TICEES

by Mills, Shae

  Chelan’s eyes went wide with disbelief. Then she watched as Korba rose slowly to his feet. He extended a hand to her, but her legs faltered. He pulled her to her feet and held her firmly. His eyes never left hers as he signaled silently for the men to rise.

  Korba reached for his drink and raised it to Chelan. His voice was soft and low. “And here is to the new Empress, the most wonderful woman the galaxy has ever seen.” All four men raised their glasses to her and took a sip.

  Chelan was speechless. Korba set his glass down and hugged her tight. She clutched onto his shroud as he held her for a long time. Then he drew her back and placed his hands on either side of her face, his thumbs caressing her pretty pink cheeks. Korba smiled at her and then looked over her head to his men.

  “As the new Emperor,” he began softly, “my first act will be to relinquish my command of RIBUS 7 at my earliest convenience. In doing so, I have one task to complete, and that is to deal with some insubordination enacted in the heat of battle by my First Officer.”

  All eyes flew to Fremma as the warrior’s jaw dropped.

  Korba nodded to him. “While insubordination seems to suit you, it would be wise in the future to make sure that very few opportunities to disobey direct orders from those above you ever exist. Therefore, in an effort to solve this problem, I hereby promote Fremma to the status of Commander of RIBUS 7.”

  Broad smiles broke out on everyone’s faces, but Fremma was stunned. Korba released Chelan and stepped up to his Second-in-Command. He took his hand. “Congratulations, my friend. It is a posting I have always felt that you deserved,” and he hugged the warrior firmly.

  Chelan hugged herself as wondrous tears of happiness welled. She smiled at Fremma and nodded to him as Korba returned to her side.

  “I would like to thank you all for your support and for a job well done.” He continued. “We will be working closely together in the months to come, and all of you will be pivotal in the decision-making processes regarding the new Empire. While Iceanea is being cleaned up and readied for our arrival, I will remain here with Chelan. You are all welcome to visit any time.”

  Chelan clasped her hands in front of her chest, her heart bursting with pride and admiration for the men before her. Toran was the first to step up to her. He kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Congratulations, my Lady. I look forward to serving you and your man for many decades to come.”

  Chelan blushed. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Toran backed up, and Fremma stepped forward. He took one of her hands and smiled. “And I would also like to congrat—”

  Chelan leapt at him, her arms surrounding his neck as she almost knocked him over. “I’m the one who gets to congratulate you, my gentle warrior!” And she took his lips, kissing him hard, long, and passionately.

  Roars of approval went up from all the men.

  Chelan finally released him, and Fremma let her feet touch the floor. His eyes widened as he looked down into her pretty face. “Damn! This day just keeps getting better.”

  Everyone laughed, and Fremma took a step back. Then Chelan looked at Dar, and her heart melted. He stepped up to her. “My Lady, I, too, look forward to serving you, Korba, and the New Empire. I will always be there to defend, to protect, and to aid you in any way I can, from now until I fall. My allegiance will always be to you.”

  Chelan’s knees weakened, and her throat constricted. Dar surrounded her with his arms and buried his face in her neck. His lips found her flesh, and as he inhaled all that she was, his eyes welled. “I love you with all my heart and soul, my Lady,” he whispered.

  Chelan instantly burst into tears, her fists clasping locks of his molten hair, clutching him to her with all her strength. “Dar, you are the music in my soul.”

  They lingered together for a long time, and finally, Dar reluctantly released her. He kissed each of her cheeks, his tears mingling with hers, and then he took a step back and drew in a large breath of air. Then his eyes settled on Korba. “You take good care of her, my Lord. I will answer to you for everything, but you will answer to me if you let our lady down.”

  Korba nodded with respect to Dar. “I would expect no less.”

  Dar glanced back at Chelan and winked. Then he pivoted on his heel, and all three men left the Command Center.

  Chelan watched them go and then looked up into Korba’s azure eyes. “Is it true?” she whispered. “Is this for real?”

  Korba smiled at her and nodded. “It is true. It is all ours, pretty woman.” His hand brushed over her petal-soft cheek and down her slender neck, and he felt her quiver under his sensual touch. She closed her eyes, and he drew her to him. His hands moved over her shoulders and down her lean back as he kissed her ear. “And as my second act in my capacity as Emperor, my Lady”—he paused, pulling her back and tilting her beautiful face to his—“I would like to spend the next few hours, the next few days, and the rest of my life making sweet love to you.”

  Chelan trembled, and her eyes sparkled. She held onto him tightly as she tried to catch her breath. “I think I would like that, my Lord,” she whispered, and she stretched up and kissed his lips tenderly. Then she stepped back from him and turned away.

  Korba watched his exotic, alabaster beauty head for his chambers, and his heart swelled. When she had disappeared within, he smiled to himself and took a deep breath. Slowly, he reached inside his shroud and withdrew the carefully folded pink gown that he had carried next to his heart for these long years.

  His hands squeezed into the soft, pink material as pressed it to his face. He had been robbed of his pretty woman for so long, and now he would make up for every lost moment with her. Korba laid the silky pink gown down on the command console and backed away from it. From now on, it would be Chelan herself that he held close to his heart, and he would never let her go.

  Korba turned toward his quarters and paused. It was a new morning, a new dawn, and most of all, it was a new Empire. And from now till oblivion, he would share that Empire with his beloved Lady, for she more than anyone deserved its riches and its securities. Korba smiled as he stepped toward his room. Their room. She would not be disappointed.