Chapter Thirteen
Starling and Webber attended dinner in the main dining hall that night. Bekion hadn’t said one word to her since he witnessed the kiss earlier that day. She tried again to explain but he ignored her. She finally gave up right before they left for dinner. Her appetite had vanished though. She pushed her food around her plate with disinterest.
Tinette made a rare appearance that had the entire room buzzing as people speculated on her reasons for attending. She ate her food with flourish, ignoring all the talk flowing around her.
She leaned over to say to Bekion, “Lady Aurelan is in attendance tonight, Bekion. She is a lovely woman from a splendid background. She will make you a wonderful queen.”
Bekion said in an absent voice, “I’m sure you’re right, Mother.”
“Of course I am.” Tinette stood. The entire room fell into silence. She called out, “Lady Aurelan, please join us.”
Bekion startled and looked at his mother in surprise. Starling guessed he hadn’t heard what the woman said and now realized the mistake of being lost in his own thoughts. He and Starling watched Lady Aurelan rise from her seat and start toward the royal table.
Aurelan’s hips swayed as she walked. Her dress hugged every curve of her body. The plunging neckline revealed the ample swell of her full breasts to anyone who cared to look. A knowing smile graced her red-tinted lips and her blue eyes shined with merriment. She flicked her thick brown mane over her shoulder with practiced ease.
Webber leaned over and said to Starling, **A bitch in heat if ever I saw one.**
Starling threw back her head and laughed.
Webber winked at her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bekion glare in their direction. She met his gaze and dared him with hers to say something.
He turned his attention back to Aurelan.
Tinette said once the woman reached the table, “Bekion, this is Lady Aurelan. She has been at court for two days now.”
Bekion rose and greeted Aurelan with a nod.
She curtsied to him.
He said, “Would you care to join us, Lady Aurelan?”
“I would be honored to sit at the royal table, Your Majesty,” she answered in a purr, smiling at Bekion. Her eyes never left his as she eased onto her seat. She even made sure to bend forward enough to tempt Bekion to look at her breasts.
He obliged her.
Starling grumbled, “Men.” She returned her attention to her food.
Aurelan said, “Your humans are lovely, King Bekion.”
Bekion said, “Yes, they are pure humans.”
“I heard. I’ve never seen a pure human before. May I take a closer look?”
Tinette said, “Please do.” She smiled at Bekion’s disapproving expression. “I hope the female is pregnant. I want little ones.”
Starling and Webber looked at each other. Webber leaned over to Starling. **You think we should tell her?**
**Nah,** Starling said, shaking her head. **Let her hope.**
Aurelan rose and went to stand near Starling. She stooped down so she could look from Starling to Webber. “They almost resemble children. No wonder our ancestors took humans as pets. The ones you see now are so…different from these two.”
“Inbred is the word you’re looking for,” Webber said. He smirked at Aurelan when she gasped and stumbled back. “What’s the matter, never heard a human speak before?”
“Not…” She stopped, glanced at Bekion then looked back at Webber and continued. “Not nearly as well as you. Your speech is flawless and understandable.”
“I owe it all to clean living and a mother who hated mumblers.” Webber’s amusement faded and he frowned. “Come to think of it, I’m going to miss my mother’s birthday this year…and every year hereafter.” He seemed to wilt a little after saying that.
Starling reached out and took his hand in hers. She whispered her apology to him. He nodded but said nothing. She knew how he felt all too well. She doubted Webber had time to reflect on what this new life meant for him until just now. Or maybe he had held out hope of going home.
Aurelan chose that moment to pet Starling’s head.
“Don’t touch me,” Starling snapped, shoving Aurelan’s hand away.
At the same time, Bekion ordered, “Do not touch her.”
Tinette said in a soothing voice, “There is no need to be so defensive, Bekion. I’m sure Lady Aurelan wouldn’t harm Starling.”
Bekion said, “She doesn’t like people petting her, Mother. Starling isn’t used to it.”
“Oh? You said you pet her all the time. Surely she is used to it if that is the case.” Tinette’s voice carried a hint of reprimand.
“She tolerates my touch on the odd occasion. No other pets her.” He turned his attention to Aurelan. “You may look at them. Keep your hands to yourself, Lady Aurelan.”
Aurelan said, “Of course, Your Majesty. I meant no insult.” She glanced at Starling one last time then stood up straight and returned to her seat. In a hesitant voice, she said, “I had heard Your Majesty was very protective of his new pet.”
“That is because of my brother more than anything else.”
“Ah. Yes, I’ve heard of the prince’s pets and the unfortunate fates that befell them.” Aurelan glanced over at Starling. “It wouldn’t do for such a pretty pet to get hurt.”
Starling heard a threat in Aurelan’s words. She also didn’t like the way the woman looked at her. If dinner hadn’t just started, Starling would take Webber back to Bekion’s room. Since it had, she had to at least wait for the first course to be finished before she could excuse herself.
Webber said, **Something about that woman rubs me the wrong way.**
Starling nodded. **I’m glad it’s not just me then.**
He snorted. **You have a bias since she’s trying to get your man.**
**He’s not my man. I told you that already.**
**Whatever.** He sighed. **How long do we have to do this? I lost my appetite.**
**I never had one.** Starling stood with her hand out to him. She said in jehlvan, “Let’s go back to the room. No one wants us here.”
Bekion looked as if he might say something.
She waited, giving him a chance to object.
He nodded to Nausic instead. “See to them.”
Nausic bowed and followed Starling and Webber. Webber dropped to his knees a second after the dining hall doors closed after them. He put his head in his hands with a loud groan.
Starling waved off Nausic and went to Webber. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “You never thought about it before, did you? Your mother, I mean.”
“I always held out hope.” His shoulders shook but no tears left his eyes. “I wasn’t wanted. I figured they would throw me back. That’s never going to happen now.”
“I’m sorry.”
He looked up at her with bleak eyes.
She laid the side of her head against his cheek. “We do have each other. Back on Earth we may have never met and if we had we may not have been friends, but here we’re all each other has.”
“Are you trying to depress me more? If so, you’re succeeding beautifully.”
She laughed a little. “No. Sorry.” She straightened and pulled him to his feet. “You look tired. Let’s get you to bed. Since you don’t have a place to sleep yet, you can share mine.”
Webber gave her a sly grin. **Why do I get the feeling you wouldn’t be offering me your bed if I was straight?**
**Because you’d be right. Since you are gay, you can sleep with me any time you want.** For Nausic’s sake, she said, “We’re going to bed. Webber is tired.”
Nausic nodded and escorted them back to Bekion’s chambers.
Starling led Webber into the closet and showed him how to cover his arm cuffs. “If Bekion isn’t there to deactivate them, muffle them before you go to sleep or you’ll wake up the whole palace.”
“Noted.” He flopped onto the bed with a deep, tire
d sigh.
Starling crawled behind him, put her arms around his waist and held him close. Webber cupped her hands then huddled against her. Though a foot taller than her, he seemed so small in that moment. She knew what he was going through. Rest would help.
Webber’s deep breathing and warmth lulled her to sleep. She woke some time later to the sound of Bekion in the outer chamber. She lifted her head, looked at the closet door and then down at Webber.
He slept soundly. She debated waking him so the three of them could talk. They needed to set things straight. It would clear the air and Bekion would stop acting so pissy.
She shook Webber’s shoulder. He didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. She shook his shoulder harder and whispered near his ear, “Webber.”
He still didn’t stir.
She raised her voice to a normal volume. “Webber, wake up.” She tapped his arm.
Icy fingers of dread clawed up her arms. If his chest wasn’t rising and falling with each breath he took, she would swear he was dead.
She jumped off the bed and raced to the outer chamber. “Bekion.” She ran into his side to stop her mad dash. “There is something wrong with Webber.”
Bekion gave her a confused look. “What do you mean?”
She shook her head, near frantic. “I don’t know. Please. There’s something wrong with him. He won’t wake up.” She pulled him back to the closet. Nausic and Rois followed.
All three stared down at Webber. Starling feared the verdict. She hugged Bekion’s hand as she watched Rois check Webber. He stood back with a shake of his head.
Starling asked, “What? What’s wrong with him? I thought the nanites were supposed to make him better.”
Bekion placed a hand on her shoulder. “Calm down, Starling. There is nothing wrong with him. You did the same.”
She looked up at him and then back at Webber. “I did?”
“Yes. You slept almost six hours after the nanites were introduced to your system. I took that as normal, if not a bit excessive. The doctors later told me the nanites put you in a lethargic state as they integrated with your body and conducted repairs.”
Starling stared at Webber. It sounded simple but why didn’t he move when she called his name? That scared her. “You’re sure?”
“Very.”
“I tried to wake him.”
Bekion lifted her. “He’s fine, pretty pet. You slept through quite a bit as well.”
“If you’re sure he’s okay?”
“Yes, I am. Let us leave him to sleep.” He carried her out of the closet. A nod to Nausic and Rois sent them out of both chambers. Bekion closed the bedroom door and tapped his cuff against hers.
He sighed as he sat on the bed with Starling situated on his lap. After a while, he said, “My mother meddles too much.”
Starling raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You didn’t seem bothered when Aurelan sat beside you. You couldn’t take your eyes off her chest.”
She thought he would say something meant to put her in her place. Instead he hugged her and laid his head against her breasts.
“I prefer yours.” He shook his head. “I don’t care if you now have a mate. You are mine. Webber will have to come to terms with that.”
“Webber is—”
“More suited to you than I. Believe me, I know that. It doesn’t change my need for you.” He started unbuttoning her blouse.
Starling didn’t try to stop him or talk him out of it. She moved on his lap so she straddled him, lifting her skirt out of the way.
He took one of her exposed nipples into his mouth as he delved two fingers past her lower lips and into her depths. He cupped his free hand around her behind, pressing her more against his fingers even as she moved her hips.
She smiled at Bekion’s grunt of satisfaction when she freed his hard arousal and stroked it. He pressed her closer to him so she ground her opening against his flesh each time she moved her hips.
A high sound of pleasure left her. She was so close.
Bekion trailed kisses up her chest and neck. He claimed her mouth, stroking her tongue with his.
Starling buried her fingers in his hair and raised up on her knees, opening herself to receive more of Bekion. Only a little more.
He pulled his fingers free and spread her lower lips wide.
“Oops.”
Starling and Bekion froze at the sound of Webber’s voice. She looked over her shoulder, toward the closet.
Webber stood in the doorway, staring at his feet. “My bad. Sorry.”
“You’re awake,” Starling said in a breathy voice.
Bekion cursed. He set Starling away and stalked to the bathroom.
Webber looked at Bekion and then Starling. “Where’s he going? You didn’t have to stop on my account.”
Starling shook her head. “Don’t even worry about it. This is par for the course with us.” She straightened her clothes. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. I could always sleep more. I only woke up because the bed got cold.”
“Yeah, the closet is a little cold.” She walked toward him. “Let’s go.”
“You sure about that? Shouldn’t you join the big guy in the bathroom? You two looked like you were having fun.”
“That is such a long story, I don’t even want to get into it. Let’s just go to bed.”
Webber walked with her back to the closet. Once they were in bed again with Starling spooning him, he said, “I know you said it was bad but I didn’t think it was that bad.”
“And then I got a gay man as my quote-unquote mate. Yeah, it’s that bad.” She gave him a squeeze and heaved a heavy sigh. “Go back to sleep.”
Bekion appeared in the closet doorway, looking more annoyed than before. “Unacceptable.” He stalked into the closet. “Off the bed.”
Starling and Webber looked at him and asked in unison, “What?”
“You will not sleep with Starling.” Bekion grabbed Webber’s arm and pulled him off the bed.
Starling sat up. “What are you doing, Bekion? Webber has no other place to sleep.”
“He won’t sleep with you.” Bekion stabbed at his arm cuff and barked, “Nausic, to me, now.”
Nausic arrived a few seconds later, breathing hard and looking around for a threat.
Bekion pointed at Webber. “Take him. He’s yours now.”
“What?” This time Starling, Webber and Nausic all asked the question in synchronized surprise.
Bekion said, “I’m giving Webber to you. I have no need for two pets. Take him back to your room.”
“I…” Nausic’s confused expression swung from Webber to Bekion. “I do not know what to do with a pet, My King.”
“You will learn as I did,” Bekion snapped, shoving Webber toward Nausic. “Take him.”
Nausic bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Webber said, **You know, the big guy’s not so bad after all.** He let his gaze roam over Nausic and nodded. **Not bad at all.**
Starling recognized the look of a man appreciating a meal to come. **Remember what I told you about same-sex and human-jattikan relations.**
**I’m sure I can change his mind.** Webber walked over to Nausic and said, “Let’s get out of here. I know when I’m not wanted.” He winked over his shoulder at Starling as he and Nausic left the closet.
The outer chamber door closed before Starling said to Bekion, “Are you proud of yourself? What was that?”
Bekion stalked out of the closet and slammed the door behind him. The sound made Starling flinch.
She found herself getting angry at the chain of events. What the hell was his problem?
Scratch that. She didn’t care. She did know he wouldn’t keep her and Webber apart. She finally had someone in the palace who understood her. And while she’d had every intention of setting Bekion straight about Webber, Starling decided to let Bekion suffer with his jealousy. He deserved it.
Chapter Fourteen
Bekion didn’t feel like he
aring the grievances of his people. Webber and Starling, wandering around the throne room, had his full attention. Whatever they spoke about had them distracted to the point where they saw only each other.
Webber wrapped his arm around Starling’s shoulders and pulled her close. Bekion wanted nothing more than to break the man’s arm.
Behind Bekion, Rois cleared his throat.
Bekion turned his attention back to the woman before him. He recalled half her complaint. The rest eluded him. Vieve held out a tablet to him. Bekion took it and skimmed a summary of what the woman had said.
He would thank Vieve later for keeping such meticulous notes. It helped Bekion save face. He shouldn’t need it. Bekion had always prided himself on being an attentive ruler.
He said, “Mistress, your application of inter-kingdom trade needs further investigation. You will have my decision tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for hearing my humble plea. Thank you.” The woman curtsied and then walked away.
Bekion handed the tablet back to Vieve. His attention wandered to Starling and Webber once more. They returned to the throne. Good. If they stayed close to where Bekion could hear them, he might be able to concentrate on the cases set before him.
Starling sat on the stairs while Webber stayed standing over her. She asked, “What’s not to understand?”
Webber gestured at her. “You. Why do you have to be the ambassador of Earth? And that stupid translation project. What’s the point? Are you getting paid?”
“No. Just because you find it annoying, doesn’t make it stupid.”
“It is stupid because they don’t need to understand us. I don’t want them to understand us. Why do you think I said I wouldn’t do it?”
“You’re a brat.”
“What about you? What’s with the shining example of a perfect human act? You’re stressing yourself out.”
“I’m not stressed. All I do is laze around.”
“You’re strung so tight you’re ready to pop. Stop trying to educate these idiots. You said yourself, they don’t care. This is a proverbial brick wall and you are beating your brains out.”
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