by Isabel Wroth
“We were being held in the brig after we'd both won a rather disgusting amount of credits and were being questioned about cheating at the gambling tables, but when the security officers couldn't prove it, we were given our credits and subsequently banned from ever putting a foot back on-board. Good times."
Nivir was looking at her in horrified fascination, which told her she'd given far too much information about her shady past.
She pasted a bright, innocent smile on her face, the one that had subsequently gotten her out of trouble with the ex-coalition soldiers working security at the Seven Sisters, and if anything, Nivir's expression became even warier.
"You were saying?" she prompted, and he went on to tell her how he had gotten a room and spent most of his time glued to the data-terminal, searching for ways to find his king the bride he was after without inviting the entire universe to Minos.
"When his majesty tasked me with finding a bride, I took a shuttle back out into space and found another vessel like the Seven Sisters; only this one didn't have so many places to lose coin.
“It was an enormous tube with hundreds of other tubes coming off of it, the Ignus Station?"
"I'm familiar with it. There are places like it all over the galaxy, think of them like the territories around Minos. Letau would be an equivalent, a giant city in space, contained in those tubular sections."
"Right. Well, I wasn't sure how to go about it, but then as I was passing through one of the districts within the vessel, I noticed there were portals constantly scrolling announcements for occupation placement.
“I studied the announcements and found they all had a required medical health check to ensure the species of alien was suited to the specific planet.
"His majesty required his future bride to be physically compatible and able to bear young. I had no idea if such a thing was possible with some of the females I saw roaming the station, and neither had it occurred to me that anyone who came to Minos that was not native, might not be able to breathe our atmosphere or bring some form of contagion with them.
"So, I contacted the same company the employment placement centers utilize for their pre-health screenings and made inquiries.
“All that remained was to put out the invitations, and I'm quite glad I had been given specific requirements for the female his majesty would find acceptable—they allowed me to thin the herd so to speak—there was an astounding number of applicants."
Jalia could just bet there had been. "I have to say, Nivir, I'm seriously impressed and very thankful for your hand in bringing me here."
"It was my pleasure, my lady."
"Mine too," she teased with a wink, getting the captain to chuckle, "Now, I have a proposition that I wanted to discuss with you."
"Oh?"
"In a few days we start the discussion with the princes and council on how best to proceed with the advancements, and I was wondering if you would consider becoming our first ambassador?"
Nivir stopped walking and faced her, looking down at her with an inscrutable expression.
The sort that would do very well in diplomatic communications between Minos and any outside sources, but he didn't seem as excited or flattered by her proposition as she'd hoped.
"If you accept, Zavir would take your place as head of the royal guard, while you become the first line of defense Minos would have against the UC or any other nations we might establish trade with.
“You were raised in a royal household, you've been Dhega's right-hand man for years—and I know that hasn't been all wine and flowers—you're not a stranger to political power plays, you made all the arrangements when Dhega asked for a bride.
"All the other choices have their own agendas and zero experience with the outside world, so it would be up to me to teach them what to do, and battle with them as they question my every move and motivation...with you, I can carry on an intelligent conversation and know you won't balk at visiting other planets or stations."
Nivir looked down at the sand between his booted feet, rubbing at the back of his neck, "I am...I am honored you would ask this of me, my queen. But I am not one of the Golden Bulls to be so favored."
"When Dhega told me to choose our ambassadors, he said nothing about only choosing from the princes. As for favor, it's not a favor.
“It's going to be hard, frustrating, probably ugly work that will take an incredible amount of patience.
“You'll have to deal with pricks like the princes daily. Only you get to speak your mind and tell them where to shove their rude comments.
"I don't need your answer until the solstice, but keep in mind, there isn't anyone Dhega trusts more than you and Zavir.
“I would be very reassured knowing someone as capable and resourceful as you would represent Minos. Angel Eyes will be your pilot, and until I can train someone to assist you, she'll gather the information you would need to speak to other delegates and ambassadors, be your security."
"Have you discussed this with the king?"
"No, not yet. I wanted to give you time to decide before I involved him."
He nodded and lifted his gaze to the palace, deep in thought and silent as they made their way back. By the time they climbed the last stair Jalia was out of breath, sweating profusely, her legs were trembling, and her belly was doing its best to gnaw a hole through her spine.
"You'd think after all the stairs I've climbed up and down since I've been here, I'd be in better shape."
Nivir grinned, and half carried her over to the seating area closest to them, waving down an attendant to bring some water.
"Perhaps we should install a lift for you, my lady." He was teasing her, but Jalia wouldn't be opposed to several lifts in convenient locations.
*****
"She fell asleep almost as soon as you left to attend Prince Isandros's arrival, your majesty,"
Dhega put his finger to his lips, waving Dysis away so he could spend a few more minutes in silent appreciation, staring at Jalia where she lay sprawled on the swinging daybed she favored.
There were tablets and charts spread out all around her, an enormous tray of half-eaten snacks, little pots filled with sand from Dymigona nestled in and among the food. Anarchy, and yet he knew if he asked for a specific item, she would know its precise location.
Jalia had been dedicated to reading everything she could on the different ways they could go about procuring the items they needed to ensure they were not putting Minos in jeopardy as they tried to defend her, obsessed with pouring over the fine print and putting her clever mind to good use.
Walking the walk, she said, though Dhega had no idea how exhausting herself had anything to do with walking correctly.
He knew she was concerned about the Universal Coalition and what they would do once they found out the riches of Minos weren't limited to gold or jewels and weighing the likelihood of her family becoming involved in their lives when she so clearly wanted nothing to do with them.
She gave some human idiom about the devil one knows, which she explained was a way to say that choosing the enemy she was familiar with and used to foiling, versus a new enemy they didn't know, was the wiser course.
Her family being the enemy she knew well. Dhega couldn't fault her logic in that regard.
It was difficult for her, but she had admitted to him the company her twin brothers owned was the safest choice to get the communications and ground defense systems.
Her suggestions on how to tread carefully and avoid leaving vulnerabilities in their outer defenses, in the protection of the nebula and regulations on who should or shouldn't be allowed to breach the border, were wise.
He admitted several things he would have overlooked could have been the deciding factor as to whether Minos was invaded, or peacefully explored by other races at their invitation.
Jalia suggested they advance the civilization in stages so as not to set the entire planet on its ear and make decisions as to trade and outside influence as they came instead of solic
iting them and allowing those outside influences—such as the UC—to dictate their progress.
She was tireless in her pursuit of ensuring no one would take advantage of them, but it was taking its toll on her.
There were dark circles under her eyes, her feathery lashes rested on pale cheeks, and of late she had been taking long naps in the afternoons, then waking angry that she hadn't completed this or that task, putting far too much pressure on herself.
As though the entire fate of the planet rested on her slender shoulders alone, and should something go wrong, it would be her responsibility for having not prepared for it.
He was in the process of reaching out to take the uneaten lyiot fruit from her nerveless fingers when a terrible shrieking sounded from the golden cuff around her wrist.
As though she'd been stabbed, Jalia jolted and came awake in an instant, sending papers flying and pillows to the ground as she flailed,
"I'm not sleeping!" she half shouted, making the most adorably confused sounds as she looked around for the source of the noise before glaring at her wrist and swiping her fingers across the metal surface to silence the shrieking.
Dhega opened his mouth to ask her what had just happened, when half the guard came running to the rescue, weapons bristling as they surrounded the two of them near the swing and took up defensive positions.
"Uh, stand down, boys. No emergency here, I set my alarm to wake me up if I fell asleep. It's fine, we're good. Sorry,” He couldn't help it, Dhega found himself laughing before he could stop himself, harder when Jalia whacked him with a pillow and ordered him to stop.
"It's not funny! I was trying to get some work done before Isandros and Renaya got here!"
"His highness and his family arrived several hours ago, my lady," Heiro informed her, still confused as to what was happening.
"Why didn't anyone wake me up? I have things to do, things to tell you, all this stuff—"
Dhega ducked when Jalia gave a frustrated squeal and went to smack him again with her pillow, catching her when her swing made the daybed fly backward and pitched her off the edge.
"Leave us,"
The warriors dispersed at his order, leaving him with a lap full of squirming, irate female.
"Jalia, settle. Isandros and Renaya are getting settled in their quarters. Everything is fine. You're exhausted. No one will begrudge you a nap,"
"I begrudge myself! I have too much to do!" she insisted, trying to gather the charts closest to her, actually growling at him when Dhega scooted away from her chaotic spread and prevented her from wiggling away by clamping his arms around hers, pinning them to her sides.
"Jalia, this is not your burden to bear alone. You have gone above and beyond expectations I didn't have and done more in the last month to prepare us for what's to come than I thought possible.
“As your king, I am grateful beyond measure. As your husband, I am worried. You're working so hard your health is declining, and I am not pleased."
"I'm perfectly fine!"
"You haven't slept a full night in weeks," he pointed out, because neither had he. "You're irritable, tired, you're losing weight, and don't think I haven't noticed you crying after we discuss the possibility of having to deal with your family.
“Dysis has even commented on the stress you're putting yourself through, and I will not have it.
"If you find you need a nap during the day, take one. Take two, if it helps. I will punish anyone who dares wake you, and I will order Dysis to hide that infernal thing you wear around constantly so you may rest.
“I cannot do this without you by my side, but I can do this without you exhausting yourself. Am I understood?"
She heaved a sigh, the tension draining out of her all at once to leave her calm and relaxed in his hold, her head resting back against his shoulder, her hands smoothing over his forearms now instead of trying to pry them off.
"Yes."
"Good. I am restricting you to two major items each day until your health improves. There will be no argument, Jalia, so don't even try it."
He cut her off before she could protest, leaving her room to do nothing except agree to his terms. But she did so irritably and clearly under protest.
"Alright! Fine!"
"Thank you, my love. Now, as it is already late in the afternoon and we are to dine with the princes who have arrived on time, tell me one thing I can do to assist you today."
"I want Nivir to be the first ambassador." Having not expected that, Dhega didn't immediately respond, giving Jalia plenty of room to explain.
"He's the only one even remotely qualified to be your voice when it's required that we send someone out to meet with delegates from JC6 or anyone else.
“You know you can trust him to put your wishes first and not have an agenda which will go against what we're working toward.
“He's been outside the nebula, and he's got experience dealing with royals with questionable tempers—"
"Are you suggesting I'm difficult to deal with?"
"No. I'm telling you, you're a pain in my ass. Ow! Hey!"
Dhega licked the soft flesh of her throat where he'd none too gently nipped the tender skin, inhaling the sweet scent of the bath oils she'd used this morning and the softer aroma that was hers alone.
"Is that why you asked him to accompany you to the beach yesterday?"
"Yes. I wanted to give him some time to think about it. He hasn't answered me yet to say he'll do it. No doubt he wants your opinion first."
"No doubt," he echoed softly, his thoughts spinning as he continued to kiss and nuzzle at her throat, smiling briefly when he felt her breath catch and a shiver work its way through her body.
Jalia did so love it when he spent time lavishing kisses to her neck and shoulder, and he loved pleasing her.
"Zavir would take his place as captain of the royal guard, and we would have a man in place with enough experience to be our first line of defense.
“I told him it wouldn't be easy, and he'll probably hate the job after he has to deal with the UC, but—"
"You need not convince me, Jalia. You've made an excellent choice, and I approve."
"You do? Oh, well then. Good. Thank you."
"Will you do me a favor?"
"Is it a sexual favor?"
His face hurt from how widely he smiled. Her sudden change in emotion, from anger to lust in a heartbeat? Divine.
"Not exactly, but I will, of course, accept any sexual favors you choose to grant me. Later."
She gave an irritated little grumble, turning to press a kiss to his jaw.
"Fine. What non-sexual favor may I do for you, your majesty?"
"When Angel Eyes returns tomorrow, see that you spend some time in that revitalization chair of yours. Hmm?"
"Sure. Right after the meeting with the princes."
"Jalia—"
"What? No sense in me getting all relaxed and revitalized only to sit down and ruin it all with the arguments Tyro and his support crew have prepared."
"Then use it twice. I want you well rested, love."
"It's tough to be annoyed with you when you act like this," she huffed, proving there was some lingering tension within her when he spent several minutes kissing her into compliance.
"Act like what?"
He let her turn enough to sit sideways on his lap, able to see the spark of playful teasing in her gaze as she let her head fall back over his arm, her fingertips lifting to smooth the furrow between his brows.
"A loving husband instead of a tyrannical king."
"Tyrannical king? I'm sure I have no idea what you mean." It was all too easy to slip his hand beneath the robe she wore, palming the soft, smooth length of her thigh, following it up to the crease of her hip, fixated on the way her cheeks washed a deep pink and how her teeth sank into the succulent pout of her lower lip.
"I bet Nivir would,"
"I will be sure to ask him. Now, about that sexual favor..." her skirt bunched at her waist, the strok
e of his fingertips back and forth above her mound caused her to immediately part her thighs, her hips rising in a silent plea, not a single barrier to be had between his skin and hers.
He could feel the awesome heat of her, the incredibly slick juices seeping from between the delicate petals of her sex. Her hands dug deeply into his pelt, hanging on for dear life as he found the hidden treasure just there, circling it the way he had discovered gave her the most pleasure, entranced by her soft, exquisite little moan of need and the expression of slumberous desire on her face.
*****
"So beautiful," Dhega whispered thickly, his gaze blistering with heat as he spread her inner lips with two thick fingers, rubbing back and forth firmly, teasing her by skating circles across her opening when Jalia tried to lift her hips to catch those talented fingers.
Her blood felt like it was burning through her veins, surging to each of her most sensitive areas, making her nipples swell and rasp almost painfully against the material of her dress.
She wanted it off, wanted to be naked beneath Dhega's intense, slumberous gaze, but she couldn't bear to let go of him or lose his hand between her legs.
A harsh exclamation of nearly orgasmic pleasure burst free from inside her, her body arching in reaction to the plunge of his fingers into the dripping depths of her pussy.
He spread her, working his hand back and forth, a deep, rhythmic pace that made her entire body tremble.
Jalia needed him with a desperation she couldn't control, but then, he was so very good about making her come apart and forget any notions she had about control, driving her to the edge of madness and beyond, always leaving her a deliciously ruined mess on whatever surface he took her against.
She was fighting for a full breath, her womb tightening with the growing intensity of what promised to be an unbelievable release, his fingers stroking nerve endings throbbing for more with each thrust of his hand.
Jalia felt like her skin was drawn too tight across her body, her hips gyrating on his fingers, rushing to meet the rising swell of pleasure.
The sounds of hot, wet sex and the harsh panting of their breaths filled her ears, her own sounds of need added a layer of vibration that ratcheted the sensations flooding her even higher. Electricity danced across her skin, bringing her closer to the end, her pussy tightening around the length of Dhega's fingers until he was groaning with the effort it took to continue thrusting inside her.