by Aria Bell
I shook my head and turned off the viewscreen.
After I dimmed the lights, I lay there on the bed for a long moment. Finally, I reached for the aranza fantasy stimulator. I wasn’t particularly needy at the moment, but tomorrow I was going to be mated to a prince. A prince who expected me to beg to be fucked.
It would be best to make sure I didn’t do that in front of the entire court.
* * *
The next morning I stood uneasily in the throne room as the Prince Vorgyn opened court. I was within five meters of him at all times, so with the agility powers of my suit, I could reach his side in a second.
Courtiers and nobles threw looks my way. Some looks were curious, some were hostile, a handful seemed amused, and others clearly said they didn’t think I was good enough to be here. I ignored them as best I could. They didn’t matter. Only the prince mattered.
His safety, of course.
The throne room was stunning. I had a better view of it from off to the side, now that I wasn’t completely focused on Vorgyn as I had been yesterday when I’d been presented to him. Behind the prince on the dais were three windows rising ten meters into the air. Through the windows was an expansive view of the city below the mountain. Water lanterns on wall sconces bubbled and glowed. Tall pillars ran along the sides of the wide room and arches curved overhead with beautiful design work.
I watched everyone, looking for any threat to the prince. He had his elite bodyguards stationed around the room and he had his sword. But I remained on high alert. I only had to glance across the room to see the two robot heads he’d severed with his blade. Seeing them angered me because those assassin bots never should’ve made it so close to him. Now that I was here, they never would again.
Apparently, making me his courtezhana wasn’t the highest item on his agenda. Court proceeded as I supposed it probably always did. Merchants requested tariff decreases and administrators brought all kinds of problems to the prince’s attention. Issues on the big stations in orbit around Avoloxa, the space elevators that fed them supplies. Even more on trade. After awhile it all became quite tedious. I began to wonder if the assassin bots had gotten this far simply because the affairs of court had put everyone to sleep.
Everyone but Prince Vorgyn, who never once appeared bored. He paid equal attention to the citizens from Syrelundra as he did to the nobles.
After the final petitioner was heard, Prince Vorgyn stood.
He gazed slowly around the throne room. All was quiet as everyone stood watching and waiting.
“I wish to make an announcement. Yesterday, Melika Gendressa was raised to Angmoroh. Today, I claim her as courtezhana. She is now Banmoroh. She is now blood of clan Mar’Don.”
There were gasps and low mutters throughout the throne room. My face was hot, but I didn’t let my expression show what I was feeling inside. This was just to get close to the prince so I could protect him. I would do anything I had to do. Their outrage or their insults couldn’t bother me because the people here and their opinions were nothing to me.
Not unless they presented a threat to the prince.
The prince pushed himself from his throne. The expression on his face was darker than any storm. “Be silent,” he said to the crowd, his voice booming through the big room like thunder. “You will afford her the same respect any courtezhana is due. Disrespect her at your peril. My blade is hungry for blood. Don’t let it be yours.”
That chilled me. It seemed to chill everyone else in the room as well, because a silence fell, quiet enough to hear the fall of a leaf or the mating squeak of a moukin.
Prince Vorgyn walked down the steps to the dais and straight toward me. His expression was stony, his bright green eyes blazing. His muscles rippled as he moved. Courtiers and servants scurried out of his way. When he reached me, he held out his hand to me. “Courtezhana Melika.”
I bowed and took his hand. My heart was pounding so fast and hard I was certain he could feel it through our touch. “Your Royal Highness.”
He led me from the silent throne room through a back entrance I hadn’t been through before. Two of his elite bodyguards went before us up a curving stair. Two more followed close behind. I kept my attention divided between my surroundings, looking for threats to the prince, and the prince himself. He towered over me. His grip on me was firm but not crushing, and his skin was delightfully warm. My body was already eagerly reacting to him, but I pushed that distraction away.
Beg him for his cock, would I? He clearly had no idea how disciplined I was.
We reached the wide, beautifully inlaid doors to his chambers. Two guards waited outside. The prince immediately led me through the doors on the heels of the leading Jardan guards.
“My prince,” I said quickly. “Allow me the chance to secure your chambers first.”
“No,” he replied bluntly. “I hope there is someone here who wants to try and kill me. My blood is up. Let them come and we will battle like warriors.”
I wanted to bang my head against the wall. Why did I have to be assigned to a Jardan? He was fearless. And that made it nearly impossible for me to do my job.
“At least let me come with you into your inner chambers to ensure they are secure.”
“My inner chambers.” His smirk was all alpha male arrogance. “So, does that mean you’re ready to beg?”
I cleared my throat, glancing at his bodyguards, who were watching us closely. “Yes, my prince. I am ready to beg.”
His eyes went wide.
It was all I could do to remain stony-faced. “I beg you, Your Royal Highness, to allow me to secure your inner chambers.”
He threw back his head and laughed. The look he gave me was warm. “Well said. But I think we both know you will be begging me for other boons—to show you my favorite weapon, perhaps—sooner rather than later.”
“That remains to be seen, Your Royal Highness.” I couldn’t help a return smile. I liked how this prince laughed. Full of life and completely unabashed.
We entered his inner chambers. They were beautifully kept with huge windows along one wall.
The windows concerned me. A drone or ship could shoot through them right to where he slept. I walked to them, but he seemed to read my mind.
“They are shielded and can’t be seen through from outside,” he said, his voice amused. “That is, if you are worried…about our privacy. I could fuck you right up against that glass and no one would know.”
His words sent a thrill of pure erotic lightning streaking through me from my mind to my pussy. My nipples hardened into points, imagining him taking me that way. He was watching me with unabashed hunger in his eyes. I could sense he was instants from making his actions a reality…if I only said the words that would free him to. Instead, I nodded and circled the rest of the room. I found no threats, biological, robotic, or otherwise. His eyes followed me the entire time. It was all I could do to keep from looking at him as my pussy flooded and my skin felt hot enough to burn. No male had ever been able to turn me on with just a look…
There was something dangerous in this room. But it wasn’t any enemy. It was my prince.
“All clear, my prince,” I managed to finally say, my voice betraying me on the last word with a squeak.
He laughed. “I’m glad you are reassured. The ceremony to make you blood of the clan is tonight on the balcony,” he said carelessly, as if it were only a formality and not something already making the pit of my stomach flutter nervously. “You now have a servant to help you get ready. You may wear your armor,” he continued, his voice rougher than it had been when we’d entered. “I find a female dressed in battle gear titillating. Although I find a female out of her armor even more so.”
That time I did blush. Maybe it was the talk of armor. Or servants. Or thinking about being naked before him. Exposed to his fierce gaze.
Either way, I quickly cleared my throat again. “I had better go get prepared. And double check the balcony for security threats.”
&n
bsp; “Do that,” he replied easily, but his gaze never for an instant left me as I walked—as I hurriedly walked—to the door and escaped his inner chambers.
Outside, the Jardan female servant was waiting for me. She bowed to me. “Courtezhana, I am Risselle, here to serve you.” She was at least a head taller than me, with a build smaller than that of the males but still larger than mine, and powerful looking. Her smile, though, belied a sweet, gentle disposition. She didn’t seem offended or outraged to be serving me, an alien outsider. “Come,” she said, her eyes dancing with excited delight. “I’ve selected a huge array of garments for you to try on.”
“I will wear my kenvo suit and carry my weapons,” I told her. “To protect the prince.”
The disappointment was evident on her face. “But…there is the traditional black and silver garb of a courtezhana. It is always worn for the ceremony.”
“Let me see it then.”
We went into the room that was to be my chamber. The bed was bigger and softer. Actual decorations hung on the walls and graced the tops of actual furniture—a sitting area, huge viewscreen, an expansive rack for my weapons. There was even a window with a stunning view. I had to stop myself from doing a little dance of happiness right there. It was the best room I’d ever had.
The enormous bed held an enormous pile of black and silver fluff. There had to be enough garments there to clothe an entire regiment of courtezhanas. Risselle picked one up and smiled, holding it up to herself. “This one’s my favorite,” she said. She was practically glowing.
I immediately knew it wouldn’t do.
“The skirts are too long and full,” I said, looking it over critically. “It will get in the way of my movement. There’s nowhere to carry my weapons. And it is so low cut, my boobs will fall out if I have to fight.”
“Fight?” She seemed honestly puzzled. “The prince will protect his courtezhana. He is a great warrior.”
“So he keeps telling me. But it’s my job to protect him.”
She stared at me as if I were a new and curious breed of creature. Maybe a talking insect. “I had heard you were some kind of guard on your home world. That is not how things are done on Avoloxa.”
I ignored that. She was only a servant, she clearly had no idea about things like the Ron-Zishu and life contracts. I decided to try to meet her half way, just to be nice to the poor girl. “Why don’t you tell me what you think Prince Vorgyn would prefer.”
“I think he would prefer to admire your breasts. Males always like that.”
I laughed. “And as much as I would really like to torture him with such a view, I think wearing my kenvo suit makes the right statement to everyone. Weapons, not breasts.”
She seemed slightly amused, although I also got the feeling she approved. She looked me up and down in my uniform. “You do look strong and beautiful in your…kenvo suit? The Jardan like that as well. You will make a striking figure and be memorable.” Then she giggled, which made me like her even more. “Although I’m still not sure how much protection an undefeated warrior like our prince will need.”
“Oh, I’m sure he could probably break through these fortified walls with his hard, stubborn head,” I said. “But even a great warrior must sleep.”
That hooked a surprised laugh out of her. Then she covered her mouth, but her eyes took on a conspiratorial gaze. “This will make for a very interesting ceremony. The citizens of Avoloxa will be scandalized.”
I froze. “Wait. This is to be broadcast?”
She nodded. “Anything official having to do with the royal family is broadcast to the citizens. It is their right to see and their way of participating.”
I silently rattled off a string of my best curses. That changed everything. I was willing to show up in my gear for this claiming ceremony, which I’d assumed would be private, but even I understood the need for pomp and circumstance when it came to the public.
Scandalizing the royal family wasn’t my intention. My job was not to cause controversy that might wind up endangering him in any way. I couldn’t risk embarrassing him—especially since he’d been forced to take me on as a bodyguard after rejecting me, and then announcing to court that I was to be the first human courtezhana. After the reaction at court, he’d been scandalized enough.
“I changed my mind,” I told Risselle. “We’ll go with traditional dress.” I could probably strap a weapon or two on my thighs, out of sight. It would have to do.
Risselle beamed.
“This one’s your favorite, you say?”
She nodded excitedly, clutching the gown to herself, as if she were hoping I’d give her permission to wear it when I was done.
“It’s perfect,” I said, giving her my best attempt at a girlish smile. “Let’s try it on.”
CHAPTER SIX
Prince Vorgyn Mar’Don
As annoying as I found it, I couldn’t help but wonder what the little human was up to in her room. Was she changing into the traditional garments right now, sliding on piece after piece of clothing over the soft pale pink of her luscious skin? Were her nipples the same tempting pink of risela flowers? What about her lower lips? The same? And how would she taste if I spread those folds and dipped my tongue to her honey? How would her pussy feel, stretched around my cock? Would she shudder and urge me on? Lose herself in silent bliss?
Annoying thoughts. Annoying because they had me stuck with a raging erection I could do nothing about. Nothing except wish she were right here, right now.
My room’s two-meter viewscreen indicated an incoming call from Queen Amsila Mar’Don. My mother. I had been expecting this conversation.
With a word, I accepted the transmission. My mother’s smiling face appeared on the screen. Her skin was a slightly darker shade of blue than mine, and her silver hair was arranged in an elaborate style that probably kept six hairdressers busy. She had the same green eyes that I did. Most of the time those eyes danced with amusement. I’d never quite understood how, with all the pressure both my mother and father had running the empire, she could still have any sense of humor at all.
But obviously, she still had quite a good one.
“Greetings, Mother,” I said, keeping my tone carefully neutral. I was also careful to keep the viewscreen camera focused on my face. The last thing I needed my mother to know was how my stiff cock was threatening to tear its way out of my pants because I wanted to fuck the pretty little human she’d sent to torment me. “To what do I owe the honor of this call?”
She wasn’t having any of that. She smiled at me knowingly. “How did you like my gift?”
“What gift?”
She laughed. “Don’t be obtuse, oh youngest offspring of mine. The human female. She is quite the warrior. I watched her destroy her way through six top-of-the-line combat robots before I bought her life contract.”
“Oh, that human.” Six robots? Huh.
“Yes, that human. And she did not come cheaply, I’ll have you know. Not every mother would have spent so much on her ungrateful third son. How do you like her?”
Two could play at this game. “Well, Mother, I’ll have you know I’ve decided to mate her. She will be courtezhana. The ceremony is tonight.” I glanced at the timestamp on the viewscreen. “In four hours. No, no, Mother, don’t try to talk me out of it. I’ve made up my mind. I know she’s only a human, but I find her fetching. I simply won’t hear any of your emotional outbursts on the subject.”
She clapped her hands and smiled at me as if I’d just killed my first kryvlon snakebeast. I had always suspected my mother was insane; now I had proof. My choosing a human courtezhana would cause an uproar throughout the empire. She had to be insane to want something like this.
Then it hit me. It would cause an uproar, but perhaps it would cause enough of an uproar to drive those dishonorable rebels looking to assassinate me out into the open. Where I could deal with them decisively. It also took away the stigma of a warrior prince of my stature being body-guarded by a female if
she were primarily seen as my consort. That way I could keep her close to me without looking as though I were cowering behind her.
My mother, as much as I hated to admit it, was brilliant.
But that didn’t mean I had to give her the satisfaction of letting her know I knew it.
“Well, she is rather fetching for a human,” she said brightly. “And for a bodyguard. Some of the others I looked at…” She made a face as if she’d just swallowed that kryvlon snakebeast. “I know that wasn’t the best way to introduce you to her, but I also know you would never have agreed if I hadn’t forced your hand.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Mother, I can take care of myself. But I do need a woman to warm my sheets at night. So thank you, from the bottom of my manhood.”
“Oh, don’t be like your father, all ego and no heart. Of course you’re strong. I knew that the minute you fought your way out of my womb.” Her expression grew serious. “But these enemies are not before you. They are hiding like the cowards they are. I will not allow some assassin to stab my son in the back while he sends out challenges to honorable enemies. She will be your shadow, your second sight, the eyes that gaze behind you, protecting you from the unseen knife. In this way, she will indeed warm your sheets, as you will never be apart from her. In this way, you will sleep as safely in them as you did in the womb.”
I gazed at her a moment, and realized my mouth was slightly agape. I closed it.
“Am I understood?” she asked.
I nodded slowly, gritting my teeth. She was understood…and perhaps even right.
“Good. Now, tell me all the details of the ceremony. I’m assuming you don’t want us to attend, my big warrior all grown up and taking care of himself, running a planet—”
“Mother.” I arched an eyebrow at the screen.
“What? A mother can’t love her child? Fine. I’ll skip the mush. But I will be watching the vidshow. And I’ll probably be crying. Perhaps she’ll give me lots of big, cooing grandchildren. I always found humans quite adorable. Humans can bear more than three children, did you know? I would love six.”