered his explanation. “It’s best to let me handle this, now, son. We don’t need him crying foul at this point.”
Kael sighed. It was entirely likely his father realized just how tenuous his control was. Growling in frustration, he raked a hand down his face. “She deserves better than some…”
“Kael, this way is better for all. For Saleeya it will be justice to have this heard appropriately by the Council. Let’s try to not show our less-than-human side,” Kliven implored.
“I’m sick of being properly human for these weaklings. Father, if this was about Mother, you wouldn’t be worried about exposing our less-than-human side.” Kael bristled. He flexed his hands in an attempt to control his temper.
“Kael, I’d want you to advise me the same way. We have the civilized universe watching us. Most of the Council here are Earthen humanoids, those that aren’t known and understand the need for delicacy. We don’t want them to think we’re irrational animals, as so many want to claim. Don’t give them reason to support Tomron’s beliefs. Kael, I understand how you feel. Like you, I want Vitalion to suffer the consequences of his actions. More than anything, I, too, desire retribution for Saleeya’s injury. Vitalion knew she was under our protection. And we will protect her and see that justice is done.” Kliven shook his head, anger tightening his voice. “Saleeya waited to tell you because she didn’t want an incident in front of all those spectators and Council members. Let us honor her forethought,” Kliven pointed out.
“Your Royal Lordship and Admoncor Braeden.” A junior officer approached, a look of unease and uncertainty on his face.
“Officer Trivane, what is it?” Kael responded gruffly.
“Palace Security has located a vid of the incident between Princess Saleeya and Minister Troyic Vitalion. It’s available for you to view. Additionally, the Kriton Transport has left Spaceport with Jarvin Manntree aboard. It’s in orbit at the moment. The Kriton Congress is sending a legal representative right away.” Officer Trivane’s breathing was rapid.
“Send the security vid to my father’s office and we’ll view it now. Where are we holding Vitalion?”
“We’re holding Vitalion in the Palace’s holding cells to await your disposition. I’ll transfer the vid to your father’s office as soon as you arrive,” Trivane explained.
Following his father to his office, Kael couldn’t shake the knot of unease that tangled in his belly. “How the fuck did they get authorization to leave our Spaceport and break free from our clamping system? How did Manntree make it to the Space Terminal so quickly?” Kael headed toward his father’s office. As he walked, he questioned and issued orders. Trivane, a smaller Xihirian shifter, ran to keep up with Kael and Kliven. He rushed to respond to the Admoncor’s questions.
“They left without authorization, Admoncor, and damaged their ship and our docking system, my Lord.”
“The Kriton government will pay for the damage to our clamping system. Get Thyson for me. I want our surveillance security ships deployed to monitor what the Kriton ship is up to.” Kael’s growl nipped at the man’s heels as he darted off to do as he’d been ordered.
* * * *
With Mia and Kalinda acting as her protectors, Saleeya slipped into Kael’s suite. She missed Kael’s presence.
The two other women followed behind her and sat down at the dining table. Saleeya did not sit down. Her attention was diverted to the exquisite view from Kael’s bedroom balcony. Her hunger was momentarily abated. Despite the pain in her arm, the sun was setting and its beauty mesmerized her. Its orange color accented the deep blue Xihirian sky. The
jungle was much closer to the family wing of the Palace. Saleeya walked further out onto the balcony. The rain had paused, and she could hear the remaining rain drops drip from the lush vegetation. She inhaled the humid air. It comforted her. A soft, humid breeze gently swayed the trees and blew her hair. The jungle seemed as if it were experiencing calm before a great storm, and for the moment, it calmed her as well. Saleeya leaned against the stone wall and looked over. She was amazed at how fast her life had changed. She was now a Princess of a fantastic world, mated to an incredible male. Emotions assailed her.
Hot tears threatened to flow down her face as she thought of what had just transpired. She struggled to hold them at bay. She deeply regretted the incident with Vitalion. She regretted having to lie to cover her romantic entanglement with Kael. Mostly she regretted being untruthful to Kael, even if it had been for only a moment and for good cause. Her emotions were all over the place. Her heart beat hard in her chest in rhythm with the painful throb in her wrist. The sweetly scented, humid breeze eased her. Lethargically, she sat on a bench, sighing contentedly.
“Saleeya, Kalista called me on my palm vid-com and told me that our meals are on their way. So, relax and we’ll eat soon. I know you must be hungry.” Kalinda appeared next to the bench, a sweet smile on her face.
“Thank you, Kalinda, for all of your help.” Saleeya returned her smile, albeit weak.
“My brother will take care of everything. He always does,” Kalinda reassured Saleeya.
Kalista briefly knocked on the door and ushered the servants in with trays of food. They sat the food out on Kael’s small dining area table. “Saleeya,” Kalista called out for her. “Come to eat. You must be starving, and you need to eat with the medicine you’re taking. The medadvisor contacted me with instructions regarding you.” She bustled about, fussing over Saleeya as easily as if she’d been there all her life. “Kael will be here when he can to check on you. I wish I could stay, but I need to stay with mother. I hope the babies come tonight. She needs relief. There looks to be a storm coming. Sometimes storms encourage babies to come.” Kalista paused, a frown tugging her brows together. “Mother doesn’t know that anything concerning has occurred. So, please wait to visit her when your arm isn’t wrapped. Even with the wrap hidden, she could sense your distress…”