by Lucy Kelly
“I see that look in your eye, Thors; I know what you’re thinking. As much as I’d like to spend the day in bed with you, we have duties. You need to be introduced to the people you will be leading,” she said, wrapping the towel around her body, hiding it from his view.
Thors grabbed another towel and walked over to the bed. He began rubbing Dora dry as BianCa walked over to the drawers set into the wall to pick some lingerie. As she started to pull on the silky fabric, she heard Dora yelp. Turning around, she saw Thors, with a red face, petting Dora.
“You distracted me,” he muttered as he rubbed the dog, causing her to giggle again.
Turning to the large wardrobe, she sighed. She didn’t notice Thors had come up behind her.
“Why did you sigh?” he asked, rubbing his hands over her shoulders and down her arms.
“We’re introducing you to the officials of the House of LucenTio and all their people. A certain amount of ceremony is called for. I’m afraid I got used to wearing comfortable clothes. Wearing the full regalia again is going to be a chore now since I’ve spent so much time seeing how Addie and Grace get to dress in whatever they want. I don’t mind, though; you’re worth it,” she said with a smile over her shoulder.
Thors turned her so she faced him. He looked intently into her eyes.
“I spoke with the queen before coming here. She gave me some advice I didn’t really understand at the time. She said, ‘Begin as you mean to go on’. I understand now what she meant. While I wish to embrace the culture of the KowLer people, I am not KowLer. The sooner everyone here understands I will be a different sort of Proctor than they are used to, the better. You should always feel assured, in control and safe. I don’t wish you to be unhappy in your own home as you were before. I intend for you to be a true duchess and rule by my side.”
BianCa put her arms around him and held on. She was so happy and pleased he understood the way she felt before and wanted to change it. Pulling back, she gave him a smile of such beauty, his heart nearly stopped in his chest.
“I think I understand, too. Now I know what I want to wear.”
Giving him one last squeeze, she stepped to the wardrobe and pulled out the selected clothes from the very back. She heard Thors chuckle from behind her when he saw what she had chosen. He walked over to sit in a chair as he watched her dress. He wasn’t familiar with female clothing; he’d had no reason to be. The undergarments BianCa chose to wear had a strange effect on his pulse and respiration. Today she was wearing two pieces in pale peach silk. The top portion molded and lifted her breasts while barely covering her nipples. The bottom piece just covered her mound with thin ribbons over her hips. He grew hard watching her wiggle her hips into the dark brown leather pants. He had to shut his eyes, as his pants had become uncomfortably tight. He didn’t want to embarrass himself by coming in them. He took a deep breath and willed himself to relax. She sat on the end of the bed and pulled on soft leather ankle boots matching her pants. The leather hugged her waist and hips, then fell straight-legged to her ankles.
Next, she pulled on a soft, white woven fabric with gold embroidery around the neckline and wrists. Finally, she pulled out a long burgundy banyan, which hung to mid-shin. It had gold embroidery along the hem and front plackets. When buttoned, it form-fitted to her waist and then widened out into a full skirt. The sleeves also flared out, ending between elbow and wrist with a wide cuff.
“Why do you have your eyes closed?” she asked.
“Watching you dress, the way you move, it is too much. I am unused to becoming aroused so quickly. I don’t think I ever will be,” he said, taking another deep breath before opening his eyes. “You are beautiful, BianCa. You look like a strong, powerful woman.”
“Do I still look womanly? Am I feminine enough?” she asked, biting her lower lip.
“With your curves, you will always look womanly and feminine. You have nothing to be concerned about. If you were any more womanly, I would say to hell with meeting your people and take you now. As it is, I’m holding on to my control by willpower alone.”
“You say the nicest things. Even better, I know you only tell me the truth,” she said as she walked over to him. Sitting on the arm of the chair, she leaned over to kiss the edge of his jaw.
“I will always tell you the truth,” he said seriously.
“I know. It’s one of the many reasons I love you,” she said as she walked over to a cabinet. “I think I’ll wear some of my jewels. I have a chatelaine which can double as a belt,” she mused.
Thors wasn’t paying attention. Her words of love had blown through him like a fresh wind. Each time she said it, it was like the first time. He would never grow tired of hearing it. Once again, he thanked the Goddess and his queen for choosing him for BianCa. He came out of his reverie to see BianCa had placed a jeweled belt around her hips. She looked totally kick-ass, an expression he’d learned from Grace’s Ankida, and gorgeous at the same time.
“Okay, I’m as ready as I’m going to be,” she said.
“My love, you have nothing to worry about. You’ll have them shaking in their boots. They won’t stand a chance,” he said emphatically.
Thors was wearing leather pants, a black shirt made out of a body-hugging material and fit like a second skin. His boots came up over his knees. Each boot had a built-in scabbard. One held a blade and the other his stun stick. In a corner of the room rested his warrior spear. It was linked to his DNA and he had also linked it to BianCa’s. The blades built into the staff would emerge and cut anyone attempting to take hold of the spear if their DNA didn’t match. The long hooked blade at the top was the more visual reminder of its ferocity as a weapon. He would carry it with him for this first meeting with his subordinates. After that, he promised BianCa he would put it away unless there was a battle. She didn’t want one of the puppies to brush up against it and get hurt.
As they were leaving the room, BianCa looked back to see Dora and Barney had fallen asleep in a pile on the bed. Dora was still half-wrapped in the towel. It reminded her of how babies would fall asleep—moving fast one moment and then falling asleep quickly wherever they were. She passed a hand over her womb. She knew her child was there, even if it was too soon for the medical officer to tell her. She knew the instant Thors’s seed had taken root in her womb. She’d felt the ‘click’, a change in her body, as it began a new life. She held the knowing in her heart—her own personal miracle.
The two of them left their living quarters and walked side by side through the hallways to the office of the Proctor.
“Will we need to spend all of our time here in the city?” Thors asked BianCa in a soft voice as they went along.
“I always have. But it was because I wasn’t allowed to visit the estate in the country. It took me a while to figure it out but I finally did. It’s yours now,” she said.
Thors stopped and turned to face her. “No, BianCa, it’s ours now. We’ll speak to these people and then we’ll go visit this estate together.”
“I’d like that. After nearly three years, I’m also curious to see our country home,” she answered.
Thors took her in his arms; he had a fierce need to give his join a kiss. Within moments, the kiss went from simple to simply outrageous. BianCa was deep in the kiss when a sound intruded. Someone was talking. Reluctantly, they pulled apart. BianCa dropped her arms that were wound around Thors’s neck. Thors lowered BianCa back to her feet, giving her ass one last squeeze before pulling away from her. Facing forward again, they saw a man standing in front of them.
“I apologize for…ah…interrupting you, duke…ah…duke…” he stumbled to a halt when the large alien just stared at him.
“Rinok, this is my husband, Duke Thors, the new Proctor for the House of LucenTio. Thors, this is Rinok. He acts as secretary, making sure the people you need to see can gain an audience with you and those who might be wasting your time, are handled by others,” BianCa explained in a dry voice.
On more than on
e occasion, she had found herself being handled by others when she’d been married to PietRo.
“Rinok, I sent word for the entire household to be assembled. Have you seen to that?” Thors asked.
“Of course, of course—all is as you wish it,” he said, trying not to look at the duchess in her scandalous clothing.
Rinok tried to hide the fact he was extremely nervous. He was a small, weasel-looking man who had made a place for himself near the old duke by doing whatever he had to. Many of his assignments he found distasteful but he didn’t let it bother him. He had been quietly skimming funds from the duke’s coffers and he knew so long as he scraped and bowed enough, he would be overlooked. He didn’t think it would take long with this new duke. The big ones were always stupid. He comforted himself with thoughts of his mistress as he led the way to the main hall.
Jalen Rephaim, Ankida to Grace, had provided surveillance nanos to King Ben. Thors had placed them on all of the prior duke’s known associates. Thors and BianCa had stayed up late the prior night reviewing all the downloaded data. The time since the prior duke had attempted to kill Queen Addie had netted better results than they could have hoped. Thors intended to clean house in a major way on this day.
Ten minutes later, they entered the back of the chamber and were standing on a raised dais before all the members of the House of LucenTio. The women, unused to be included in formal proceedings, were crowded into one corner at the back of the room. The remainder were milling around in groups. Thors took his warrior staff and beat it against the floor several times to gain everyone’s attention.
“Please clear the center of the floor,” spoke Thors, waving his staff and parting the crowd.
He kept gesturing until a fairly large area was cleared and the people were mostly pressed up four to six deep on the sides of the room.
“There has been upheaval in the House of LucenTio in the recent past. Several of you stepped forward to act—both during this time and, as I’ve been informed, were in charge of key initiatives in the past. When I call your name, please move into the center of the room so you may be recognized.”
BianCa then pulled a slim handheld device from her sleeve and handed it to Thors. Rinok was one of the first to be called. All told, there were twenty-seven names called. All of the men strutted and pushed their way to the center, sure they were going to be rewarded on top of the bounty to which they’d already helped themselves.
When they were all assembled, Thors spoke again. “Call in the Honor Guard!”
The stupid men were surprised and pleased to see the Honor Guard in full ceremonial uniforms and regalia quick-step into the room to flank them on either side.
“All of you are entitled to reap the rewards of your actions beginning right now,” he said with a wide grin, causing many of the men to smile in response and nod their heads. “You’ve all lied, stolen, and acted in your own self-interest instead of the good of this House. All of your accounts and possessions have been seized and the Honor Guard will now escort you to a temporary jail. All of the charges against you will be posted publicly in detail throughout LucenTio’s borders.”
Many of the men began to bluster. A few looked as if they would have made a run for it, if the guards had not been there. All of a sudden, Rinok, who stood front and center, let out a shout. Pulling a weapon from his sleeve, he took aim at BianCa.
“This is entirely your fault—you bitch!” he screamed.
If he were planning to say anything else, he didn’t get the chance. Moving faster than anyone could have thought possible in so large a man, Thors stepped forward in front of BianCa and threw his staff, all in one movement. After throwing the staff, he pulled his blade and stun stick, ready for anything else.
Rinok fell backwards, dropping the energy weapon he held. He grabbed on to the staff with both hands, perhaps thinking to pull it out. He screamed when the blades embedded in the staff stuck out and sliced his hands, removing a few of his fingers. The other guards also pulled their weapons and were ensuring there were no more attacks. Rinok finally stopped twitching and the blood pooling around him began to widen.
“Remove these vermin!” Thors growled.
Completely cowed when confronted by an angry warrior who was taller and wider than any of them and seeing how quickly and easily he had dispatched Rinok, the others allowed themselves to be led out of the hall. Putting his knife and stun stick back into his boots, he stepped forward and pulled his staff from Rinok’s body. It was stuck through to the spine so the body arched up slightly and he had to rest one foot on Rinok’s hip to pull it free with a sucking sound.
BianCa had gone pale but was determined to be strong in front of her people. She took in a few deep breaths and aimed her eyes on the far wall, to avoid looking at the bloodshed below. She wasn’t sorry it happened, though. The people needed to see Thors as a strong and worthy warrior. Now they would see he was also a good leader.
One of the guards brought out a dark cloth and covered the body as Thors stepped back up on the dais. He watched carefully until the guards had removed the men from the room.
“I apologize you all had to witness Rinok’s cowardly actions in attacking my duchess. Those who have been removed will be judged after we have gathered any additional evidence against them. Instead of having to speak with assistants and secretaries, any member of this House can come and see either of us with their concerns. This includes the women of the House, as well as the men. Every man, woman, and child is of value to us. The women, especially, need to have a greater voice. You women are the nurturers, the bringers of life. Without you, we have no future. Please bring any concerns and desires to our attention. BianCa and I appreciate you coming here today. We have to tour the rest of our lands but we will return here in a few days. Thank you for coming,” he said in dismissal.
They were both surprised when the remaining crowd began to cheer. Many had suffered from the previous regime and were happy about the change. BianCa blushed and the two of them left the way they had come.
“That is the longest speech I’ve ever given. Was it alright?” Thors asked in a quiet voice.
“You were wonderful; they already love you,” BianCa hastened to reassure him.
“I think in the future, I’ll let you do the talking. I’d rather fight.”
“Well, you have to do that, too,” she said.
An hour later, they were in a ground shuttle, heading to the country estate, which was now theirs.
Chapter Seventeen
While BianCa and Thors were on their way to their country estate, Natalie’s Ankida, Peet, was hurriedly contacting the queen while Reeko was holding his terrified wife.
Arjun’s face appeared on the com-link. “Peet? Why are you calling? You know how much Addie needs her rest.”
“I apologize, Arjun. If a life weren’t at stake, I would not call,” said Peet.
Before he could say more, Natalie screamed as she bent over at the waist.
“Natalie is losing another baby,” Peet said hurriedly.
“Bring her here!” Addie said in the background and Arjun nodded, “Come quickly.”
Reeko was carrying a crying Natalie out of the room even as Peet was disconnecting. By the time they reached the queen’s chambers, Natalie was incoherent, crying and clutching her waist. Arjun was waiting at the door so they wouldn’t have to wait. He led them quickly into the living room where Addie was sitting on the couch with Rune and Kylan beside her.
“Bring her here to me,” she stated as she started to give off a golden glow. Reeko brought her over to the couch and Addie placed her hand over Natalie’s womb.
Addie gasped, “She has been poisoned!”
Natalie let out another wrenching cry and a gush of blood left her body.
“I’m so sorry, Natalie. There was no time,” cried Addie.
But Natalie didn’t hear her. Her eyes were vacant, her body continued to convulse but she was no longer reacting to what was going on around her.
Addie placed both her hands over Natalie’s bloody ones and willed her to heal before she could hemorrhage and bleed out. The contractions stopped and Natalie went lax in Reeko’s arms.
Peet and Reeko crooned to Natalie as they brushed the sweat-soaked hair from her face. She didn’t respond. She’d gone away somewhere in her mind where the pain, both mental and physical, couldn’t touch her.
“Take her back to your quarters and bathe her. Hold her close and keep reminding her that you love her. She will come back to you,” Addie said.
Both of the men had tears in their eyes. “This is our fault. We shouldn’t have made love to her,” said Peet.
“She was told she had recovered. She couldn’t have known something like this would happen again,” Rune said quietly.
“She didn’t want to get pregnant, but the condom broke,” said Reeko. “It happened so fast. You said it was poison?” As if coming out of his own stupor, Reeko latched onto that one word.
“Yes, there was a poison in her body which caused her to spontaneously abort the baby at the moment of conception,” said Addie.
“How could that happen?” asked Peet.
“Don’t worry, we’re going to find out,” said Arjun.
“Let us worry about that. You need to take care of her,” Rune said again.
The two men nodded and carefully stood, holding her close between them. After they had gone, Addie turned to look at her own Ankida.
“I think this happened because they went down to the planet. There is something there which is causing this,” Kylan said, speaking for the first time. “Tomorrow I’ll question them individually and see if we can narrow down the cause.”
