Merjan hesitated, swirling the thick liquid around the bottle. “Unfortunately,” he finally said, “Deryan is also a selfish child, ungrateful and bitter for one so charmed. She is jealous and vengeful and my Prince…” he lingered on the evocation of Sefron’s title… my Prince… “There is no love in his heart for her. He despises her for what she is capable of doing… for things she has already done… and he is torn between his duty to his father and his people, and his duty to himself and his heart.”
“Duty is duty,” Beth said, at last certain of something. “Duty must be to something bigger than yourself, morally binding—you cannot have a duty to your own heart, not in any non-metaphorical sense.”
She paused, watching Merjan pour some of the liquid into two small, plain glasses. “If it is duty,” she concluded, “it can only be to the throne.”
Merjan’s smile grew as he handed her one glass, keeping the other for himself. “Yes,” he said, “that was our conclusion as well. And that, Beth Harper, is why we are here, so far from home, and so…”—his eyes traced her body appreciatively—“happy to have found you.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t trust the way he was looking at her. “What does that mean?” she asked, inspecting the contents of her glass. She didn’t want any more of his vagaries. She wanted to know the truth of this “journey”.
“The marriage promise is binding,” Merjan explained. “Only three possibilities exist to change the course once the promising has been sealed. One is death. The second is irredeemable shame and loss of status for one of the families involved.” Reaching out to stroke Beth’s shiny, short black hair, Merjan’s chest puffed out with pride. “Third is through the spiritual and political brokering of an interplanetary treaty.”
Beth cocked her head to the side. Say what? Her eyes probed Merjan’s for answers. “With Earth?” she said incredulously. “That’s why you were so excited to find my ship. Versall is not connected with Earth yet, so you can…”
“We were excited to meet you, Beth Harper,” Merjan interrupted, emphasizing the “you”. “Through your marriage to Prince Sefron, you will free our Prince from a life of certain misery and bring your planet into the Interplanetary Kingdom of the Versall.”
He raised his tiny glass in a cheer, “A great honor.”
Beth was floored, “My marriage?” She wanted to say more but the words clogged in her throat, piling up on one another. She mumbled a few sounds before setting her glass down on the table and beginning to pace.
“You can’t be serious?” she finally managed. “I can’t marry him. I’m not going to marry anyone. If you think you can just take me and force me to d—”
“You don’t understand,” Merjan calmly interjected, “it has already been decided. That is why you were brought to the Consecration Chamber to witness His Royal Majesty’s prowess. You enjoyed watching him with the maiden, didn’t you?”
Beth was confused. Afraid. Conflicted. But mostly furious. “Yes,” she said, too distracted to lie, “I liked it but that doesn’t mean…”
“And you could see that she liked it as well?”
Beth got a chill. It raced up her back as she recalled how much... Yes. That’s why I started to…
She turned from Merjan, feeling flushed. She remembered touching herself, watching the young woman meet Sefron’s thrusts with equal vigor. She could see him, engorged and wet from the young woman’s attentions. The images and feelings came unbidden yet again, and Beth again wondered if this was a drug-induced fantasy. Or perhaps she was already dead and this was a version of Limbo?
Beth reined in her thoughts and forced herself to look back to Merjan. “That still doesn’t give you the justification to—”
“Please,” he said, his voice gentle, yet still commanding. “You must understand that there is little choice to be had. And little time to explain the route that brought us to you. We have come too far, and time has run out. Factions at home are rising against the Prince. Power cannot stand a vacuum. If we want to maintain stability then we must return with you and the Prince, wedded and the marriage consecrated.”
“Consecrated?” Beth knew the context in which he had just recently used that word. “You mean…” she couldn’t say it, it felt frightening and wrong, thrilling and forbidden, “the Prince and I… we…”
Merjan smiled, “Something like that,” he answered. “For now, drink.” He raised his glass again, “It will help you find clarity and comfort.”
He drank the rest of his glass down in one swallow. It took Beth a moment of consideration, but she followed suit. It was sweet, syrupy, and the Priest was right: she felt more relaxed within seconds.
“Good! Now,” he walked toward the door, “come with me. The Prince is waiting for us in his chambers.” Us? Beth’s tension level rose yet again.
Chapter 5
To Beth’s great relief and astonishment, she fell under the Prince’s spell that first night. Funny because she had never believed in fairytales—too much of a tomboy. Somehow, the conflicted and uncomfortable feelings she had about being thrown into the consecration ritual faded as they talked into the night. Laughing. Philosophizing. Sharing stories and telling tales. By the time her guards came to escort her back to her room, Beth was thoroughly fascinated and charmed by the young Prince.
Judging by the look in his eyes as he leaned down to bid her good-bye, gently kissing her lips, parting them with his slow, hungry tongue, Beth rightly assumed Sefron felt the same enchantment.
Lying in bed later that day, her mind swam, alternating between clarity and conundrum, between contented possibility and dangerous probability. Beth had no frame of reference for the events of the past few days. No personal history, no training—nothing to aid her in understanding what was happening to her. She would have even taken a chat with Nathan, the ship’s AI, if she thought it would help.
How can I…? What should I…? I could never… I could be… question upon question with no clear answers. Somehow she still managed a decision.
In the end, however, was there really a choice or decision to be made? I am their prisoner. There is no precedent set for negotiating with alien races. I seem to be the Prince’s only hope. Guess it could be worse…
In the wedding chamber the next day, Beth was radiant in Versallian finery. Her flowing silk wedding dress glowed with every color she knew to exist. It draped delicately from her shoulders, clinging to the curves of her breasts and hips, then falling open as all the Versallian clothes seemed to, her body exposed for everyone to see.
The Versallian females who dressed her also anointed her with fragrant, exotic perfumes, and saw to the styling of her short, dark hair, adorning it with jewels and delicate beads. Her attendants had not been fitted with translation devices and for the first time, Beth heard the unaltered Versallian voices as they spoke to each other in their native tongue.
They sounded breathy, with a gravelly growling undertone, Beth mused. The language sounded fluid and complex, smooth vowel-laden words that blended into one another. When they laughed, it was loud and generous; when they shared what Beth could only guess was gossip, they were quiet and careful.
Beth looked around the wedding chamber, taking in dozens of Versallian faces, all strangers to her. Males, females, old, young, and in-between—it was a swath of the society. They all were dressed in uniform finery of colorful silk with black and brown leather accents.
Her observations were cut short as a hush fell over the crowd and those in the back of the room parted to allow Priest Merjan to enter. He took his place beside Beth but did not look at her, concentrating instead on the whole of the room. Guess it is too late to make a run for it.
Around them, the crowd began to hum, very quietly at first, but it soon grew into a harmonious ample note that vibrated deep in Beth’s body. Prince Sefron entered the circle as the hum reached its crescendo. He’s majestic. Beth could not take her eyes from his chest, his abs, his manhood.
She final
ly looked up, met his eyes, and realized he had been staring at her, too. She smiled. He’s beautiful and mysterious and…
“Gathered friends,” Merjan called out, interrupting her thoughts, “we are here today for the ascension of a new leader. For the birth of the man from the child.” He swept his eyes around the chamber and the humming stopped. Silence.
“He has entered this room as Prince Sefron,” Merjan continued, “but he shall leave as King.” He bowed to Sefron and Sefron to him.
Merjan resumed speaking. “To become King, our Prince must be wed. It has been written and now it is to come to be.” Merjan clapped once and from the back of the room came four male Versallians wearing nothing except leather masks flared out on the sides like butterfly wings.
Between them, on a wooden pedestal, they carried a large statue of their deity. This one was sculpted from metal, and was thin and tall. They brought the statue into the center of the room, carefully setting it in front of Merjan and Sefron. Once it was in place, the four males faded back into the crowd.
A female stepped forward, handing Merjan a bowl of oil. He dabbed a fingertip in the bowl and touched it to Sefron’s forehead. He repeated the act on his own forehead.
“We are now anointed with the blood of the Divine,” Merjan said, “and thereby this room is clean. Let the bride enter.”
The humming began again. From the back of the room she came: Deryan, Sefron’s intended. She is very striking, Beth thought, with her dark green flawless skin, her slender frame and her long legs. Her hair fanned out like a sun around her refined face. Her breasts, large and firm, were held in place by a series of leather straps.
Taking her place beside Sefron, Deryan gave Beth a poisonous glare. Beth diverted her eyes, glancing quickly at the Priest who was busy with the Prince and his ceremonial duties. Shit. Beth took a slight step back, trying to position herself at an angle behind Merjan. She knows. She’s pissed. She knows she’s going to get dumped at the altar and she’s pissed.
Merjan lifted his arms and the humming stopped. “Since the coming of their Age Day, Prince Sefron has been promised to Deryan of House Hojibo. This was true before we began this journey and it was true on the day our beloved King Wersand passed from this world. The promise of a royal marriage is sacred, following from the most ancient customs on Versall. A sacred promise can only be altered through an intervention of the Gods and acceptance by the royal family.”
He paused, glancing from Sefron to Beth. “Such an intervention has occurred,” Merjan said, dropping a classic bombshell. “The Gods have seen fit to bring us something truly amazing.”
Merjan grandly gestured to Beth, “From the stars, she has come. To please our Prince, to expand the brotherhood of life from Versall to Earth, a planet previously unavailable to our culture.”
He took Beth’s hand and pulled her forward into the center of the room. “Please join me in welcoming the Gods’ choice of a mate for our Prince—Beth Harper, the future Queen of Versall, the chosen bride of our future King.”
Applause filled the room. Merjan settled the crowd with a nod and a wave. Then he motioned for Beth to kneel in front of the statue.
Merjan waved Deryan forward next. “Deryan, do you understand what has been declared on this day?”
According to Versallian tradition, Deryan was expected to smile, to be gracious, to understand the greater needs of the people and the star system over her own. Instead, she sneered, “I understand.” Punctuating her next words by jabbing a bejeweled finger at Beth, she growled “I have been replaced by that alien whore!”
She directed her anger next at Merjan. “I understand that your King has no integrity,” she continued, “and that your Gods are more impressed by shiny new playthings than by sacred promises made in the sight of the Divine.”
Sefron stepped forward to defend his Priest and future Queen, “How dare you…”
Merjan stopped him. Still on her knees on the stone floor, Beth watched the Priest lean to his Prince and whisper something in his ear. The two agreed to whatever was said.
From her vantage point on the floor she managed to sneak a peek at Deryan, the fury seething in the scorned woman’s eyes. They told me it might get dramatic. Deryan was never one to put the good of the people before her own needs, Merjan said, and looks like he was right. We just need to—
Beth’s thought was stopped dead as the glint of something sliver and shiny in Deryan’s hand caught her eye. What the—
Merjan and Sefron had their backs turned to both females, deep in discussion. They were completely unaware of Deryan raising and pointing a shiny silver wand…
The edge of the small device in Deryan’s hand began to glow an electric blue. Small static flares erupted from its tip. Like the staffs the guards carry, Beth realized.
Her eyes flew open wide.
Deryan thrust the wand at Sefron first. “False King,” she shrilly screamed. “Pretender to the throne! Liar!”
Not thinking, simply acting, Beth leapt forward, tackling Deryan around the knees. Caught completely unawares, Deryan fell forward over Beth’s back and onto the stone floor behind her. Beth’s arms were still entangled around the thrashing female’s legs as she swung the static wand at Sefron. Even off-balance as she was, Deryan only barely missed him.
Beth tightened her hold around Deryan’s legs, but her rage seemed to give her super powers. The furious female kicked out, slamming a knee into Beth’s jaw. Beth’s grip faltered and she rolled backwards off the vengeful, scorned Princess.
Behind them, a Royal Guard swiftly reached down and grabbed Deryan by her voluminous hair. He dragged her across the floor, trying to get her a safe distance from the Prince.
Deryan was too agile for him and she jammed the wand into the Guard’s gut. Blue static flared. The Guard did not even have time to scream. His knees buckled, he vomited and fell to the floor convulsing.
Spinning to attack Beth, Deryan was stopped short by a fist to the mouth. Then a fist to the nose. Blood spurted and tears filled her eyes.
It was Beth’s fist and it struck again and again.
Beth saw the wand coming toward her and pivoted, catching Deryan’s wrist and holding it tight, effectively blocking the stab. They struggled, rolling on the floor.
With one push, Deryan managed to get on top of Beth. She ripped her hand free and pointed the blue end of the wand at Beth’s chest.
Beth kicked and thrashed with all her might but could not break free of the Versallian female’s clenched thighs. She closed her eyes, anticipating the pain to come, the shock, the end drawing her into darkness.
Instead, she felt the weight yanked from her, the struggle cease.
Opening her eyes, Beth saw Deryan had been pulled to her feet and thrown against the wall. Sefron. The Prince had Deryan by the throat, holding her firmly as Royal Guards closed around them.
Beth saw the wand lying on the floor, its tip no longer illuminated. She licked her lip, tasted blood.
An open green-hued hand reached down to her. She looked up to see it was Merjan’s. He looked worried but a smile managed to creep onto his lips as they watched Deryan being roughly escorted from the room by three Guards.
Beth took Merjan’s proffered hand. He pulled her to her feet. “Are you okay?” He looked and sounded truly concerned.
Across the room, she met Sefron’s eyes.
“I will be,” she said, “I think I will be.”
Chapter 6
Hours later, the ceremony was finally complete and the crowds dispersed. As the night was winding down, Beth took the opportunity to escape to an especially luxurious and much appreciated bath. It gave her the first chance she had had to be alone with her thoughts. What has happened to me? I would never have thought I could give myself so freely to new and foreign experiences. As she considered this she realized one crucial thing—this was the real Beth Harper. Allowed to blossom for the first time in her life. And she liked the freedom to give herself over to pure sensati
on.
Cleansed, perfumed and glowing after a day unlike any other, she was ready for the next step in this journey. Well, mostly…. Her heart fluttered in her chest. She had to admit she was nervous. She had been raised with typical Human morals about sex and sexuality. Rules and hang-ups instilled over many years of isolation. Never in a million light years would she have believed she could change, come out of her shell, and celebrate the act…
This race, these Versallians, were completely open about their sexual nature. They denied themselves nothing—hell, there entire religion and their society are built around the worship of the female form and all it entails. She felt foolish but she knew she just had to let it go. He’s royalty. He’s an alien. He’s so big. This is all so crazy.
She looked at herself in the full-length mirror. A Queen. At least she had always liked her body. Her breasts were large and soft. Her belly toned. She had long legs and a plump bottom. How could he not like me? She felt her usual confidence return.
Running her fingertips over her skin, imagining what was waiting for her on the other side of the bathroom door, Beth finally felt ready. Whatever happens, this is life now. I am this.
She went to the door, paused with her hand on the doorknob, took a deep breath then she opened it. I am Queen and Sefron is my Ki—
“Hello, my Queen.” Merjan was standing where she had expected Sefron to be.
The smile froze on her face. She didn’t understand. “What are you doing here? I thought this was my time with Sefron. That we are supposed to consummate our marriage and make it official.”
Merjan smiled indulgently. “You are correct,” he said, glancing behind him as Sefron walked into the room. She just then registered that both of them were naked. Both were erect. She checked her shock, willing herself to give in to the Versallian way.
Romance: Alien Romance: Simply Aliens: A Ten Book Alien Romance Collection (Paranormal Scifi Interracial Romance) (Fantasy New Adult Alpha Short Stories) Page 8