Conflict: The Queen

by Pierce Smith

  “I am from Yomiri, a planet in the galaxy Maluna Nebula. I was orphaned when a group of space pirates raided our city and killed my parents. Because my race produces tall, muscular males, a madame took me in and showed me how to love men and women.” He smiled seductively at Levi.

  “Oh my God, how old were you when that happened?” Levi said, taking another drink of his hot coffee.

  “I was thirteen by your Earth standards. But, even then I was six feet tall and muscular. I was desired by rich women who often bought me for several days, or rich old men who loved to take young boys. So I became well versed in pleasure.” He picked up a sweet roll and took a large bite.

  Levi snickered “Well, that just answered why I was taken to paradise last night.” He reached across the table and rubbed Axel’s hand. “What am I going to do with you, love?”

  “Anything you want darling. I have no ties anywhere I am free to be with you.”

  “I have to be honest with you, Axel, I came from Earth in search of my friend, Samin Phershing, who went missing several months ago. I was in love with him but never got the chance to tell him. It is him I am looking for and if you can deal with that, then you are more than welcome to come along with me.”

  Axel smiled and rose to clean the kitchen while Levi headed to the bridge, setting the coordinates for another planet to explore within this galaxy.

  Chapter Six

  Dinner with Family

  KYG WAS FINALLY DONE. He’d sat all day hearing the petty arguments of his people. Today he’d resolved a petty dispute over five hundred square feet of land between two warring neighbors. They were arguing so much, that in the end, Kyg slammed his fist down and made the decree that the land now belonged to the palace, and no one would be allowed to use that land but the king. They both had turned pale as they realized the land with the only water source now belong to Kyg. He wouldn’t let them know that right away, but he would divvy up the use of the land as he saw fit.

  As he sat there, hour after hour, listening to the people’s petty issues, Kyg had almost wished he wasn’t the king. Now he realized why his father often came to their living quarters cranky and tired. Kyg knew that he couldn’t take this home to Sam. Not in Sam’s condition. So, Kyg put on a stone face and listened again as another quarrel came up once again, between mother and daughter this time. The king's herald announced yet another matter that needed settling by the king’s ruling.

  During the day, Xeg had found him and told him about his time-consuming hunt looking for information on Ifrida. Now he was looking to find out who’d hacked his security system. The throne room was finally empty. He spoke with the court clerk and told him that he was done for at least a couple of days. He needed time to process and think about all that was taking place in his kingdom.

  Kyg made his way down to his private secured bunker. He’d checked in earlier and saw that Urco had been keeping Sam company. Now as he entered the bunker, resetting the security system, he turned and inhaled a delicious aroma, he followed his nose to the kitchen.

  “What’s that delicious smell baby?” he asked, walking up behind Sam and pulling him back in his arms to hug him.

  “It’s chicken masala. Of course the recipe is slightly changed since I couldn’t find some of the spices I needed, but it tastes almost the same.” Sam turned his head and kissed his love’s lips. “Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes. You want to take a hot shower and I’ll finish the dinner?”

  Hugging Sam, Kyg walked into their shower and let the hot water run over his aching back and neck. Grabbing the soap, he washed and dried quickly, putting on sweats as he walked back into the kitchen with his hair still wet. He was greeted by a beautiful smile. Sam walked up to him and hugged him, kissing his lips, his hands grasping his ass, pulling him into his rounded tummy.

  “Doc didn’t allow us to do this, did he?” Kyg spoke, rubbing his lips over Sam's cheeks.

  “Who cares for Doc, my prince. Your baby demands more than I thought.” Sam put his lips over Kyg’s.

  Kyg sucked Sam's rosy lips until his breath died. Sighing, he left Sam. “No, I cannot do this with my baby. Once I get wild I won't be able to control myself and thereafter I could hurt the baby and you. I'm sorry, darling.” Kyg walked up to the dining table.

  Sam stood there in total confusion. He loved and wanted Kyg’s touch. The doctor had told them to be careful, not to stop altogether. Sam watched as he moved away, a wave of extreme hurt rushed over him.

  Kyg changed the topic, lifting covers of the casserole, smelling masala chicken, and pasta with Alfredo sauce. “Your cooking is amazing, darling, but you don't need to do all this. You are Consort of this dragon world. The Great Consort of Byndra. Have those fucking maids on the job and rule over them.”

  “Your maids are always fucking around... Just kidding,” giggling, Sam replied, serving food to Kyg. “I want to do this for you. I love doing this for you, my prince.”

  Kyg, holding his hand, made Sam sit beside him. “Let's eat together.” He made Sam eat first. Putting small bites of chicken on a fork, he made Sam eat, rambling. “How's my baby?”

  “Which baby?” Sam laughed, chewing his chicken and making a plate of food for Kyg. “Bigger or smaller one?”

  “Both of them.”

  “Neither is happy with you. Both of us need more attention.”

  “Darling, I'm trying my best. I'm not a prince any more. Now I am King. Much more demanding.”

  Sam sighed heavily, “I want my prince back.” Sulking, he left the table.

  Kyg called him back, but Sam didn't listen to him. Kyg sat for some time, then picking up their two plates, he walked behind Sam. There he found Sam angry on his bed watching the cartoon channel. Dragon babies playing in the fountain. Kyg smiled at Sam's innocent anger. He knew Sam was not wrong, but a king’s responsibility was higher than a husband's. He felt Sam would slowly understand the situation and would adjust soon, or perhaps his father would recover and return to hold his throne, at least to start handling court pleas.

  But, neither was his father getting better , nor was he getting time to do the things he wanted. He sat beside Sam and started feeding him. Sam ate through Kyg without talking to him, and when the food was over, he uttered with mock seriousness, “I'm still angry with you.”

  Kyg laughed and pulled Sam to him, hugging him and turning the TV to a movie he knew they would both like.

  XEG HAD BEGUN TO TRAIN more elite warriors. He’d beefed up security around Kyg and Sam. Now he was trying to figure out just who the hell had hacked his security software. Xeg had finally closed the palace gates, he’d had its doors bolted against others, so that only essential staff were allowed in or out. He’d personally trained: Gerduc, Aecgon, Kudren, Nudra, Strakthioks, Nakruks, and Drinskaidogg, they were among the regular warriors who’d been called to the palace to provide security for the King and his Consort. Xeg had them undergo even more extensive training.

  But, that didn’t stop things from happening still. The kitchen caught fire, of course that could have been a careless cook splattering grease. Someone had written on the wall leading to Kyg and Sam’s suite. ‘You are an abomination to our kind. You need to die and you soon will.’ When Xeg had read this, his blood had boiled. Another writing on the wall stated ‘We want Cezzot back and the king dead,’ Xeg was so angry and was trying to follow all the leads he could. After seven days of following the evidence, he felt he was no closer than he was before. He buzzed the intercom to Kyg, who was in bunker. “I need to come down and talk to you and Sam.”

  Kyg buzzed his brother into the secure bunker. Sam was just bringing out a drink for them when Xeg entered the living quarters. “Come, Xeg, sit. You look tired,” Sam said, placing a drink in his hand, then led him to the soft couch.

  “Thanks Sam. I am rather exhausted. The more I investigate, the more questions I have.”

  Kyg pulled Sam down to sit beside him taking his drink from his mate. “It’s not your fault, Xeg,
you have gone above the call of duty. I have asked to have my calendar cleared as I plan on helping you investigate.”

  “No!” Xeg blurted out, causing Kyg to look at him puzzled. “I mean, I can’t concentrate if I have to worry about you being attacked during the investigation. You are needed here beside Sam. Please, brother. If you clear your calendar, clear it for Sam,” he said with pleading in his voice.

  Sam wrinkled his nose, thinking it odd that Xeg yelled, but Sam kept his thoughts to himself. Sam had made a nice dinner for them, and as they sat around eating and laughing, there was a sudden explosion just above their bunker. Xeg was first to jump up and head for the bunker elevator.

  “No, Xeg, don’t open the elevator. Use the tunnel,” Kyg warned.

  Xeg nodded and moved that way quickly. Kyg followed him. As he turned, he saw the concern in Sam's face. “Don’t worry, love, we will protect you. Don’t open this bunker door, or the elevator, until you hear from me.” He turned to go, but then turned back and kissed Sam on the lips.

  SAM SAT IN THEIR BEDROOM on the bed trembling with fear. He was not a coward, but he was afraid in this situation, not for him, but for Kyg and his brother-in-law. He sat there listening to the battle above him and wondered how much of the palace was in ruins.

  XEG AND KYG ENTERED the hall above the bunker, and found their warriors battling warriors from the Polystratus Galaxy, who had somehow breached their planet’s defense system. Kyg didn’t wait for them to attack. He immediately shifted and attacked with a vengeance more fearsome than had ever been seen on Byndra. Grabbing one warrior around the waist, he bit down cleaving the warrior in two. Spinning around, he released his claws and shredded another. His tail took out three more as he watched his brother shift and attack as well. By the time Kyg stood still and looked around, the enemy were either dead, or running for their lives. He threw his head back and roared a mighty war cry. Using his alpha voice, Kyg’s dominance caused the men to drop to their knees, holding them there until he released his own men to take them captive and imprison them in the dungeons below. Later they would be taken to Kassandra prison to be held until he could decide what to do with them.

  Shifting back into his human form, he looked at Xeg. He was lying on the floor and looking pale. He rushed to his brother and knelt beside him. “Where are you hurt, brother?” Xeg was covered in blood and Kyg hoped his brother wasn’t injured. Ever since their fight with Solomon, Xeg had been acting strangely.

  “Not injured, just very tired,” he said, having trouble breathing. Kyg rose, pulling his brother up from the floor with him.

  “Will you be okay? I need to check on Sam.”

  Xeg nodded as he leaned against the wall. Kyg watched him as he left to see if Sam was okay. He made a mental note to have Erga test Xeg to see why he was so tired all the time.

  Heading to his old suite that was once again demolished, he headed for the elevator. Placing his index finger on the security pad, the door opening, he rode it to the bunker. Walking in, he immediately secured the elevator door before calling out to Sam. “Sam? Sam!” he shouted, a fear hitting him when Sam didn’t respond. He rushed into their bedroom and still didn’t see Sam, then he heard him throwing up in their bathroom. He rushed in and held him as he emptied his stomach. When Sam was done, Kyg wet a cloth to wipe Sam’s face, then got him a drink to rinse his mouth out. When Sam was done, Kyg lifted him and carried him back to their bed. “I need to shower, love. I’ll be quick, and then be right back here for you.” Kyg walked to the bathroom, stripping out of what was left of his clothing, which wasn’t much. His body was covered with blood and bits of flesh. He didn’t want to make Sam any sicker than he already was.

  OVER THE NEXT COUPLE of days, more things happened in the palace, around the palace, and in the city set next to the palace. Xeg was beside himself trying to follow all the leads. He’d even commissioned several court advisors to send more warriors to the palace to help protect the King and his Consort. He was sitting behind his desk when the alarm went off again. Rushing from his office, he saw his warriors running into the hallway that lead to Kyg’s private elevator down to his bunker. He nearly ran into the back of them when they stopped short. He frowned looking at what they had stopped for, then Xeg saw it. Painted in bright red paint with letters two feet high, the message said, “Human, you are an abomination to our kind. You are not wanted here and your nasty child will be cut out of you to die.”

  Xeg pushed his way through his men, and then turned on them. “Do not stand there reading this shit, get buckets and rags, and clean it off. I do not want palace staff in here until you have this off the wall!” Xeg bellowed. His lead commander saluted him, then yelled at his men to move and do the prince’s bidding. Xeg headed to the bunker, trying to head off Kyg and Sam. He buzzed the intercom, and then rode down to talk to Kyg.

  Sam was in the kitchen making coffee and reheating pastries from the palace kitchen. “Hey, bro-in-law, want a snack?” he asked

  “Sure, Sam, that would be great. Is Kyg in the shower?”

  “Yes, go on in. He should be just about done.”

  Xeg walked into the bedroom where he found Kyg putting his boots on. “Hey brother?”

  “Hey yourself, Xeg, what’s up?”

  Xeg sat on the edge of the bed and let out a long tired sigh. “There was a message left on the hall wall.”

  “What?” Kyg asked

  “Yeah, it said, ‘Human, you are an abomination to our kind. You are not wanted here and your nasty child will be cut out of you to die.’ Someone had to do this between the midnight watch and the three a.m. watch change. Our doors are secured and extra guards are set at each entrance. The perpetrator has to be here among the existing staff, or they are helping the perp. Either way, I wanted to let you know, so you don’t take Sam out that way today.” He rose and left his brother and went to the kitchen to have coffee with Sam. He’d really come to love Sam. He loved Sam, because he loved Kyg so deeply and hadn’t made any demands on his brother, or the palace staff. This was why this was so fucking frustrating. Sam had gone out of his way to fit in and it was a small faction that couldn’t let him and Kyg be .

  Kyg walked into the kitchen and Sam handed him a cup of coffee. “Pastries are on the table, babe.” Kyg smiled, then leaned down and kissed him.

  Sitting next to Xeg, “I think you come here early in the morning to just have Sam serve you coffee and pastries.”

  Xeg sat back and raised his hands, “You caught me red-handed brother. What can I say? Good food, good coffee and excellent company.”

  Sam, Kyg and Xeg sat and chatted, before the king rose with Xeg and left to go and see the progress of the cleanup. His second-in-command was not happy. “Sire, Commander, whatever they used is not coming off. I’ve sent Xavier to the repair shop to get some heavy paint to cover it.”

  Xeg nodded at him. “Good thinking, Xavier.”

  Kyg just shook his head, “What the fuck? Sam has never been anything but loving and kind. When you find the one who did this, he’s mine. Understand, Xeg, he’s mine.”

  They still had no leads on who had written the hate message on the wall. It was really frustrating. Sam had finally insisted that he see the wall, eventually Kyg gave in and took him topside.

  Kyg was surprised when Sam didn’t react. He’d just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Huh, hatred of gays is universal I see.” Kyg let his head fall back and roared with laughter. This was why he loved Sam so much. Nothing got him down.

  KYG WAS SITTING IN his office when Xeg marched in, slamming the door behind him. Kyg looked up from his paperwork, “What the fuck is wrong Xeg?”

  “My spies have just intercepted intel from the planet Yomiri in the western galaxy Maluna Nebula. They are planning to attack the palace.” Xeg gripped the back of the chair to the point where Kyg thought Xeg was going to break it apart.

  “The hell with that. Bring a contingent of the elite warriors. We are going there. I will not allow another planet
to attack Byndra.” Pressing the intercom button, he called his secretary Nylni. “Come here.”

  Nylni rushed into the King’s office, “Yes, Your Majesty?” he said, bowing to the king.

  “Yes, send a message on my secure intercom to Sam, tell him I will be going away. I’ll be back in a day or so, and not to worry. Some official business has come about unexpectedly. Will you also see if Uro could stay with him until I return. Thanks, Nylni. That will be all.”

  As soon as Nylni left, Xeg and Kyg rushed to the spaceport. Xeg had radioed ahead and a squad of warriors was waiting for them in the dock where a smaller, sleeker, faster spaceship sat anchored in the docks. Kyg rushed up the ramp, followed closely by Xeg, then the warriors. Within two minutes they had clearance and were headed to the galaxy Maluna Nebula. Kyg was livid. How dared they think they could attacked Byndra. He would ravage the small spaceport that was housed there and kill every motherfucker he found. Innocence be damned.

  SAM SAT POUTING. HE hated it when Kyg was gone. As he sat there petulantly complaining, he heard the intercom go off. He smiled. Had Kyg’s plans changed? He rushed to the intercom and hit receive. “Kyg you did...” His voice trailed off when he saw Uro. “Oh, hello, Uro?”

  “Well, I like that. Is that anyway to greet your best friend?” She pursed her lips into a pretty pout. “Fine, I guess I will take my caramelo pastries and chocolate milk and leave you to wallow in your pity party. Too bad. I was also going to let you go and do that special thing you wanted to do for Kyg. Oh well, guess I will see you later, Your Royal Highness.” Winking she turned to leave.

  “No, no, Uro, don’t go. I’m sorry I just miss Kyg. Please, come in. I will buzz you down.” As soon as Uro was in the room, Sam locked and secured the elevator, then followed Uro into the kitchen where he found her taking down little plates and two big glasses for the milk.

  Sam sat and smiled, as Uro whistled while gathering the dishes and glasses. Setting them down, she plopped her curvy frame onto the chair. After pouring two glasses of chocolate milk, she handed one to Sam, then two large caramelo pastries on a plate. They chatted constantly as they ate, planning the night’s activities.