“Mm, that’s sounds nice.” She snuggled closer.
“Most definitely,” H’sst agreed as he followed them into the sanitary facility and turned on the water. “And perhaps a game of cards?”
L’zabet raised her head at that and gave them both a speculative look. “There’s one game we never got around to playing in the cave. Have you ever heard of strip poker?”
The next morning, they moved into their new domicile. It was at the farthest end of the meadow, overlooking the valley below and a cynical part of him wondered if the separation had been on purpose. He had no particular sentiment towards his quarters—although last night had certainly created some pleasant memories—but it definitely felt odd to be leaving the place where he had been housed for the past six years.
He had one container for his clothes and another for his carvings and a few additional personal items. Very little to show for his life to date, but then again, he had never been bound by material things. He tucked them under his arm as he opened the door to their new domicile and led the way inside. Since he had been in the queen’s building, the explosion of color and texture didn’t surprise him, but it didn’t make it any more palatable. The standard white walls and black floor of a Yehrin dwelling were hidden behind deep patterned rugs and embroidered wall hangings. Two plush semi-circular couches faced each other across an array of small tables in the center of the room.
“Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this,” L’zabet breathed.
H’sst nodded approvingly. “This is an appropriate setting for your beauty.”
“You don’t think it’s kind of gaudy?”
“I don’t understand.” H’sst rubbed his chin, looking distressed. “It doesn’t please you?”
Her face softened. “No, it’s fine. I’m just not used to it.”
“The bedroom is back this way.” T’kol led the way.
Wide double doors opened into an even more elaborate bedroom, but the enormous bed at the center of the space did much to reconcile him to the decor.
“The bathing pool should be over here.” H’sst led the way through another set of doors.
This time they all smiled. Water trickled down a wall of golden mosaic tiles to land in an enormous circular pool filled with gently steaming water. He could see various ledges and seats under the water so that there were many options for seating—or more enjoyable activities. He had a very clear image of L’zabet, flushed and damp, sprawled across one of those ledges while he plunged into her willing cunt and H’sst pleasured her exquisite little mouth. The realization that he’d automatically included the other warrior in the erotic image brought him to a sudden halt.
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?” L’zabet asked.
“No,” he said slowly. “In fact, I think perhaps something is very right.”
She looked so adorably confused that he picked her up and kissed her until her confusion turned to heat. When he lifted his head, he grinned at H’sst.
“Shall we see how much our mate enjoys her pool?”
The door alarm chimed.
Fuck. He released L’zabet and headed for the front door. He checked the monitor, then slid the door panel open to be confronted with a strange Icluthian. This was the first time that he’d seen one away from the queen, but even without the silver suit the stranger was wearing, he would instantly have known that it was not H’sst. Over the past few days his brace mate’s features had become almost as well-known to him as his own.
“Yes?” he asked.
H’sst appeared next to him.
“What are you doing here, Rasster?”
The new warrior raised a brow ridge, somehow managing to appear condescending even in that one gesture.
“Is that any way to greet one of your nest mates?”
“Now you choose to acknowledge our relationship?” H’sst asked.
T’kol noticed the tension in H’sst’s frame and realized that his brace mate did not seem pleased by the visit from his fellow Icluthian. He instinctively placed himself shoulder to shoulder with H’sst.
“Do you have business here?” he growled.
“Why yes. Queen Adorissa is devastated that my nest mate has not chosen to report to her and assure her of his well-being.”
“What’s happening?”
At the sound of the soft voice from behind them, both he and H’sst tensed. Before he could urge L’zabet to withdraw, she poked her head in between them. R’sster’s eyes widened.
“And who is this?” he asked.
T’kol growled again. He did not appreciate the speculative nature of the question nor the way R’sster’s eyes lingered on L’zabet.
H’sst studied the other warrior, then with an almost apologetic look at T’kol, he stepped to one side so that L’zabet was clearly visible and put his arm around her.
“This is our queen,” he said proudly.
L’zabet flushed and R’sster let out a soft hiss. An acrid scent washed over them and H’sst immediately stepped back in front of Lizabet. His hand went to the blast tube on the weapons belt that T’kol had given him.
“She is not for you,” H’sst said, his voice low and dangerous.
“I believe that is for her to decide,” R’sster said.
H’sst hesitated, clearly torn, however T’kol had no such hesitation. He stepped forward, using his larger size to force R’sster to retreat.
“She has decided,” he said. “Unless you have further business, it is time for you to leave.”
Rasster took a step back before he caught himself. “I came to escort Hisst to Queen Adorissa.”
“He will accompany our queen when she meets with Queen Adorissa,” he said firmly, and before the Icluthian could respond, he shut the door in his face.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hisst stared at the closed door and fought to keep his temper in check. While he was still a little surprised that Queen Adorissa seemed to have an interest in his welfare, he was not at all surprised that Rasster was the one who had come to retrieve him. Rasster was from his dam’s first clutch and had never overlooked an opportunity to assert his position in the nest and to make Hisst feel lesser.
“What was that all about?” Lissie asked, her delicate little fingers touching his arm. “Are you in trouble because you did not report to the queen?”
“As I said before, as my queen you have the ultimate claim over me.” He shook his head. “I still do not understand why she is interested in me.”
“Maybe because you’re such a handsome warrior?” Lissie smiled up at him, and his heart skipped. What had he done to deserve such a caring queen?
“I do not like it,” T’kol said, regarding him thoughtfully. “Is there more at stake here than just a mission to exchange information?”
“If there is, I am not aware of it. But I am only a junior officer. It is quite possible that matters have been discussed at a higher level of which I am not aware.”
Lissie sighed. “I suppose the only way to find out is to have this meeting with the queen. T’kol, do you know if it has been arranged?”
T’kol was already tapping at his wrist device with his claws.
“T’gana says that we are to join the queen for the noon meal.”
“That doesn’t give us much time,” Lissie said. “Do you know if my outfit is ready?”
Hisst had provided T’gana with the specifications for clothing that would emphasize Lissie’s status and they were being prepared. T’kol’s claws kept tapping.
“He says they are ready so I will go and pick them up. H’sst, will you go over the meeting protocol with L’zabet?”
“I think I understand what I need to do,” Lizabet protested.
T’kol raised a brow. “Are you accustomed to meeting with a queen from a new race?”
“You know damn well I’m not.” She scowled at him. “Don’t you have any faith in me?”
In response, T’kol lifted her into his arms and kissed her until h
er stiff body relaxed and she returned the embrace. Hisst’s kradx stirred at the sight of his mate flushed and willing in his brace mate’s arms. He stepped closer to appreciate her deepening scent and started dropping a line of kisses along her shoulder. She sighed happily and reached back a hand to caress his cheek.
“Do we have time to try the bathing pool after all?” Her voice was husky with arousal.
T’kol hesitated, then checked his wrist device. “I am afraid not, my L’chka. To be late would be to cause offense, and I do not wish to hurry through our enjoyment of your luscious body.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said affectionately, then gave him a teasing smile. “Maybe I should show Hisst what a quickie means.”
T’kol gave a quick smack to one round buttock. Hisst fought back his instinctive desire to protest. He knew that T’kol would never harm their mate—in fact, he had observed that Lissie seemed to enjoy the mild reprimand. Even now, her scent deepened, and she wiggled in T’kol’s arms.
“You will behave yourself until I return.” T’kol kissed her again and let her slide to the ground. “I will return as soon as possible.”
When the door closed behind him, Lissie gave him a speculative look. He laughed and held up his hands.
“Do not tempt me, my queen.”
“Why not?” Her face turned from teasing to serious. To his relief, she did not seem annoyed, merely curious. “Will you always do as T’kol orders?”
He rubbed his chin and considered the matter.
“Of course, I would never do anything that would result in your harm, but neither do I believe that he would ever order me to do anything to cause you harm. Otherwise…” He regarded her seriously.
“There is always a ranking within the nest. It is important to him to be in command and I am willing to give that to him.”
“You don’t want to be in control?”
“No.” He gave her a slow smile. “And of course, there are more ways to be in control then just by giving orders. I suspect you can appreciate that.”
She laughed. “I’ve seen how you play cards. You’re very sneaky, Hisst.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“You can choose to take it that way.” She put her arms around him and smiled up at him. “You know, a week ago, I never thought that I would be this happy. First finding you and then having T’kol find us… I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”
“This is far beyond my expectations as well,” he said sincerely. “To have a queen such as you and yes, a brace mate such as T’kol. It is much more than I had expected.”
Only one thing disturbed his happiness. Rasster’s appearance and his thankfully futile attempt to entice Lizabet had reminded him that most queens decided to increase their brace as soon as the initial joining had been completed. Admittedly, Lissie had shown no interest in other warriors, and T’kol had seemed very confident that she would not, but the worry lingered. Having had the opportunity to participate in such a small brace, to know his queen so intimately and to know that she cared for him as an individual, these were things he did not want to lose. He thought about asking her to confirm that she was satisfied, but in the end, he decided not to raise the subject.
“Now, about those lessons…”
They were just finishing the review when Hisst looked out through the window to see T’kol coming up the path to the residence with a container under his arm. As he neared the building, the two Yehrin warriors who had confronted them earlier that day stepped out of the woods. Hisst did not trust their aggressive posture or the fact that they appeared to have been lying in wait and found himself walking over to the window to observe. He saw T’kol tense, and immediately headed for the door.
“What’s the matter?” Lissie jumped up and followed him.
“I’m not sure,” he said, “but I don’t trust those two.”
She peered out the window. “I don’t know the smaller one, but Officer T’fardar has always been kind of a jerk. He tried to get a breeding contract and couldn’t get matched with any females.” Her copper furred brows drew together. “I’ve seen him at the training matches. He’s vicious.”
“I’m going out there.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
He turned and placed his hands on her shoulder. “No. my queen. You must stay here.”
“Why? If T’kol’s in trouble, I want to help.”
“Lissie, please. I can’t help T’kol if I’m worried about you too.”
She looked past him to where the two officers were obviously confronting T’kol and sighed. “Okay, fine. But if it looks like the two of you are in trouble, I’m coming out.”
“To save us?”
“If nothing else, they should think twice about hurting me. T’chok would kick their ass and they know it.”
He pressed a quick kiss on her sweet lips and went to join his brace mate.
The cold hit him as soon as he stepped outside, and he hastily pulled the hood of his thermal suit up over his head. Fortunately, the Yehrin-made suit worked as well as one of his own Icluthian suits and he should be able to handle the cold long enough to assist T’kol.
“I already told you I had no intention of explaining my actions to you or to anyone else.” T’kol’s voice was as icy as their surroundings as Hisst approached the trio.
“It is not that fucking easy,” Officer T’fardar blustered. “These human females are supposed to be our chance at having permanent mates. And you are willing to fucking share one?”
“It is not like they feel the bond the way that we do,” the other warrior interjected. “What if they all decide they want to have multiple mates?”
“It has not been an issue so far,” T’kol said calmly. “Now return to your duties.”
“We are off duty and you are not in charge anymore.”
Hisst saw T’kol’s back stiffen.
“I am still a Commander of the Yehrin fleet, and you will do as I command.”
The two warriors looked at each other and then they both stepped forward, the larger one getting right in T’kol’s face.
“Listen, you fucking lizard lover, you need to put an end to this. Show that little bitch that she can only have one male. And if you are not warrior enough for her, I would be happy to show her what a real Yehrin warrior can do for her.” He grabbed his crotch suggestively.
The snowy landscape disappeared in a haze of red. Hisst went for the vile male who dared to insult his queen but before he could get there, T’kol’s claws were at the warrior’s throat. The second warrior aimed his own claws at T’kol’s undefended back but Hisst grabbed his arm and yanked it up behind his back before he could strike.
“Let go of me, you fucking lizard,” the warrior growled, but Hisst had him in a firm grip and he couldn’t move. The male tried throwing his horns back but Hisst pulled his arm even higher, forcing him to bow forward in order to avoid having his arm broken. He looked over to see that T’kol’s claws were now buried in the other warrior’s neck.
“You will never speak that way about our female again. If I hear even the slightest rumor about her, you will meet me in the challenge circle, and it will be a death match.” More blood flowed from around his claws. “Do I make myself clear?”
Officer T’fardar actually hesitated and Hisst wondered what the consequences would be if T’kol ended the worthless warrior’s life. The male he held in his own grip gasped. “Do not be an idiot, T’fardar.”
Reluctantly, the officer growled his agreement. Before letting him go, T’kol raked his claws from T’fardar’s neck down across his chest, leaving three deep bloody gashes. “That is so that you remember this discussion.”
With a contemptuous shove, T’kol pushed T’fardar away and deliberately turned his back on him. The male glared at him with hate filled eyes, but he did not pursue the attack.
“Are you going to behave sensibly?” Hisst asked his own prisoner.
“Yes,” he growled.
&nb
sp; Despite his obvious defiance, Hisst released him and moved to stand next to T’kol. The other two males glared at them and T’fardar’s hand inched towards his weapon belt. Both he and T’kol echoed the gesture and after a tense moment, T’fardar lowered his hand. He turned away with a disgusted growl and his companion followed, keeping a wary eye on T’kol and Hisst as he moved down the pathway.
T’kol stared after them, his eyes still blazing green fire.
“I wonder if I should have ended it there,” he said.
“It is a tempting prospect,” Hisst agreed. “No male should be allowed to speak like that about our queen.”
T’kol sighed. “One of the things that I have learned as a commander is that sometimes the preferable action must be delayed for the expedient action. I must bring this to T’lan. He needs to determine if this a symptom of a deeper problem.”
“A deeper problem?”
“Many of our warriors have found human mates, but certainly not all. If this is cause for unrest amongst the warriors, it needs to be addressed.”
“I understand. We also have much competition amongst the warriors who are seeking to be chosen by a queen.”
Since T’fardar and his companion were now out of sight, T’kol picked up the discarded container and they headed back towards the residence.
“How do you handle it? Not knowing if you’ll be selected?” T’kol asked.
“We know that most of us will be, eventually.” He shrugged. “Perhaps by a lesser queen or by a queen who already has a large brace, but even then, there is comfort in knowing that you have been chosen and that you have found your new zimene.”
They were just outside the door now and T’kol reached out and clasped his shoulder.
“I find I share that comfort. Thank you, my brother.”
Hisst grinned at him. “I am quite sure you did not need my assistance; however, our queen would be most displeased if you caused additional damage to your leg.”
“You’re damn right I would.” Lissie stood at the open door, a blast tube at her side. “Are you choosing to stand outside and talk all day or are you going to come in out of the cold?”
Alien Alliance Page 17
