by Maia Starr
The warriors seemed to have more respect for him than any other master before him. He told me it was because masters did not fight in battles. Because he did, the young warriors really felt like he knew what they were going through. He had the respect, honor, and pride of everyone. Being the sole female that had his full attention made me feel very special. Especially after I had given my virginity to him. I was scared that he would be rid of me afterwards, but he kept his word.
I was now living in his living quarters and it was the most tremendous space I had ever seen. I looked over the city towards the market where I used to live with the Loki family. It wasn't that long ago that I thought my fate was to be with them forever. I thought I would be there captive in an abusive situation for the rest of my life. I didn't dare dream that it would ever be this good. That I would actually fall in love with my new owner.
A part of me found it really sexy to feel owned by such an attractive and powerful Kalazaron warrior. It made me feel very safe and untouchable. I knew that he would get in trouble for his actions, but because he did, he was on his way to being the best master the capital city had ever seen. So it worked out for him in a good way.
However, there was still the complication that he would eventually want to or need to marry a Kalazaron female. I tried not to think about it too much because I knew there was nothing that I could do about it. I had only been with him as his lover for a few days and I wanted that happiness to last without thinking about the problems of the future.
However, nothing prepared me for the satisfaction that I would get two weeks later. A grand ceremony was planned to honor Thaedon for his bravery in the battle at Belvenreed Outpost.
"The dressmaker is coming in an hour. Order as many dresses as you'd like, but you must order one special," he said to me one day.
"I do? Why?" I asked him.
"There is to be a ceremony honoring my fighting at the Outpost. You are to escort me. Therefore, you will need a dress. A really beautiful one," he smiled at me.
"You want me to go with you? To be at your side? What will the Kalazaron say?" I said to him confused. Did he really want me at his side after the way everyone had reacted to us dancing at the coronation? True, I was covered in blue paint as the Loki sisters' slave. Still, I could not shake that feeling after that happened.
"Yes, I want you at my side. You will not argue your way out of it. Find a dress," he said in a final way. He was very abrupt and dominating when he wanted to be; this is why he was the master.
It felt great to be with an elite dressmaker. I ordered a very beautiful, red dress. When the day came for the celebration, I put on the dress and had help fixing my hair. I felt so beautiful. I didn't feel like a captive slave any longer. If I were on Earth, I would say I felt like a princess. I guess this was as close to a princess as one could get on this planet of Kaethon.
"You look absolutely beautiful. This is how it's meant to be. This is who you are meant to be," Thaedon said to me as I walked out of the dressing area into the living quarters and twirled around for him to look at the dress.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything, not just the dress," I said to him.
"I have another surprise for you. You will see at the ceremony. Look in the front row; I think you will feel satisfied."
"What is it?"
"You must wait and see." He smiled.
We left for the ceremony being held at the Stanis Trials Arena. When we were led to the grand entrance I realized that all the invited were already sitting inside. I grew very nervous and jittery.
“It is all right, Ella. Do not be nervous. You are the real prize,” Thaedon whispered in my ear. I looked up at him in his handsome state. His gorgeous hair hanging down to his jaw. His rogue beard and strong square jaw still gave him that mysterious look that made him look like a dangerous player instead of a master. I smiled at him. He was right. I was with him. I had nothing to be nervous about.
The doors opened and the entire audience stood up. Silence came over the vast, echoing arena. I walked with Thaedon as he held my hand high in the air. I felt like a bride being led down an aisle between all the people. There was a grand stage with two chairs set up. I swallowed hard. Did he expect me to sit at his side? This is crazy.
I followed his lead. He kept walking, holding my hand tightly as though he knew that I did not want to go up there. I climbed the stairs with him. He placed me in front of the chair and nodded at me. I narrowed my eyes at him in disapproval of him not telling me this was what was going to happen. He gave me a big, sideways, mischievous grin.
I sat down in the chair and he sat beside me. Then a leader of ceremony began to speak and recite the battle of Belvenreed. It was a battle that was fast becoming an epic tale. I looked down at the crowd before me and I saw the surprise that Thaedon had placed for me. Right there in the front row were the Loki sisters. They both had angry pouts on their faces and their arms crossed in anger. I smiled at them. I looked at Thaedon and he smiled at me. He knew that this was my opportunity for pay back. My presence at his side was giving the sisters their comeuppance for their mistreatment of me for so many years. They would now have to deal with seeing me at the side of their leader. It was the best revenge possible. I savored every second of it.
After the honoring ceremony, things could not have been any better for me. I had become the mate of the master and I was falling hard for him. He had not yet told me he loved me and I wanted to tell him I did every day, but I could not. Then everything changed.
I found out that I was pregnant. I had heard that it was possible for a human female to be impregnated by a Kalazaron, but it was rare. I was so happy I could burst. As soon as I found out, I went to Thaedon’s council chamber to tell him. I stood outside the door and heard my name, so I stopped.
“Ella Capricio. You have had your fun with the human female. But it is time for you to keep her in a captive slave state and nothing else. You should find a Kalazaron female to make you a proper mate. It is expected of you,” a familiar voice said through the door. Hearing the words hurt me. I knew that Thaedon was constantly being lectured about me, but I thought after the ceremony where he made it clear that he wanted me by having me sit by his side on the stage that he would be left to his own devices on the matter. I was wrong.
Then I heard Thaedon respond, “So you have said before, and I heard you the first time you said it loud and clear. Don’t you know that I know that I cannot be with a human because I’m the master?”
I gasped and quickly covered my mouth to keep me from bursting into loud cries. I moved away from the door and ran back to the elevator. I made it back to the living quarters as fast as I could. I heard it from Thaedon himself. He could not be with me. It was not allowed. It was the worst timing, because I was carrying his child. I would have to keep it a secret. I would have to keep our baby a secret until I could figure out what to do.
Chapter 10
MASTER THAEDON KREE
I was tired of hearing the same issue over and over, especially from Consulate Dalik Moscurn. I much preferred the company of his cousin, General Rendor Moscurn at the Belvenreed Outpost. Here the consulate was in my council chambers once more telling me that I could not be with Ella.
“Ella Capricio. You have had your fun with the human female. But it is time for you to keep her in a captive slave state and nothing else. You should find a Kalazaron female to make you a proper mate. It is expected of you.”
“So you have said before, and I heard you the first time you said it loud and clear. Don’t you know that I know that I cannot be with a human because I’m the master?”
“No, you do not seem to know it.”
“Because I don’t expect it. I have my advisor Huine Srit scouring the rules, and so far there is nothing that says a master cannot make a human female his true mate,” I said in response. I was so tired of hearing this from him. This hypocrite was in love with a human female and everyone knew the story of how hard it was for them to
be together, but they prevailed. Now, he was trying to keep me from mine, simply on the grounds that I was the master. I would not have it.
“It is not about the known rules. It is simply about what it right. What kind of model do you make to the female Kalazaron that you perhaps find them not to be as good as the human females? At least take a Kalazaron as a wife and keep the human slave as a lover. That is accepted.”
“I won’t do that to Ella. I am disappointed with you, Consulate Moscurn. Must I have your human taken from you to remind you that you will do anything to keep her?”
His face went stone cold. “Over my dead body,” he said in restrained anger.
“That is what I thought. Now, if you have nothing else to discuss about matters of the day, then you are dismissed and I will hear no more of my personal life. That is my decision, and my decision only. If you have not realized by now, I do things like no other master has done in the past. Perhaps it is time for a change.”
He walked out and I felt complete anger that my word as master was not being taken seriously when it came to Ella. What more would I have to do? I had proven myself in battles of intellect in the Stanis Trials. I had proven myself on the battlefield at the Belvenreed Outpost. Of course what I said would be done, but it was under scrutiny. I didn’t want to subject Ella to that. She deserved better. I deserved better.
I made my way back to the living quarters. I’d had enough of being the master for the day. I walked in and found Ella sitting at the vast wall of windows, staring off in the distance with distinct sadness on her face.
“What is it? You seem very upset,” I said as I put my hand on her shoulder.
“What do you think I would be doing if I were at the Outpost still? I was actually happy there. Being here is very… complex.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying you don’t want to be here? Where is this coming from?” I was confused. Where the hell was this coming from? First I had to get it from the Consulate, now I was getting it from Ella herself.
“It was just something I was thinking about.”
“No, I’m not going to take that for an answer. Something else is happening. Tell me,” I said, squatting down next to her. Tears fell from her eyes and she was silent.
“Tell me. I can’t help if you don’t tell me,” I said in anger. She got up and ran to the bedroom and shut me out. I was frustrated.
“Master Kree,” the intercom radio buzzed in.
I walked to the panel and answered, “Yes this is Master Kree.”
“Fraon Loki is requesting an audience with you.”
“Send him to my council chamber.”
I pulled on my cloak and left the living quarters. What the hell did the ass want? He had been the cause of Ella’s mistreatment and I had a mind to punish him for it, but I could not. Being cruel to a human was not grounds for punishment. I walked in and he had a smug look on his face.
“What is it, Loki?” I asked.
“I have news. I am going to appeal the transfer of ownership over the human female.”
“What?!” I roared.
“Appeal. I have grounds to do it. My brother and I had not exactly settled the transfer yet when you took her from him. So he had no right to give her to you. The transfer should have been with me.”
“Fine, then I will have new documents marked up for transfer of ownership from you to me. I am able to do this as master; you do understand that?” I narrowed my eyes at him. Anyone threatening to take Ella from me would get my complete wrath.
“Yes, I am aware. Are you aware that an appeal can take years, mixed up in the courts? While that appeal is in progress, it is customary for the property to be in the custody of the original owner while it is sorted out. That could be a couple of years of Ella with us while it is sorted.”
I did not know if this was true. I would have to have Huine Srit look into it that very second. But Fraon Loki was there because he wanted something.
“What do you want Loki?”
“I will give you ownership of the human girl in trade,” he responded.
“In trade for what?”
“I do not think I got what this human female is really valued at. You seem to place a very high value on her.”
“How much do you want? Tell me and get out.”
“It is not how much, but WHAT I want. You have taken my slave and you can have her if you will marry one of my daughters as your true Kalazaron mate. Otherwise I will appeal and the slave will be given back into my ownership until it is decided. The courts are slow especially when they are run by my friends.”
“But I’m the master!”
“Yes, a master that is already being questioned for your rogue ways. You wouldn’t want to do more to have the public question your grasp on the position.”
“Get out!” I shouted. He left with a huge grin on his face.
“Send Huine Srit up here, now!” I yelled into the communication radio.
Chapter 11
ELLA CAPRICIO
I went to the market for an escape. I needed to be away from Thaedon for a while because I was holding a secret. I was going to let that secret out at any moment if he kept pressing me. But after I overheard him say he could not be with me, I knew that I had to come up with a plan. If he did not want me in his life any longer, then I needed to find somewhere that I was accepted so that I could have this baby in peace. One thought crossed my mind, and that was Belvenreed.
I had been happy there for a couple of days, and I was given freedom. I trusted Dr. Lavender Prost and the other human females and knew that I could possibly talk Thaedon into putting me into the ownership of General Rendor Moscurn. I knew that Rendor would not want real ownership of me and would let me be content to live at the Outpost and work in the reconstructionist building. It broke my heart to think I would be without Thaedon, but I had to think ahead now that I knew he had plans to marry a real Kalazaron.
“Well look what we have here. If it isn’t the ugly human female, Ella,” I heard a familiar voice that ran chills up my spine.
I turned to see Soko Loki standing there with Maris Loki in the market. I would not run. I would face them. They didn’t own me anymore, and I had no reason to hold back my tongue.
“Leave me alone, you jealous, awful creatures,” I said as I turned to walk away.
“How dare you speak to your owners like that. You know what the punishment will be. What should we do Soko? Cut off her hair?” Maris said.
“Yes, and maybe cut her face too,” Soko laughed.
“I do not belong to you anymore,” I narrowed my eyes at them.
Soko gasped at Maris as she said, “Oh, Maris, I don’t think she knows yet. I guess her sex toy has not told her yet.”
“Told me what?” I said feeling my stomach turn.
“Father went to him and told him that the transfer of ownership was not final yet. We had it looked into. You officially still belong to us and if father puts in for an appeal, you will be back living with us at our quarters.”
My eyes grew wide and I wanted to run from them in that second back to Belvenreed. But what they said next was really the worst of it.
“Yes, but don’t worry; father has made a deal with the master. Master Kree can keep you as his human toy if he agrees to marry one of us,” Maris said.
“Yes, so you see, you will still be slave to one of us; it is just a matter of if it will be in our old living quarters, or our new quarters as wife to the master,” Soko said.
I could not stand it anymore. Tears flowed from my eyes and I ran from them. I heard them laughing as I ran. Was it true? It could not be. But I did over hear Thaedon say so myself that he could not have a human wife. This was such a mess, and I was the only one that knew I was pregnant. Now I would be forced to live with one of the sisters as my owner once more and watch her be romantically involved with the warrior that I loved. No, I could not last through such a life. I was strong, but not that strong. I ran back to the living quarters.
I was going to pack what I could and find a way to escape before any of it could happen.
Chapter 12
MASTER THAEDON KREE
“I am right. He cannot take her from me?” I asked Huine Srit.
“No, after tags have been replaced, the slave is rightfully yours. He could file the appeal, but as the master you have the power to deny it as soon as it is filed. He has nothing,” Huine said.
I sighed in relief. I needed to tell Ella. I had kept it from her but now I had other arrangements that would keep any Kalazaron from ever questioning her position in my life.