by Regine Abel
“That was different, my heart,” Khel said. “Her crime was only against you. As the victim, you could choose whether or not to lay charges against her. You chose not to, although we all disagreed with your choice. But it remained your choice to make.”
Lhor nodded. “This time, however, there are countless indirect victims. Should they not have a say?”
“They will call for blood,” Valena said. “The females suffered tremendously. They want someone punished for their pain.” She looked at the General. “Had Varrek and his mother been caught, they would have dismissed him as merely one of Varrek’s tools. But if you bring him before them now as sole accused, they will destroy him.”
“He wouldn’t quite be the sole accused. We are gathering some of the former guards and customers,” Ghan said. “But as a victim yourself, what do you think should be done?”
I was grateful for him asking that question. It had burned behind my lips for a while.
“I’m not the best reference, I’m afraid,” Valena said with an apologetic smile. “I’ve read his mind. I know his heart. Nhed Dervhen is a good male who has also suffered a lot. I would just let him go.”
My throat tightened. Valena’s hand found mine under the table. I gave hers a gentle thank you squeeze.
“Actually, it makes your testimony all the more powerful,” Lhor said. “I agree that we cannot just sweep this under the rug without setting a dangerous precedent. I suggest we bring this matter before the Council and let them decide, as this also has serious diplomatic ramifications. If Valena vouches for him before them, we can hope for a more lenient outcome.”
We all nodded in agreement.
Hope surged in my heart again. Before his fall, my father had many friends among the Council. The Goddess willing, they would show him mercy.
“That settles it then,” Khel said. “Thank you all for your collaboration.”
We all rose from our chairs. The Admiral and Kamala both performed the traditional Veredian greeting towards Valena and me. My mate returned it gracefully, while I made a bit of a mess of it. They were gracious enough not to call me out on it. The Admiral caressed Amalia’s cheek then nodded to her mates and the others before leaving the room.
Ghan and Kamala shadowed him.
As we approached the exit, Khel walked up to us. I wrapped my arm around Valena’s waist and waited to see what he wanted.
He stood before me, a strange smile on his lips. I didn’t know if it was good or bad.
His eyes flicked to Valena before returning to me. “You have chosen well, Dervhen.”
Valena blushed. The General was her hero. Although she did a good job of remaining poised in his presence, I knew she had a bit of a fangirl thing going on. For him to pay her such a compliment no doubt had her weak in the knees. Oddly, I didn’t feel jealous. I found it endearing.
I puffed my chest. “I most certainly have. Valena is one of a kind.”
He nodded slowly and faced Valena.
“You, on the other hand, have chosen poorly, Seha Rounis.”
Valena burst out laughing.
I shook my head. “Charming as always, Praghan.”
He smirked. “More than ever.”
Valena leaned against me and placed her palm on my stomach.
“He’s not as bad as you think,” Valena confided teasingly to Khel. “He’s great once you get to know him.”
“So I hear,” Khel said, giving me an assessing look. “It appears that for the sake of our mates and our offspring, you and I should revisit our relationship.”
That hit me like a punch in the gut. Khel wouldn’t make a peace offering lightly. Least of all to me. Knowing this wasn’t an easy overture for him to make, my respect for the General grew. I still was unsure about my feelings towards him, but Lhor and Amalia certainly had painted a far different portrait of him than the one I’d always imagined. The future of our respective families was all that mattered. In the months and years ahead, cordial relationships between us would be essential.
“It would indeed seem like the sensible thing to do.”
Khel nodded.
“As it is already getting late in the day, my mate and Jhola have prepared one of the guest rooms at the estate for you and your mate to spend the night. Xelhen is too long a flight at this hour. Tomorrow, you, Ghan, and I can discuss security measures on your property.”
That floored me. Overwhelmed with both shock and gratitude, I struggled to keep my expression neutral.
“That is a most generous offer. Thank you, General.”
It was more than generous. That he would allow me to spend the night under his roof, where his mate and children slept, was a huge sign of trust. I obviously didn’t think he would blindly trust me. No doubt he would have some extra security measures in case I decided to betray his hospitality. That didn’t take anything away from the radical change in our relationship.
Khel gave me a stiff nod. “If we’re going to do this, you might as well call me Khel.”
I snorted. “Who would have thought this day would ever come?”
Khel smirked. “The media won’t know what to do with this one.”
I nodded. “Then, of course, please call me Zhul.”
“And me Valena, please.”
Khel’s features softened as he smiled at Valena.
“Well, Zhul, I will forward you the profiles of a few good candidates for security detail.” He cast a look over his shoulder at Amalia, rubbing her stomach. “That is, after I’ve fed my mate. Here goes the ryspak orgy.”
With a final nod, he walked towards Amalia. I watched his retreating back, bemused.
EPILOGUE
Valena
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. We woke up in the luxurious guest room on the ground floor of the estate to excited cries. Little Vahl had finally woken and wanted to see Uncle Sul. The boy’s affection touched him deeply but troubled his sire, Khel. Thank the Goddess, Vahl didn’t seem to suffer any lasting negative effect from using his ability. However, his parents remained vigilant and concerned for their son. What if he used it again and hurt himself? As a joke, I said maybe he should be gloved until he’s older. Amalia seemed to consider it seriously. Though I hated the thought, I couldn’t blame her. She and her mates were flying blind trying to raise their children. Watching them face their challenges provided good references for when we would need to overcome our own hurdles once our twins were born.
That largely influenced our decision for our future. Zhul and I discussed at length our living situation. Had I not met him, I would have accepted the Tuureans’ offer without hesitation and gone to their Veredian haven to be with my people. I didn’t have a home but he did. Uprooting him from it seemed cruel. More importantly, our children would likely be special, like Vahl and Zhara. We wanted our twins to grow around others like them. Whatever challenges came our way – and there would be plenty – we would have better success handling them with the Praghans than on our own. Although disappointed, our decision didn’t surprise Admiral Lee. Deep down, I think we all knew how this would end.
The announcement to the press of Zhul’s safe recovery and then of my existence caused quite the uproar. I learned that day that fame sucked. Why people craved public attention baffled me. During the press conference, Khel and Detective Gravhin called me onto the stage. The barrage of questions, photos, and videos made me wish I could crawl into a hole and disappear. Zhul warned off one of the reporters who kept harassing me with rather inappropriate questions regarding what happened in breeding compounds. The reporter clearly hoped for some lurid details. When he persisted with his line of questioning, Khel stepped in, threatening to teach him some manners. That cowed him into silence.
Fortunately, Maheva also decided to lift the silence about her own presence on Xelix Prime. That shifted some of the attention away from me. When the media demanded to know why her existence had been kept secret so long, she explained that Amalia and her mates merely respected
her request for privacy while she came to terms with sixty-one years of slavery.
The next day, an emergency, private Council meeting was called regarding Nhed Dervhen. Lhor, Ghan, Detective Gravhin, and I were all called to give statements. Lhor had been right in saying my testimony held great weight. However, they wondered if those were my true feelings or if my relationship with Zhul influenced my opinion in favor of his father. When my psi gift was called into question, a swift display of my mind reading and mind control ability erased any doubt.
After a long debate, the Council agreed with our conclusion that Nhed wouldn’t get a fair trial if exposed at this time. Despite their friendly disposition towards him, they would have sacrificed him nonetheless if not for a number of other factors. Fhara Zirthen’s betrayal, forcing her mate to step down from his function, Whil Dervhen’s treachery, and the previous Councilors found guilty of using the services of the Blood Houses had rocked the moral image of the Council. They couldn’t afford another scandal involving one of their members, even a former one. Diplomatic relations with their allies were strained enough as it was. This could be one blow too many for the governing body.
To our greatest shock, the Council instead requested that Nhed resume some of his diplomatic duties in an advisory capacity. He would not benefit from diplomatic immunity and would be under supervision the whole time. After the late Dhak Pragrahn – Khel’s father – and Bhek Zirthen, Nhed was one of Xelix Prime’s most respected ambassadors abroad. He had stepped down from his duty before the shambles of his personal life could become public, thus preserving his flawless image off-world. His numerous contacts and friends within the Galactic Council would help smooth things over. In the meantime, he was under house arrest.
I offered to help Zhul’s mother deal with her grief and mental issues. It turned out she wasn’t a compulsive shopper and a terrible mother, but bipolar. This explained both her lack of guilt – and even pride – in her excessive spending and her adulterous hyper sexuality. Seha Dervhen had suffered a milder form of it since earlier in their relationship. However, the stress from her son’s death tipped her over the edge into full manic mode. I doubted I could fix bipolarity as she actually required medication, but I could help her mourn at last. To my surprise, she declined. She believed too many people had been hurt by her actions over the years. My help would be taking shortcuts. She wanted to reclaim her life on her own, the hard way.
Zhul didn’t say it out loud but that touched him deeply. It gave him hope that someday, he might have a healthier relationship with his mother.
Despite rumors circulating about Veredians having abilities, in large part due to Amalia unlocking the Convention Center’s door to save her mate, we decided to keep revelations about our psi gifts to a bare minimum. Only the Council and a limited number of trusted friends were in on their full extent. As had always been her wish, Maheva started working with her mate at his clinic. Minh introduced me to one of his psychiatrist friend who specialized in mental disorders affecting Geminates. I especially hoped to do for other broken pairs what I’d achieved for Zhul.
That didn’t stop Khel and Detective Gravhin from poking me about possibly working with the military and law enforcement. With my help, there would be no need for more ‘forceful’ interrogations as any confession thus extracted were guaranteed to be truthful. I could also implant commands to criminals and send them back to their organizations as unwilling moles. While that created great opportunities for the side of justice, it also raised a large number of moral, ethical, and people’s rights issues. We would have to discuss further any potential collaboration and set boundaries.
That said, I did read the Guldan prisoner and Ghil. Through Ghil, we were able to arrest a number of customers, their guilt confirmed by the DNA samples from victims of the first three Blood Houses. However, although we had the names of some of the customers from Capital District, the females’ damaged DNA couldn’t provide us sufficient proof to incriminate them. They all ended up on a watch list. Detective Gravhin, Ghan, and Lhor would hunt for any other criminal activity those males were involved in to pin on them.
Although the Council didn’t flat out say it, those arrests also played a role in the leniency shown towards Nhed. Twenty-two former guards and customers – including Slowpoke and Magnanimous – were apprehended. I almost felt bad for Mag. With so many people for the rabid crowd to tear apart, feeding them Nhed as well wouldn’t bring any additional value.
For his part, the Guldan prisoner didn’t know much about the Blood Houses’ operation, but he was quite the tech head. He provided ample information about the technology Varrek used to fool the Tuureans’ scanners and get off planet, despite the flight restrictions.
It wouldn’t work again.
The following week, our big day came at last. Without the support from Amalia, Maheva, and Jhola, I don’t know how I could have managed. I was no longer a captive, but the mate of a prominent figure in the Xelixian society. Between finding the perfect outfit for my Fastening Ceremony and playing hostess to Ghan and the security experts who helped us secure Zhul’s estate – correction our family’s estate – I felt overwhelmed. At least, thanks to my mother, I had proper etiquette mastered.
Maheva and I both claimed our mates the same day. Although we had not made a public announcement, people suspected I might bond with Zhul at the next Fastening Ceremony, so the record attendance came as no surprise. Maheva’s presence was an unexpected bonus for the raucous crowd and avid media. I had to concur with Amalia’s own assessment of the event – a bland, swiftly expedited formality. But I didn’t care. Zhul was officially mine.
The Tuureans made a massive showing that day, with forty of them guarding all entrances, mingling among the witnesses, and patrolling the periphery of the Hall. Their message was clear to everyone; mess with the Veredians and we’ll mess you up. My feelings for the Admiral were still iffy, but I thanked the Goddess for such a powerful protector.
For the special occasion, Zhul’s father was given dispensation to attend the ceremony with his daughter. It wasn’t out of compassion for him. His absence would raise too many questions the Council would rather avoid. Either way, it worked for us. Even Zhul’s mother made an appearance.
Despite our eagerness to return home, we couldn’t decline the invitation to Khel’s estate where Jhola prepared a post-ceremony feast in honor of both bonded couples. As wonderful as the food proved to be, Amalia and I launched into our first – of no doubt many more – ryspak eating contests.
I lost by a narrow margin.
But no worries; my babies were still small. Another couple of weeks and I’d show her how it’s done.
After the feast, we hung out for another hour before saying our goodbyes. Both Amalia and Maheva hugged and kissed me then exchanged the Veredian greeting with Zhul. Admiral Lee, who had been talking with Lhor, approached us.
“I’m afraid we must take our leave as well.”
“Aww,” Maheva said. “When will we see you again?”
“Soon, Mother.”
My eyes flicked between the two of them. He looked over his shoulder at Kamala speaking with Ghan.
“Sister,” Lee said, “we must go.”
Kamala nodded and gave Ghan a Veredian greeting before joining us. Lee saw the expression on my face as I watched her approach and chuckled. With a final nod, both Tuureans walked away.
Zhul and I completed our goodbyes and left as well.
It was a long flight home. Xelix Prime sprawled before us in all its glory. I would never tire of seeing all this beauty with my own eyes. Every color was richer, fuller. So many tiny details I couldn’t see before now came to the fore. Like tiny ridges between the larger ridges around Zhul’s ears. Amalia told me Xelixians’ ears were particularly sensitive. You could even make them climax by stimulating them. How had I not noticed that yet? The Goddess only knew. But I intended to remedy this oversight.
“What?” Zhul asked, noticing my persistent stare.
“I want to ravage you.”
His jaw dropped and his silver eyes darkened.
“I think you need to speed up.”
He licked his lips then swallowed. “I’m already a little over the speed limit, my love.”
That wouldn’t do.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and switched the navigation controls to auto-pilot.
“What are you doing?”
“Ravaging you,” I said, climbing on his lap, facing him.
I pressed the controls on the arm of his seat, making it slide backward to give us more space.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“You tell me.”
Cupping the side of his head, I ran my thumbs along the ridges of both his ears. Zhul bucked under me, hissing with pleasure.
Oh wow! Really?
I rubbed them again. He shuddered, a deep moan rumbling in his chest. His hands grabbed my bum and pressed me against his hardening shaft. I kissed him, his lips parting immediately to grant me entry. He tasted of the sweet aged ryspak wine served at the Praghan estate. I loved the slightly rough texture of his tongue as it taunted mine. The thought of how amazing it felt when he used it on the most private part of me sent moisture pooling between my legs.
He lifted my skirt. Cool air on my heated skin gave me goosebumps. Slipping his hand between us, he pushed my underwear to the side. His fingers fondled my bud, making me moan against his lips.
Pulling his shirt from his pants, I sneaked my hand underneath, caressing his hard stomach before circling his nipples with my fingertips. He grunted when I tweaked and pinched them, his cock jerking in his pants. Breaking the kiss, he grabbed a handful of my hair. He pulled my head to the side, exposing my neck to him. The wet, rough warmth of his tongue stroking the length of my markings almost sent me over the edge.
I fumbled with the opening of his pants.
“I need you inside me now.”
Lifting myself slightly, I freed his cock. It stood proud and hard. If not for the confined space, I would have knelt down before him and licked the rippling ridge along its sides. The thought of how they would feel against my inner walls made them contract in anticipation.