Jakke looked sharply at his father, “What, no present for him?”
“Not this time. I think I learned my lesson,” his father replied, taking another sip of his drink.
“Am I missing something?” Dazz asked.
“When I arrived home with my human mate, Father had Cassia, Elle, and Kiaa delivered to my rooms--- where Sydney was waiting,” Jakke said as he took another sip.
“I take it that did not go well?” Dazz asked, barely hiding his smile.
“Your mate is human; what do you think?” Jakke said, cocking an eyebrow at his brother.
Dazz burst out laughing. “I’m sure it didn’t,” Dazz replied.
“Have you told your mate about Sassha and Britt?” Jakke asked.
“I had gone back to our quarters and found she had drunk half a bottle of Fire’s Breath. She wouldn’t give up on the questions about our mating and culture, so against my better judgment, I told her about them.”
“Half a bottle?!” exclaimed Jakke, he and the king looking shocked as Dazz nodded.
“How did she react?” This question was from his father.
“She asked if I knew how she would feel. I hadn’t ever thought about it, and told her so. She said she’d show me, so she marched outside, spotted Sakku, and kissed him. I almost lost my mind. Then she proceeded to tell me that if Sassha and Britt lived with us, she’d kill them.”
“Do you think she would?” his father asked.
Dazz grinned. “Absolutely! When the Tureis attacked, she killed several of them, and once she even saved my life.”
Dazz felt extremely proud that his mate had a warrior’s spirit. After hearing about Jakke’s present when he arrived home, Dazz was happy he and Chloe had talked about and settled things before they’d arrived.
“This has been fun, but with your permission, I’m heading back to my rooms,” his father nodded.
“Are you and your mate staying tonight?” his father asked.
“I told her we’d head home.”
“Stay tonight. I’m sure Kattlyn and Risshi will be here in the morning. They can meet your mate,” his father stated.
Chloe
After Dazz left, she and Mara had a good look around. The room---as he called it---was huge, bigger than any apartment that Chloe had ever seen.
When she walked into the bathroom, she took in her appearance in the large, floor-length mirror. “My hair looks awful,” she said to Mara as she finger-combed through it.
“It does not. You always look beautiful.”
“Ha! Now that’s a lie,” Chloe said with a laugh.
A knock on the door startled them both. Not sure what to do, Chloe cracked it open and saw Sydney waiting outside.
“Come in,” Chloe said as she opened the door wide, allowing her entrance.
“Thank you. Jakke went to that meeting, so I thought I’d come here.”
“We’re glad you did. I don’t know if I told you, but this is Mara.”
“You did.” Sydney’s eyes turned to Mara, “Nice to meet you.” Sydney stared a little before asking, “May I ask how old are you?”
“I’m nineteen,” Mara answered, her voice shy and low.”
“This must be a little scary for you.”
“Yeah, a little.”
“Okay, so what’s going on here?” Chloe interjected.
Sydney took a deep breath and then walked to the couch and plopped down. “A lot of it has to do with the fact that Jakke will be the next ruler of Azziar. His father would prefer him to have an Azziarin mate. The king basically ignored me when we arrived, making me feel beneath everyone. And while Jakke was attending a meeting with his father, as he is now, his father had Jakke’s three consorts delivered to the room. To make things worse, I didn’t know anything about consorts, or that he had three!” Sydney threw her hands up. This was obviously still bothering her.
“Wow,” was all Chloe could say.
“Yeah, so now I’m pregnant and all of a sudden he’s nice to me? I don’t think so,” Sydney huffed out.
“Has anyone else been mean to you?”
“No. The woman, I mean females here,” she rolled her eyes, “are not mean, but they don’t really speak to me. The only one I would hate to run into is Cassia. I think she’d hurt me in a heartbeat. There was just something about her when we met that wasn’t right. She had that look in her eyes, and she knew exactly what she was doing when she started seducing Jakke. Cassia would glance at me with a calculated look while letting her hands roam his body. She is a cat who would as soon spit on me than give me the time of day.”
“Sounds like a real bitch. I’ll keep that in mind if I’m ever unfortunate enough to have to meet her!”
“That she is. What about Dazz and his consorts?”
“Dazz told me about the two consorts that lived with him. He moved them out before we arrived, but he says he needs to talk to them, explain why he had them removed.”
“Are you going with him?” Sydney asked.
“Hell, yes!” They all laughed. “Unless he can give me a good reason why I shouldn’t, that is.” They were still grinning when Chloe asked, “Okay, where did you get those beautiful clothes? I’ve been wearing a black jumpsuit the entire time.”
“They have replicators that can make anything you want. Jakke gave me one while we were on the Victory.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Let me take your measurements and I’ll make you some.”
“That’d be wonderful,” Chloe said with happiness and excitement. To be able to wear real clothes!
Sydney retrieved her scanner and took Chloe’s, then Mara’s measurements before asking, “Tell me what you like to wear, and I’ll have something for you before morning.”
“Thank you!” Chloe squealed.
“Yes, thank you,” Mara replied quietly.
Chapter Eleven
Chloe
Dazz came in and found the three of them talking and having a good time. When Chloe’s eyes met his, she smiled and said, “You’re back!”
“That’s my cue to leave. Jakke will be looking for me.” Sydney gave her hug before turning to Mara. “Would you like me to show you where you can sleep tonight?”
Mara’s eyes darted to Chloe’s and then back to Sydney’s. “Yes, thank you,” she replied.
As they left, Chloe turned to Dazz and said, “Finally, alone at last.”
“Yes, we are. What shall we do?” he asked before taking the back of her head in hand and planting his lips on hers in a demanding kiss. Chloe loved his gentle loving nature, but she also loved it when his dominant side came out to play.
With one hand on the back of her head, he used the other one to rip her clothes, exposing her bare breasts, and then the rest of her body. After tearing his own off, he picked Chloe up and spun around until her back was against the wall. He held her in his arms with ease, and she could feel his corded muscles as she gripped his shoulders.
As he broke the kiss, he stared into her eyes and slowly lowered her onto his hard shaft, letting her feel every inch of him as she slid down, taking him to the hilt.
“You feel so good,” he said in a husky voice as he closed his eyes.
“I can say the same,” Chloe said in a breathy voice, her arms wrapped around his neck.
He held her hips firmly in place as he pounded into her. It felt different, but so good. With every thrust of his hips, Chloe moaned, making him quicken the pace. “I’m gonna…ahh…,” she yelled, and then bit down on his shoulder while wave after wave crashed through her. She tasted his blood on her lips, and then heard him as he followed suit and yelled out his release!
With her legs still wrapped around his hips, his shaft still buried deep inside, and his forehead on hers, he said, “I’ve been dying to do that all day.”
“That was unbelievable!” she rasped out, still trying to catch her breath.
“I love you, Chloe.”
“I love you, too, Dazz.”
Dazz
Holding Chloe in his arms, Dazz fell fast asleep after joining with his mate several more times.
The next standard morning, he woke to an empty bed. When he heard the shower, he smiled and decided to join her.
Already naked, he quietly slipped into the shower and watched his mate. Her eyes were closed, her hands on top of her head, lathering her hair, which gave him a great view of her breasts. His shaft swelled in anticipation of things yet to come as he put his arm around her waist and pulled her body close to his.
Her eyes popped open in surprise as she squealed, “Dazz, you scared me!”
He laughed before nibbling the soft area between her neck and shoulder as he let his length press against her stomach. “Oh…” she mumbled as her hands groped his ass, pulling him even closer…
Forty standard minutes later, they exited the now-cool shower. After Dazz donned his usual garb, he turned to find Chloe in a pair of blue pants and a green top that matched her eyes and showed an ample amount of cleavage.
“Wow, you look great!” he said as he stared at her exposed cleavage.
“Hey! My eyes are up here,” she said, and almost laughed when his eyes shot to hers.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“It’s okay. I’m glad you like the way I look.”
“That I do.” He looked her over one more time. “Shall we collect Mara and head to first meal?”
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’m starving!”
Joining his family in the dining hall for first meal was less tense than the meal the night before as Dazz introduced Chloe to his brother and sister; this meal was just family.
“Risshi, it’s good to see you,” Dazz said as Risshi stood and the two clasped forearms.
“Good to see you made it back in one piece---and not alone, I might add,” Risshi said with a warm smile.
Dazz couldn’t help but grin as his arm circled around Chloe’s waist, pulling her into his body. “Chloe, this is my brother, Risshi.” Chloe smiled at him as Dazz continued, “Risshi, this is my mate, Chloe.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, but Risshi wasn’t looking at Chloe. His eyes were fixed on Mara.
His eyes glanced back to hers as he said, “It’s very nice to meet you as well.” Then his eyes found Mara once again, “And who is this?” he asked.
“This is Mara. We rescued her from a Tureis ship,” Dazz supplied.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mara. Would you like to join me for first meal?”
Dazz watched the interaction between the two and grinned. Interesting, he thought.
It took Mara a moment to answer, but she finally said, “O…Okay.”
Kattlyn stood as Dazz led Chloe to the table and introduced her, saying, “And this is my sister, Kattlyn.”
Kattlyn gave Chloe a warm smile as she said, “It’s nice to meet you, mate of my brother.”
“Chloe, her name is Chloe,” Dazz interjected.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Chloe returned her smile in kind.
“Now that everyone’s here and the introductions are out of the way, let’s eat.” All eyes turned to King Mallik. Chloe hadn’t seen him earlier.
Everything went well. They all talked while passing food and eating a wonderful first meal. The scene reminded Dazz of times past, when his mother was still alive and the entire family would gather to eat.
After they finished eating, Dazz escorted Chloe back to their rooms, while Mara stayed behind to talk with Kattlyn and Risshi. He had one more uncomfortable task to complete before taking Chloe home.
“I have to talk to Sassha and Britt,” he said, facing Chloe and holding both her hands in his.
“Where are you meeting them?” she asked, in a quiet tone.
“At the marketplace.” He laid his forehead against hers. “Please don’t be upset. I just feel I owe them that much.”
“I don’t like it, but I do understand,” she sighed. “When do you have to leave?”
“Soon. Will you stay with Jakke’s mate?”
“I can go with you,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I know, but I think it will be easier on everyone if I do this alone---even on you.”
“How long will you be gone?” He heard the worry in her voice.
“I’ll be back as quickly as possible. I don’t like being away from you, either,” he confessed, trying to reassure her.
Chloe
“So you let him go by himself?” Sydney asked as the two of them walked around outside the castle.
“I wanted to go, but short of sounding like an insecure, jealous wife,” she shrugged. “I didn’t really have a choice.”
“No, I guess not.” They continued walking toward a beautiful rose garden. Okay, not roses but similar enough, Chloe decided.
“So, you’re pregnant, huh?” Chloe asked with a grin.
“Yeah, and this baby is growing…fast. Did you know that pregnancies here are about half as long as a normal pregnancy on Earth?”
“No shit?” Chloe asked in awe. “That’s good news. I always thought being pregnant for nine months was a long time.”
Sydney chuckled, “I agree, but with the baby rapidly growing, it’s very hard on my body.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Hey, what’s the story with Mara?” Sydney asked.
“She doesn’t really say. The only thing she’s told me was she was held on the Tureis ship for a while, and she’s pregnant.”
“Oh, God, is it…”
“No, no, no…the doctor checked her out and said the baby is human.”
Sydney let out a relieved sigh, “That’s good.”
While looking at the exotic flowers, the ones mixed in with the roses, Chloe smelled of each and every different kind. They were beautiful to behold.
“Do you come here often?” Chloe asked, but Sydney didn’t answer. Turning around, she asked, “Where’d you go?” Still nothing.
Chloe walked to the last place Sydney had been standing, but couldn’t find her anywhere. Then she felt a prick on the back of her neck, and everything went black.
Dazz
He spotted Sassha and Britt sitting on a wooden bench in the crowded marketplace. As he stood there watching them, dread crept into his soul. They were both beautiful, and the three of them had been through a lot together. Nevertheless, for Chloe and he to be happy, he had to put an end to this chapter in his life. Dazz just hated hurting them. He took a deep breath and decided to get it over with.
As he approached, Sassha spotted him first. She jumped to her feet, and threw her arms around his neck.
“I’ve missed you so much, Dazz,” she said, smiling warmly at him, which made him feel worse.
He returned her smile while extracting himself from her arms, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He then took a step back, getting out of her reach. The smile dropped from her face as she asked, “What’s going on?”
“Yes, why did you have us removed from your home?” Britt asked, now standing beside Sassha.
A sympathetic smile graced his lips for a mere moment, and he finally said, “I care about both you, and I’m very sorry…”
“What is it?” Sassha asked, taking a step forward.
“I’ve taken a mate.”
Shock and hurt crossed Sassha’s face. Sakku had told him that his cousin had had hopes of one day being Dazz’s mate, but now she had to know that it wouldn’t be possible.
“I still don’t understand,” Britt said with a confused look on her face.
“I know,” Dazz answered. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I’ve taken a human mate. Their culture does not allow consorts, and I agreed to give you up.”
Tears filled Britt’s eyes, as Sassha’s lower lip quivered. Dazz hated hurting them, but what other choice did he have?
“Why would you do that? Don’t you care about us?” Sassha asked in a shaky voice.
“I do care about you,” he looked at each in turn, “I care ab
out both of you, and never wanted to hurt either of you. I never intended for this to happen, and I didn’t go looking for someone else. It just happened,” his eyes darted between the two letting them hear the sincerity of his words, “And I love my mate.”
“So that’s it?” Britt asked with tears in her eyes.
“It has to be. I know you have safely returned to your parents’ homes, and I truly hope you will someday find your own mates. I wish you the best, but now I must go.” He smiled sadly at one, then the other before saying, “Take care of yourselves,” and then turned and walked away. He knew he should stay and talk more, but he couldn’t stand to watch them hurt, and nothing he said would make them feel better.
Arriving back at the castle, he needed to find Chloe. Her presence alone could brighten up the darkest standard day, and he needed her comfort.
After checking his rooms, and then Jakke’s, he puzzled over her absence. Finding Risshi, Mara, and Kattlyn in the main room of the castle, he asked, “Have either of you seen my mate?”
“She and Sydney were going for a walk in the garden. They asked me to join them, but I wanted to catch up with Risshi,” Kattlyn answered.
“They asked me as well, but I decided to stay here,” Mara supplied.
“Thanks,” he said before heading in that direction.
He didn’t find Chloe in the garden, the Dining Hall, or anywhere else. There was also no sign of Sydney, either. He found Jakke in the king’s office with their father. “Jakke, I can’t find either of our mates!”
Jakke stood, “What do you mean?” he asked with concern.
“I mean, I can’t find them!” Dazz exclaimed, more worried by the standard minute.
“Let me contact Sydney’s guard.”
“She has a guard?”
“Yes, but he keeps his distance. She doesn’t even know.”
Dazz waited while Jakke called someone, but the look on his face said much. “I’m not getting a response.”
“I’m going back to the garden to have another look around!” Dazz said before heading out the door.
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