The Parvac Emperor's Daughter (The Space Merchants Book 3)

by Wendie Nordgren

  “Your life has changed a great deal since you left Earth.” Quaid moved his hand in circles on my back. I snuggled closer to him.

  “It’s changed so much that it’s unrecognizable. I’ve started to not even recognize myself.” I told him about my conversation with Gram, Sydney, and Auria. Then, I told him what I had done to try to feel more in control of my life.

  “I didn’t mean to contribute to your anxiety.”

  “I know. I think I was angry about finding out I was one of our enemies. Being afflicted with such a very specific Parvacian hormonal situation forced me to acknowledge it. I was thrilled about being Arachnean, but Parvac?”

  “The Parvac Empire is now our ally. Teagan, the hostilities ended because of you. You realize this, don’t you? Your chastisement of Admiral Valen during your introductory meeting resulted in peace. Emperor Probus wanted you with him, and non-aggression was the only means by which to obtain his objective. Had he taken you by force, he would have never gained his daughter’s love.”

  “Speaking of love, your eyes are no longer black.”

  “You seem to have that effect on me.”

  My stomach growled, and Quaid laughed. We used his shower. I had put my diamonds away. I wore a blue dress that crisscrossed over my stomach. Its long sleeves, full skirt, and soft fabric made me feel cozy. While I waited for Neema to wake, I called Yukihyo. I could tell from the grey and orange capillaries visible in his milky white eyes that he was angry.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Quaid.”

  “What did he do?”

  “I called after we reached orbit.”

  “Yes, he told me. I was asleep.”

  “Yes, he showed me that both you and Neema were asleep and safe.”

  “Okay?”

  “He wasn’t wearing pants.” Quaid laughed from his couch.

  “Don’t laugh. Shame on you for upsetting Yukihyo. He didn’t have to allow us to visit you here for the week.” I scowled at him.

  “I apologize, Yukihyo. Teagan’s attentions have made me giddy and foolish.” Rising from his seat, he offered Yukihyo a bow, but had an amused glint in his eyes as he did so.

  “I understand. I felt the same after bonding with her.”

  Hearing her daddy’s voice woke Neema. I changed her diaper and brought her over with me to sit in a chair in front of the vid-screen. “Daddy.”

  She looked at him for a moment as she nursed, but then gave all of her attention to me. Yukihyo spoke softly to her in his home language. Nico sat down by him.

  “Is all well with you, Princess?”

  “Yes, my general. Do you miss me yet?”

  “Very much. We have decided to occupy ourselves with work and exercise. I have a plethora of administrative tasks needing my attention.”

  “Where is Phillip?”

  “He is conferring with Eric’s Chief Medical Officer,” Yukihyo told me.

  “Tell him I said hi.” We ended the call. My stomach growled again.

  “Do you mind if I call my father before taking you to dinner?”

  “Not at all,” I said as I adjusted my top. A satisfied Neema played with her rattle. Thunderdrop was busy making a web in the corner above her bed.

  Filling the vid-screen was a man with intelligent dark eyes, Quaid’s blonde hair, strong cheek bones, and tanned skin. “Father, I would like to introduce to you my wife and daughter. This is the Princess Teagan Alaric Montgomery Lee of House Probus of Parvac. This beautiful little girl is Princess Neema.”

  Consul Bosh smiled and said, “It is with great joy that I welcome you to our family. I have longed for the day when our son would bring home to us a new daughter, and he has exceeded our hopes in also giving us a new granddaughter. Your new family awaits your arrival with eagerness.”

  “Thank you, sir. That’s very kind of you.” I blushed. I was afraid they wouldn’t like me. Quaid’s hand stroked my hair. My fears evaporated.

  “Don’t fear such things.” I smelled Neema’s hair. Quickly, I glanced up and then back down. “She is nervous about meeting the family. She doesn’t realize how precious she is.”

  “Quaid!” I whispered. He dispelled my embarrassment.

  “Father, my wife is hungry. I will speak to you again soon.” Consul Bosh smiled at his son’s happy grin and relaxed eyes before ending the call. “My lady, please allow me the pleasure of your company in the dining room.”

  Eric and his officers rose when we entered. Gary grinned at me. I gave him a one-armed hug.

  “Hello, Gary.”

  “Hello, Princess.”

  Quaid held out a chair for me. I kept Neema in my lap. He carefully pushed my chair in. I smiled at Eric, and he actually blushed at me. He had sensed my earlier feelings. Captain Eric Alaric, who had been with two of my friends from Scipio at once, wanted to blush at me? I raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. Gary and the others were thoroughly amused by Quaid. They were unaccustomed to both his smile and the change to his usual black eyes. I decided to ignore them and focused on my plate. Eric’s chef had made all of my favorites.

  “Oh, that’s good,” I said as I enjoyed my second spring roll. Someone snickered. Quaid kicked someone under the table.

  “Teagan, you’ve never visited the Laconian Sector before. Have you?” Eric asked.

  “No, when Hiroshi hired me, the Parvacs were attacking. I think you may have suggested a different trade route. Now, I’m one of them.”

  “And that’s why we have peace. Do you think that Emperor Probus would have bothered with peace if not to please you? “

  “That’s what Quaid said, but Eric, why would he do all of that for me?”

  “Teagan, I’ve toured the Empire. Parvac has vastly superior numbers of highly trained soldiers and a much larger fleet. They didn’t even use warships to attack Malta. They did all of that damage with stealth ships. Their technology is more advanced.”

  I nodded. “Their fighter ships use localized stasis shields rather than magnetized suits and seats. Their weapons systems are easier to operate. One of the commanders on Ephors told me that four warships were at my disposal.” Eric and Quaid’s eyes widened as they looked at me.

  “Your father will do whatever it takes to make you happy,” Quaid said.

  “I have done the same for him.” I patted Nico junior. “It’s nice to be here, even though I miss Yukihyo. However, I really need a break from being the princess. I miss being me. I can hardly lift a spoon without someone offering to help me with it. It’s so weird. Max had a fit when I made my own cup of coffee.”

  Smiling, Eric said, “Are they being a little overprotective?”

  “A little? Quaid is the only one who will give me any freedom at all. I couldn’t believe they let Neema and me travel on your ship.”

  Quaid leaned back in his chair. “To you it seems that everyone is attempting to control everything you do. However, had you been raised in a family, it would not seem so to you. Until recently, no one noticed where you were, what you did, or if you had even eaten anything for days. Now, you are being treated as we have all been accustomed to being treated since we were born. In time, you will learn to be loved and cherished. It is just such a huge difference from that which you knew and is still so recent that you have not had time to adapt.”

  I blushed and smoothed Neema’s hair. I felt ashamed that they all knew about Nathan Green. The shame and sadness dissipated. I glanced at Quaid who kept calming my mind. Neema patted her hands on the table’s surface.

  Gary cleared his throat, and said, “If you’re tired of trying to eat and hold the baby at the same time, I wouldn’t mind a turn.”

  “Neema, do you want to play with Gary?”

  He walked from his seat over to us, smiled, and held out his hands. Neema waved her arms up and down and screeched at him. He took her and held her at his shoulder. She grabbed his nose. I had a sip of iced tea and ate my chicken.

  “Aurilius is our first stop. Consul Dano has been replaced
by his eldest son, Cleto. He wishes to express his deepest apologies to you for the pain and suffering his father’s actions caused you and our family,” Eric said.

  “You’re joking, right? Isn’t Cleto Dano the man Consul Dano planned to force me to marry if we ever wanted to see Simon and Hiroshi again?”

  “Yes, he wants to make amends.”

  “Does Papa know about this? Better yet, do Yukihyo, Hiroshi, and Simon know about this?”

  “They do.”

  “What did Hiroshi say?” Eric showed me his dimples.

  “I’d rather not say in front of the baby. Your father has approved of your itinerary. Expect to be surrounded by guards.”

  “Other than meeting Tora which is the only thing that really matters, what will I be doing on Aurilius?”

  “Consul Dano has asked permission to amuse you with a tour of his orchards and the habitat of the Megachiroptera.”

  “Wait. Chiroptera are bats, right?” Eric smiled. “So, let me get this straight. This guy wants to get me alone with giant bats, and everyone’s okay with it? Did he give us any other options? Like, for example, I’d like to give her a tour of the different spas of my planet?” I sighed and shook my head.

  Quaid reached over and cupped my elbow with his hand. “I won’t allow anyone or anything to harm you. Also, my father will have his own men in place to protect you.”

  When Quaid relieved Eric on the bridge, I put Neema in her stroller and found Gary. “Gary, give me blaster lessons.”

  He frowned and looked away. “Let me clear it with the Captain.”

  “Why? I’m a grown woman with three husbands, a child, and another one on the way. I don’t need my cousin’s permission.”

  “No, I do. Without the Captain’s permission, arming a civilian on a Galaxic Militia Starship could get me into serious trouble. Stop pouting. I’ll go ask.”

  I sat in a chair in the relaxation area and waited. I scowled at a Laconian officer who smiled seductively at me. When I tried to figure out why he did and why Eric had blushed at me, I lost my train of thought. Gary returned. With him was one of the men from his squad who had volunteered to keep Neema entertained for us. When the four of us walked onto the exercise deck, we got too much notice.

  “Gary, why are they all looking at us?”

  Red crept up his neck. “You and Commander Bosh have created a stir among the Laconian crewmen.”

  “Why? His father and mine arranged our marriage.”

  Turning even redder, Gary said, “They can sense emotions and thoughts. You know that. Remember what happened after you had Neema?”

  “I thought they were over that. It happened months ago.” Gary coughed and raised his eyebrows at me. “What?”

  He ordered protective gear for me and helped me put it on. The jacket wouldn’t fit over junior, so he got me a larger size and rolled up the sleeves.

  “I hear it has happened several times over the past couple of days.”

  I froze and stared at him. “Wait. Are you saying they know every time I um…?”

  “Oh, yes. And not just you.”

  “You mean even Quaid?” I felt my face turning bright red.

  “Well, anyone who has served any amount of time with him can tell he’s not wound up. In space none of the Laconians of his species hardly ever have any of the whites showing around their eyes. Bosh’s look almost human.”

  I shot targets until my arm was numb. Then, I switched to my left hand and tried to shoot targets with it. Gary had lunch with us. I spent the remainder of the day playing with Neema and Thunderdrop in Quaid’s quarters. I realized my new husband was banishing all of my worrisome thoughts before they could form. Angry, I called Yukihyo and told him everything. His eyes weren’t the usual white they had been for the past month.

  “Lady wife, Quaid can’t help it. Soothing your mind is as natural to him as calming your emotions is to me. Does it anger you when I dispel your panic or pain?”

  “No, I need you.”

  Neema screeched and bounced up and down. “Daddy!”

  “Hello, my sweet little princess. I miss you very much.” He made faces at her until she and I were both laughing.

  Quaid appeared troubled when he returned to his quarters from the bridge. He changed into his off duty uniform. Then, he sat with us on the floor. Neema and I were playing with soft multi-colored shapes. She picked up a yellow triangle, put a corner of it in her mouth, and threw it down. She reached for a blue ring. Quaid rubbed her back with his hand, and she smiled up at him. I wiped at her chin with a silk square. Quaid lifted my chin with his other hand so that I would look into his eyes.

  “Our people know each other’s thoughts. When we are young, we have no control. As we mature, we learn control and to shield our thoughts. Individuals have varying degrees of control. However, in some situations control can be unattainable. It is so when I am in your arms. At times of extreme pleasure or pain, those within proximity share thoughts or feelings to an extent. Yukihyo’s race clearly senses the emotions of any species. For Laconians, to sooth the mind of one’s mate is instinctual. I give it no thought. When you need something, I must provide it.”

  Blushing, I nodded. Quaid reached for my hand and kissed it. He helped me to stand and then held me in his arms for several moments. Then, he picked Neema up and took us to the dining room.

  With eager babysitting volunteers such as Eric and Gary, Quaid and I had been able to spend some alone time together each day at the firing range. I was becoming proficient with a blaster. I had also learned my way around the Hadrian from our daily walks around the massive starship with Neema and Thunderdrop. The Chief Medical Officer and Phillip both approved of the exercise. By the time we landed at Aurilius’ land port, Quaid and I had become friends. Yukihyo and Nico were at the door to Quaid’s quarters within minutes of the Hadrian docking. Yukihyo kissed me, picked me up, and buried his face in my hair.

  “Daddy, daddy!” He laughed, carefully placed me in Nico’s arms, and picked up his daughter.

  Nico stared deeply into my eyes with his dark ones until I felt in my heart how much he had missed me. Then, he kissed me.

  “Tora is still two days out,” Yukihyo said.

  “That’s too bad. That means we have to be here at least two days,” I said.

  “Chirp!” Thunderdrop had deconstructed his web and put its remains in the waste unit.

  Chapter Six

  I had dressed Neema and myself in white, and I wore my diamonds. Consul Cleto Dano and several Laconian dignitaries had planned a formal reception for us. Eric and Kane had elite Guards of Honor on duty. Nico had given me his arm, and Quaid stood to my left. Yukihyo walked behind us with Neema. It wasn’t at all what I had come to expect. Rather than hundreds of uniformed soldiers at attention, a group of musicians played, children held bouquets of flowers, and men and women smiled and took pictures of us.

  “Quaid, what is going on?”

  “The welcoming committees in the Laconian Sector will not have a strong military presence. For the most part, we of the Hadrian and the other Galaxic Militia Starships, along with local enforcers, are the military. Most of our military bases are in the Galaxic Expanse.” My eyes locked onto his.

  “Nico commands forty thousand. I see what Eric meant now about Parvac’s superior numbers.”

  We neared the group of Laconian dignitaries and the Galaxic government’s ambassador who stood with them. They bowed to us. I curtsied, Yukihyo bowed, and everyone else saluted.

  “Princess Teagan Alaric Montgomery Lee Bosh of House Probus, welcome to Aurilius. I am Consul Cleto Dano. This is my advisor Lady Peth.”

  Consul Dano had black hair, black irises to match his pupils, and fair skin. He appeared to be around thirty and was of average height. Lady Peth had the same eyes, brown and grey hair cut short and similar to the men’s, and seemed to be in her late fifties. She met Bosh’s eyes with her own. After so long in the Parvac Empire, it seemed odd to see a female in a leadershi
p role.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for the welcome that you have extended to the Parvac Empire,” I said. Nico gave my arm a gentle squeeze in approval.

  Lady Peth smiled and said, “It is gracious of you to accept the hospitality of Aurilius. We deeply regret the events of the past.”

  I lowered my eyes at the memory of the weeks of despair and nightmares Hiroshi and Simon’s imprisonment had caused. Quaid took my hand and kissed my fingers. I felt Thunderdrop at my shoulder tugging at my hair. Kane and Nico had begun speaking with Dano. I paid them no attention. In what seemed to me to be several moments later, Quaid managed to chase my sorrowful memories aside by focusing my attention on the musicians.

  To Lady Peth, Quaid said, “Please don’t mention it again. Such things are best left in the past.”

  “Yes, forgive me,” she said.

  As I listened to the music, so did Thunderdrop.

  “Chirp chirp,” he said as he showed me an image of one of the instruments a woman played. Strips of wood were attached vertically across the tops of two other horizontal pieces. She hit the pieces of wood with what appeared to be a long handled rattle. Each strip produced a slightly different sound.

  “Maybe we will find one when we go shopping with Yukihyo,” I whispered to him.

  “Chirp!” He showed me that he planned to tap the strips with his claws. I smiled at the thought.

  “Does something amuse you, Princess?” I froze when I realized Consul Dano spoke to me. Quaid once again reached for my left hand.

  “It’s alright. Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.

  “It’s nothing, sir,” I said. I clutched at Nico’s arm. I wanted to go back to either of our starships.

  Consul Dano bowed to me and said, “If it pleases you, I would like to show you one of our orchards. Our chefs are preparing some of our favorite local dishes for lunch.”

  I turned my head to look at Yukihyo who inclined his head to me. Returning my gaze to Consul Dano, I said, “Thank you. That sounds very nice.”