Kiehle leaned over his shoulder. “Whoa, keep it under control, brosir, we don’t want to upset any of the females.”
“I am in control, Kiehle. I had something in the back of my throat.”
“Sure.” Kiehle laughed and smacked him on his back.
Chapter Twenty
Eva was completely aware that Taio had kept a jealous eye on her and Alexion last night. Who hadn’t noticed it? She had felt his heated gaze from across the room. But what had he expected? He had been surrounded by females who were fawning all over him.
He hadn’t seen her running over and drop-kicking them in their faces, had he? No, she had remained composed and enjoyed her dinner with Alexion.
Alexion had been good company. He had given a sympathetic ear when she explained her ordeal with being taken and transported to this galaxy. Not only had he been sympathetic, but he had also come up with ideas for starting a safe haven for humans on different planets. At the mention of his planet possibly being the first safe haven, she had been so happy, she had given him a hug and a kiss on both cheeks.
She would have to get Ship to help her locate any humans in this galaxy and figure out how to get them to Holis. The ideas she and Alexion had begun to come up with had kept them busy throughout dinner. When dinner had been over, they had decided to meet today with Ship and try to come up with some plans.
The morning now found her and Alexion sitting in one of the common rooms, writing down all of their ideas for the new safe haven on Holis. She tossed and turned all night, thinking of what would be needed to put their plan into action.
“Where would we get the credits needed to buy them?” Eva asked. The Tresdonians had given her to Taio, but she didn’t expect any of the other humans to be free.
“Don’t worry about it. Taraj is a dignitary; she’ll be able to take care of it. She can work on getting humans declared an endangered species or she can find a donor to put up the credits we would need to buy them.”
Heavy footsteps stopped abruptly at the door. A familiar heat caressed her body. Taio was here.
“Come join us.” She waved him over. His face was set in a hard scowl. What’s his deal now?
Without saying a word, Taio walked past her and punched Alexion hard in the face. The loud crack of bone against bone bounced off the walls.
She sat in stunned disbelief as Taio grabbed the front of Alexion’s shirt, snatching the half-dazed man off the floor. With a flick of the wrist, Taio sent him flying across the room.
She snapped back to reality. “Taio! Stop!”
Taio unsheathed his jango, his eyes fixed with a deadly stare. After hitting the floor with a heavy thud, Alexion quickly recovered from the unprovoked attack and jumped up into a fighting stance. Alexion looked almost as deadly as Taio.
“Are you taking up for this male?” Taio demanded.
“Yes!”
“Eva, I don’t need you to protect me, I’m perfectly capable of defending myself,” Alexion said, still in battle stance.
“Why do you protect him?” Taio yelled. His murderous gaze shifted from Alexion to Eva, then back again.
“Don’t yell at her!” Alexion said.
Taio let out a low growl and stepped toward Alexion again. Alexion widened his stance, waiting for his opponent.
“I said stop! Now! This is so ridiculous,” she said.
“What I find ridiculous is a male who intends to keep you under lock and key while he is actively looking for a mate,” replied Alexion. Well, in truth, Eva thought it was ridiculous as well. “You would be enough for me, Eva, there wouldn’t be a reason to find another.”
Eva blinked twice. That was the best sort-of-proposal she’d ever gotten.
“You will not have her!” Taio ran toward Alexion. Alexion held his ground and tried to step out of the way. Taio, almost missing him, flung the jango out and caught Alexion on the knees. Alexion cried out in pain, grabbing his knees as he went down.
Eva sprinted over and jumped on Taio’s back as he went for Alexion again. “Are you crazy? You have to leave him alone.”
“Why do you continue to protect him?” Taio asked, bewildered.
“Because he’s my friend, I like him. The same way I like Rasha.”
“The way you like Rasha?” he asked questioningly.
She clung to his back. “Yes!”
“I like you as more than a friend,” Alexion said. He was on the ground, rubbing his knees.
“Be quiet, Alexion! Before he kills you.”
* * * * *
Sa’Mya relaxed in one of the lounge chairs provided on the balcony off her royal suite. She guessed from its size, the balcony was meant to hold ten to fifteen people comfortably. The balcony offered an unobstructed view of the training field, probably for guests to watch the elite royal guards train. The balcony’s canopy provided enough shade from the suns, allowing her to sit in comfort to watch the human female.
Why did Taio allow his concubine to train with the males?
The small patter of feet approached her. She turned her gaze from the training field to Moira, her personal assistant.
“Princess, your uncle has requested you contact him immediately,” Moira said.
Moira had come from one of the small villages outside the capital city. Despite her looks, Moira wasn’t much older than herself. Many cycles of hard work in the factory, making parts for transporter vessels, had left the female with a hard disposition and haggard appearance. The fine dress and easier lifestyle she now enjoyed did little to cover up the effects of her earlier life.
“Did you tell him I was busy?” Sa’Mya turned back to watch the human female with her personalized jango. Why would she want to behave as a male?
“Yes, Princess, I told him you were busy. I’ve told him that for the last two rotations.”
Sa’Mya was in trouble, she had to come up with a plan. And fast. Nebin, her loyal guard, had been with her since birth, originally appointed by her now deceased parents. If her uncle caught her, he would surely take her personal assistant and guard away. Moira, although she had grown fond of her, was replaceable. Nebin was not.
“Contact him. Taraj and Alexion Hazouto are leaving this evening, tell my uncle we are accompanying them to Holis.” Sa’Mya was sure she needed just a little more time to procure a bonding contract.
“And when he finds out we have not left Sonis?” Nebin asked, his baritone voice breaking his silence.
Nebin stood by her side, even though she had offered him a seat across from her. Her guard intimidated all who gazed on him. He even towered over many of the warriors on Sonis. His arresting light-gray eyes were a sharp contrast against his dark-colored skin. His appearance was enough to make anyone who wished her harm to take pause, but his loyalty stopped them in their tracks.
“Don’t worry about that. We will soon have the protection of King Taio. I expect a proposal from him before my uncle realizes that we have not left Sonis.”
Sa’Mya watched the training field again. Eva was a minor distraction. Sa’Mya’s error had been waiting for Taio to seek her out for a proposal. An error she would need to correct now.
Sa’Mya didn’t waste any time looking for Taio.
“May I please disturb you?” Sa’Mya walked into his office, accompanied by Moira and Nebin. Sa’Mya sat down in the empty seat next to Rasha, not waiting for an invitation.
“I guess I have no choice in the matter,” Taio said.
Ignoring his retort, Sa’Mya pressed on, afraid if she stopped to think about what she was doing, she would lose her nerve. She needed this too badly.
“Are you aware of Mercanis Shipping and Hauling?” she asked.
“Everyone as far as the next two galaxies has heard of Mercanis Shipping and Hauling.”
“So you are aware it is the largest and most profitable transport company in this galaxy and it continues to grow with each passing year.”
Taio leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms at his chest.
“Well, I am the sole owner of the company,” Sa’Mya said.
Rasha let out a loud breath.
Taio lifted a brow. “You expect me to believe you own Mercanis Shipping and Hauling. You aren’t even capable of dressing yourself.”
Sa’Mya lifted her chin higher at the dig. “An ancestor founded the company before I was born. The company has since passed down to my father. After he and my mother died, my uncle took over the day-to-day operations of it, but I am the sole owner of the company. I inherited it.”
Rasha choked again. Taio leaned closer to his desk. “And this information means what to me?”
She leaned closer to him. “It means if we bond, not only will you be part owner of the company, but you will also have the entire company at your disposal. Are you interested?”
Taio leaned back in his chair. “I am interested,” he finally said. “What are the conditions of your proposal?”
“We bond.”
Taio snorted. “I assumed a match was in order. But what else do you want?”
“I want the bonding ceremony to happen immediately.”
“How soon is immediately?” he asked, hesitating slightly.
“Today, before you leave for Holis.”
Rasha choked again. Both Sa’Mya and Taio looked at him. “Sorry” was all he could say.
“Although my mother would love for me to bond today, it would be impossible. We have to make preparations and draw up the proposal contract.”
“Tomorrow will be fine.” The sooner she was bonded, the sooner she could claim her rightful place on her planet.
Taio steepled his fingers together and looked intently at her. “It will take place in seven rotations. I have to escort Taraj and Alexion Hazouto back to Holis and take care of some business. When I return, we can have one rotation for our traditional festival before the bonding ceremony. Is that acceptable to you?”
Sa’Mya looked at her guard. Seven rotations. Would she be able to hold her uncle at bay for that long? What if he found out she was not on the transport to Holis as well? Would he come to Sonis looking for her?
If her uncle got to her before she bonded with Taio, this would all have been for naught. But this was the closest she’d ever come to total freedom.
“I accept.”
“Very good. I will make the announcement before I leave.”
“No!” Sa’Mya jumped out of her seat. Catching herself, she sat back down. “I want it to be kept as quiet as possible until the day of the bonding ceremony.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I have my reasons. We have a deal as long as you don’t send out off-world announcements.”
“Deal.”
Alone in his office, he struggled to find a way to tell Eva about his upcoming bond to Princess Sa’Mya. They both knew this day would eventually come, but neither had planned it would be this soon. Eva just had to understand this was exactly what Sonis needed.
Why hadn’t anyone told him the princess owned Mercanis Shipping and Hauling? She had said something or another about a business earlier, but he had paid her no mind. He would kill Ship.
He’d asked Ship to perform a background check on all of the females in attendance. Ship hadn’t brought him any information of this magnitude. He would definitely have to bring it up with him later. The entity probably hadn’t told him in hopes that Taio would allow the princess to leave and eventually bond with Eva. His longtime friend’s priorities were not in the right place.
“Ship,” Taio called out.
“I’m here,” the entity replied.
“Where is Eva?”
There was a slight pause while Ship located Eva’s heat signature on the palace grounds.
“She is in Taraj and Alexion Hazouto’s guest apartment.” The news didn’t sit well with him. Would he have to beat that male again? Didn’t he know to stay away from Eva?
“Ship, where is Taraj and where is Alexion?” He could feel his anger mounting. Heat radiated from his neck to his face. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
“Taraj is in the gardens with Lo’Ren and Alexion is in his guest apartment with Eva.”
They were alone? Taio’s stride increased as he made his way toward the palace guest apartments. His fists flexed and clenched the entire way. Galactic Council or not, he was going to kill Alexion.
As he turned the corner, the apartment door slid open. Taio slowed his pursuit. Eva was backing out, talking to an unknown person.
“I will miss talking with you,” Taio overheard her saying. Then a distant muffled sound came from the other side of the door.
“And you will contact me and keep me updated?” More muffles. “You are the best, Alexion, truly. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Alexion stepped out of the apartment and Eva hugged him.
Taio watched as his female hugged another male. A male she claimed to like as a “friend”. Blood drained from his face as he turned on his heel. He would never let a female make a fool out of him. Maybe Rasha was right, Eva wouldn’t be able to continue a relationship with him as things stood. He headed straight to his personal quarters, where he packed a small bag for the short trip.
“Ship, inform Taraj and Alexion Hazouto I am ready for departure.” He stalked to the transporter that would take him to the Saia II.
“Should I give them a reason as to why you wish to depart before the scheduled time?”
“No.”
“What information shall I pass on to Eva?”
“Tell Eva she is to serve Princess Sa’Mya while I am away.”
There was a slight pang in his heart as he gave the directive, but as fast as it came, it quickly went away. She was not a real slave and he had never treated her as one. But he gave her his best and she chose another over him.
Hopping in his transport, he punched the control panel, activating the takeoff sequence. Alexion and Taraj could take another transporter to the Saia II. He definitely didn’t trust himself to be in close quarters with Alexion without killing him.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eva asked Ship to repeat himself a couple of times before Taio’s message finally sank in. She was meant to be the princess’s personal slave. Her chest pains hadn’t subsided since. Taio had never treated her as if she were a slave.
Until now.
He’d promised to take care of her. Was this how he intended to do it? Lending her out as a personal slave to this bitch? If he could do this, how would he treat her after he found a mate?
This hurt, literally hurt. Her first thought was to call and let him know exactly how she felt about his directive. Go to hell. But she couldn’t get past the pain. She wasn’t even sure she would be able to hold a decent conversation with him right now.
Taio hadn’t been gone for more than a few hours before Princess Sa’Mya started issuing orders. Eva had spent the past few rotations obliging every wish and whim, from foot massages to cleaning the bitch’s teeth. Whenever Eva balked, the princess called over a waiting guard. All of whom had gotten the directive as well—Eva was to serve Princess Sa’Mya.
Eva bided her time in servitude, fuming. Taio would definitely pay for this. Nothing could make up for the humiliation she was feeling, especially right now. Since the bitch princess apparently didn’t know how to wash herself, Eva had to. Eva sat on the ledge, naked, running a brush through Sa’Mya’s now clean hair.
This is just until Taio returns, she thought with each downward stroke.
“I wonder what he sees in you,” Sa’Mya said. She leisurely skimmed the water’s surface with her fingertips. Recognizing a rhetorical question when she heard one, Eva didn’t respond. “I am offering him all of this.” Sa’Mya ran her wet hands down her voluptuous body.
Her double-D breasts hung ripe and full. Her neatly tapered waist led to full-sized hips, a round ass and, of course, long, shapely legs.
“You have the body of a child,” Sa’Mya sneered.
I could apply a small amount o
f pressure to her windpipe. Clearly the princess didn’t know anything about fighting. Talking smack while your back is to an opponent was a no-no.
“It’s clear he can’t keep his hands off you. I smell your scent on him every time he comes near me. Gads. When does he not have his cock in you?”
Eva chuckled. That was her intent, to mark Taio with her scent, hoping all the other females would get the idea and go home.
Sa’Mya whipped her head around to face Eva. “Let’s see who’ll have the last laugh when I bond with him.” Sa’Mya smiled. “I think I’ll give you to the guards, to do with as they please.”
Eva straightened on the ledge. “He’ll never share me with anyone else.” Eva met her eye for eye.
Taio definitely was not the sharing type. He nearly caused a war between Sonis and Holis just because he thought she liked Alexion. No, there wouldn’t be any passing around, Taio would rip any male to shreds who thought to touch her.
“You think not?”
Sa’Mya pushed off the ledge with a malicious smile across her lips.
She turned around to stare at Eva. “You’ll never be able to compete with me.”
“I’m not trying to compete with you.” Bitch.
Sa’Mya took a step closer, her eyes downcast.
“What does he find so interesting down there?”
Eva snapped her knees together.
“Let me see,” Sa’Mya demanded.
“No.” Eva swung her legs around to propel herself to a standing position.
“Make one more move and I’ll have you taken to the guards right now.”
Eva stopped, her legs propped on the ledge. “Taio wouldn’t let you.” But unfortunately he wasn’t here right now.
“Of course.” Sa’Mya tilted her head. “He would be upset if his precious royal guards ran through his pet.” She shrugged. “But then the damage would have already been done. Wouldn’t it?”
Sa’Mya’s unblinking, gold-speckled eyes rested on her.
Eva froze.
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