by Regine Abel
Khel left for the Council Hall. It shamed me that I welcomed his absence. I’d bailed on breakfast with them because being in their presence was difficult. What doubts I’d held about their intimacy were a thing of the past. Khel’s Taint was fading at record speed. I’d never seen such a dramatic recovery. At this rate, he would look like a Norm in a few days and like a Prime in another week. It could have been me.
It should have been me. I needed it far more than he did.
I quelled the vicious notion, hating that such thoughts even crossed my mind. I feared it would create an unbridgeable rift between us.
The physical changes weren’t the only signs of their intimacy. Around her, Khel’s emotions no longer felt like the repressed aching hunger one has for the unattainable object of their desire. It was the slow burning embers of contentment laced with lustful anticipation. It was hard enough fighting my attraction to Amalia without it getting enhanced by Khel’s affection for her.
The fine line between his feelings and my own were blurred where she was concerned. But worse, their intensity had increased over the past couple of days. I could feel his emotions from a greater distance than before. I first noticed two nights ago, when I felt the dull echo of his climax. It was such a surprise that I figured it was just my imagination. But last night, on two occasions, the soft whispers of his pleasure coursed through me, building up to the ghost of his orgasms. It was enough to make me ache for more. I couldn’t seem to block him either, leaving me tortured.
Jhola was giving Amalia her first cooking lesson. Amalia’s grin when she declared me her official taster had me worried. Sooner or later, she would feed me something foul… on purpose. The distressed look on Jhola’s face when I had visited the kitchen earlier didn’t bode well.
I completed my training session and took a quick shower. I was eager to finish compiling the information I’d gathered on Gruuk’s whereabouts. Khel, Ghan and I would meet tomorrow morning to go over our findings. This was proving to be much bigger than I’d imagined.
As I headed back to my office, the gate announcer chimed. Intrigued, I looked through the window of the sitting area to see Sohr and Yhan escorting a Xelixian female to the door.
My personal com beeped. “Yes?”
“Yhan here. We’re bringing a Family Welfare Advisor to the main entrance. Her ID checked positive.”
“Thank you.”
What in Gharah’s name was an Advisor doing here? I’d never heard of them visiting newly-mated couples uninvited. A sense of unease filled me. I considered donning a veil to cover my Taint as was proper etiquette, but thought better of it. Many nobles were upset that Amalia had chosen a Tainted. If the Advisor was here to cause trouble, I wanted her destabilized. Marching to the door, I opened it as the Advisor and her escort climbed the stairs. I stood in the middle of the doorway, blocking it.
“Hello, Seha,” I said, my face and tone neutral. “How may I help you?”
I refrained from smirking when she winced at my Tainted face. She averted her pitch-black eyes with discomfort. She glanced back and forth between the open doorway and me, waiting to be invited inside. I pretended not to understand.
She cleared her throat. “We would be more comfortable inside to discuss the object of my visit.”
“And I believe I asked, ‘how may I help you?’”
She bristled. “Your guard informed you I’m a Family Welfare Advisor.”
“He has.”
“Well, there you have it.”
“Uh, huh. But that still doesn’t tell me ‘how may I help you?’”
“Argh! I want to speak to Seha Praghan,” she hissed, her skinny fingers pulling stiffly at the hem of the light grey vest of her uniform.
“My cousin Khel is absent at the moment, which leaves me in charge. His mate is occupied. So let me rephrase – what is this about?”
Her nostrils flared in outrage. “I’m here to verify the health and welfare of Seha Praghan.”
My eyes narrowed. “Her health and welfare? Whatever makes you think either would require you to investigate their status?”
“You’re preventing me from seeing her,” she retorted. “Why is that? Do you have something to hide, Sehr?”
“Are you implying, before witnesses,” I gestured at Yhan and Sohr, “that Khel Praghan would harm a female, his newly bonded mate no less?”
She flinched at the barely veiled threat. Slander and defamation were serious crimes on Xelix Prime. It was why we treaded carefully regarding Zhul’s suspicious involvement in the death of Khel’s family.
She schooled her bony face to a neutral expression. “Of course not. I’m merely saying the Law requires that Family Welfare ensures newly mated females are properly cared for, understand their rights, and have a contact outside their new home should external assistance be required. It’s standard procedure.”
“I’ve never heard of such visits. What gives us this special consideration?”
“We rarely visit when Xelixian females are involved, since they already know the laws and have local relatives to ensure their welfare. But we regularly do this with off-worlder females since they’re alone, vulnerable and mostly unaware of their rights,” she said with a long-suffering sigh.
I didn’t believe a word coming out of her mouth, but her arguments were sound. My gut told me she had a hidden agenda. However, defying her would give her grounds to create a world of problems for Khel and Amalia. The Advisor’s eyes widened as she looked past my shoulders.
“Lhor?” Amalia called.
I turned to see Amalia standing in the entrance hall a few feet behind me.
“Seha Praghan?” the Advisor exclaimed, sneaking past me into the house.
She marched swiftly toward Amalia. The guards tensed, reaching for their swords when the Advisor clasped a hand on Amalia’s forearm and the other on her upper arm, in the traditional warrior’s greeting.
“Hello, Seha Praghan! I’m Letha Colbhen, your Advisor from the Family Welfare office,” she blurted out, casting wary glances at the snarling guards and me.
Stunned, Amalia recoiled at the contact. Once she realized the female wasn’t attacking her, Amalia closed her own hesitant fingers around Letha’s forearm, completing the salutation.
“H–Hello.” Amalia threw an uncertain look my way.
Amalia pulled her arm out of Letha’s grip, who seemed reluctant to release her. She rubbed the places the Advisor’s hands had connected with her bare skin, looking uneasy. What in Gharah’s name was that? Xelixians didn’t touch each other like that, and especially not females. I wondered for a moment if this was the way Veredians greeted each other.
“My advisor? Why do I need an advisor?” she asked Letha, though her eyes were on me.
“Maybe we could sit while I explain the purpose of this first visit,” Letha suggested, her smile too bright.
“Of course. This way.” Amalia gestured toward the adjoining sitting room. “What do you mean first visit?”
That’s what I wanted to know too. I cast a meaningful glance at the two guards who nodded in understanding. Yhan stepped outside to inform the gate that he and Sohr would remain at the house with the Advisor. He returned inside and they both took positions by the door.
I walked into the sitting room, my eyes glued to Letha. Amalia pointed Letha to the three-seat sofa then sat across from her in a plush chair. I stood by the window, directly in Letha’s line of sight, and leaned against the wall. She bristled at my presence.
“Privacy is expected for these discussions,” Letha said, giving me a pointed look.
“Oh no, that’s fine,” Amalia said. “I’d like Lhor to stay.”
I winked at Amalia before looking at the Advisor. There was no way I was leaving Amalia alone with this female. Gharah himself couldn’t drag me away.
“This is for your benefit, Seha. You have to be able to say anything without fear of repercussions.”
Amalia lifted her hands questioningly. “What could
I possibly have to say to you that I’d wish to hide from Lhor or Khel? What is this about?”
“Making sure you know the law and your rights.” Letha’s smile, though meant to be friendly, was creepy. “Seeing to your physical and mental welfare is also among my duties.”
“As you can see, I’m in good health and well cared for… spoiled in fact,” Amalia grinned waving at her lavish surroundings.
“Are you?” Letha challenged. “Are you properly provided with all the basic necessities?”
“Hell yes!” Amalia said. “I live in a superb home, with an extremely welcoming staff, one of whom happens to be the most amazing cook. In the past few days, I’ve spent an obscene amount of credits Khel provided for clothes, shoes, accessories and anything else that struck my fancy. I’ve been given a fabulous three room suite to do with as I please. So yes, I’m beyond properly provided for when it comes to basic necessities.”
My heart swelled with pride. Little Amalia had fire. The Advisor was clearly out to cause trouble and I wanted her out of here. Right. Now. There was no doubt in my mind someone had sent her. Zhul, I suspected, although proving it would be a challenge.
Letha pinched her lips. “That sounds adequate. Then we should discuss the mating laws.”
Amalia frowned. “Magister Zhef was rather thorough. Did he omit or misrepresent something?”
“Well… no,” Letha admitted reluctantly.
“So what is there to talk about?”
“Do you have any questions or concerns about them, their application or enforcement?”
Amalia drummed her fingers on the armrest. “No, everything was quite clear. As I said, Magister Zhef was thorough.”
“I want to make sure you’re aware that your Fastening isn’t final,” Letha said. “At the end of your Trial, you can request its dissolution, no justifications needed. Off-worlder females often feel alone and vulnerable. Some fear terminating a Fastening because they have nowhere to go. That’s where I come in. When the time comes, we’ll provide you with free, comfortable accommodations in Capital District and you’ll receive a credit allowance until the next Fastening. As an exotic Pearl, you’ll easily find a more suitable mate with your pick of Primes.” She rummaged through her purse. “Oh, and here are some contraceptives to avoid… unfortunate surprises before then.”
Amalia and I both stared at the Advisor in shock. The audacity! She barged into our home uninvited to incite Amalia to dissolve her bond less than a week into it? I seethed even though Amalia wasn’t my mate.
She should have been.
Amalia straightened in her chair, crossing her legs and clasping her hands over her knee. Ignoring the contraceptives Letha was extending towards her, Amalia leaned forward and leveled Letha with a withering glare.
“Seha…?” Amalia asked coolly.
“Colbhen. Letha Colbhen.”
“Advisor Colbhen,” Amalia articulated slowly. “I can’t believe the shit that just came out of your mouth. I’ve been mated less than a week and you’re praising the ease and convenience with which I could leave Khel at the end of the Trial? I resent that you speak of the dissolution of my Fastening not as should, but when that time comes. I resent even more that you should say a more suitable mate. And where the fuck do you get off calling any child that Khel and I could conceive an unfortunate surprise?”
Letha recoiled at Amalia’s tirade, her long face made even longer by her gaping mouth.
“I would expect an advisor to counsel me on ways to ensure the success of my mating; to promote ways to accelerate my integration into this society; not try to sell me on taking another shot at a Prime. If I wanted a Prime, I would’ve gone for one. I got exactly the male I wanted and he’s not only suitable, he’s fucking awesome in every way, including in the bedroom. So your convenient services will not be required. My Fastening is final and will remain so. Trials be damned. And as for those contraceptives, I can suggest a few places where you can shove them.”
Amalia rose from her chair, her hair cascading down her lithe back. She towered over the Advisor, her eyes burning with contempt. She was magnificent – elegance intertwined with hard steel.
“Now, you’ve said what you came here to say. Your duty is done. Don’t come back.”
“But…” Letha sputtered.
“Lhor, would you mind showing her out?”
“My pleasure,” I said with a feral grin.
“Jhola will be serving lunch shortly. We would love your company, Lhor.”
Letha extended her hand for another warrior salutation, but Amalia ignored her and walked away. I forced myself not to stare at her graceful form as she turned the corner. Letha dropped her hand, mouth pinched. I smirked and asked Yhan and Sohr to take out the trash.
I had lunch to attend.
CHAPTER 12
Amalia
The gall! It took all my willpower not to kick her bony ass out of the house. I knew she was bad news the moment I laid eyes on her sourpuss face. The clammy feel of her hands on my arm had given me the creeps. Something felt off about the whole deal. Although she was gone, I felt unease settle in the pit of my stomach. I tried to peer into her future.
Letha sat in a private shuttle bearing the Family Welfare logo. She ordered the pilot to head back to the Hall. The shuttle lifted off as she pulled out her datapad and wrote a message to a contact named V.
‘Made contact with Pearl. Message delivered. Non-cooperative. Declined future visits. Task completed.’
She tossed the datapad on the seat next to hers and pinched her lips.
The downside of my gift kicked in as the vision faded; she was out of range. However, the more familiar I was with someone, the greater the distance I could sustain. The vision hadn’t revealed much. Did Gruuk send her on a reconnaissance mission? Nothing in my vision indicated foul play, so maybe she was just bigoted and sucked at her job.
If only I could hack the systems in my visions. How awesome it would be to trace the message back to the receiver and snoop around his system. The sound of approaching footsteps pulled me back to the present. Lhor walked into the dinette. His graceful gait reminded me of the mesmerizing way his body moved in the training room – fluid, controlled, lethal.
“Thanks for not leaving me alone with that female,” I said when Lhor sat beside me at the table. “She made me very uncomfortable. There was something about her…”
“It was my honor, Amalia. You’re family now. And you’re right; something about her was off. But the guards did a background check while you were talking and her story checks out.”
I nodded slowly. My vision indicated the same. “I can’t believe she all but told me to dump Khel when the Trial ends and pick a Prime instead. Do you think she already has someone in mind?”
Lhor shrugged. “She would be in the perfect position to do that.”
While talking, Lhor filled my plate with various dishes Jhola set for us. I examined him discreetly, amazed again by his flawless features. Khel was handsome too, though his features weren’t as refined. If not for the Taint, Lhor would have every female for miles begging for his attention. Those electric blue eyes were mesmerizing and his lips… Goddess have mercy! Plump and sensuous – I couldn’t help wondering how soft they would feel.
“I didn’t realize Xelixians greeted each other by clasping forearms,” I said, stirring away from my dangerous line of thought. “You seem to keep physical contact to a minimum.”
“It surprised me too. We don’t touch strangers. The standard Xelixian greeting is placing the right hand on your heart and a slight bow. Forearm clasping is a warrior’s salutation. When you held her forearm in response, I wondered if this was the way of your people.”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “Veredians greet close friends and family by placing their right hand on the heart of the other person while staring into each other’s eyes. One person will say from my heart to yours then the other will repeat it back.”
“Then it’s quite odd,” he s
aid, his eyes roaming the length of my arm where the advisor gripped it.
I didn’t want to dwell any more on the foul woman. Aside from pissing me off, she hadn’t done any harm. “Tell me something about yourself, Lhor.”
He smiled, those adorable dimples winking at me, making my girly bits perk in interest. “I believe it’s your turn to tell me something about yourself, Amalia.”
That was fair. Too bad my own stories didn’t have happy endings like his. There hadn’t been an ‘Uncle Dhak to the rescue’ the day my mother died. I told Lhor about growing up on The Revenant with my mother, Sevina, and Nana Maheva. We had found a piece of happiness together.
“It’s ironic that Gruuk’s greed killed my mother,” I said, lost in thoughts. “She’d been well into the fifth month of her pregnancy when Gruuk heard about the location of a large celesium shipment. We were close enough to steal the cargo before its owner arrived. Despite her condition, he sent Mother with the recovery team. With her kinetic ability, she could split open the container and close it without a trace. But when she did, it wasn’t celesium inside but kaledium, a highly radioactive metal. In her state, the radiation treatment would’ve killed her and the baby, so Gruuk decided to hold off.”
I took a deep breath. After ten years, it still hurt to think of my mother. Lhor’s eyes filled with compassion.
“My Nana can mend any wound, but she can’t heal sickness. Mom’s health deteriorated so quickly they had to induce labor, but it was too late. Mom and my baby sister died. After that, Gruuk recalled Aunt Aleina; she had the same ability as my mother. The ship transporting her to The Revenant never made it. It sent a distress signal, claiming to be under attack by a cloaked vessel. We never found out what happened to my aunt or the crew.”
Mom’s death was my first foresight vision. I dreamt that she went into labor. Nana and The Revenant’s chief medical officer performed a C-section. My mother was under local anesthesia and dropped in and out of delirium.
“Mama, tell Amalia… tell my baby I love her,” Mom said, her face strained with pain. “Tell her I’m sorry. That I didn’t want to leave her. Promise me you’ll take care of her. She won’t understand. Promise me, Mama.”