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She blushed. Zeering had a point. It still feels a little invasive.
You will get used to it.
Does this mean…
Yes. You are mine now. The Alliance will be notified once you and Issul have completed the acclimatization.
She thought it out and realized that it was never going to end any other way. From the moment Issul had set eyes on her outside his pod, she had known that he was determined to have her, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why.
You are extraordinary and Issul looks forward to proving to you just how extraordinary you are at every opportunity. Now that he and I have renewed our bond and are aware of the threat that the Reeban pose, we will take steps.
What are you planning?
A little housekeeping. They will no longer be allowed to do what they have done here.
An image came into her mind of a mountain and a series of blasts that eventually left nothing but a tower of blue marble. The temple was built around the tower and she knew then what she was looking at. The Reeban had built a direct connection to the world below and tried to pass it off as tribute when it was really an attempt at manipulation.
What will you do?
We will discuss that after the bonding is complete. We still have some more work to do.
She fought the urge to smile, as the subject he was referring to was taking on an insistent form within her. Does Issul know we are speaking?
He knows and is impatient for me to finish so that he can begin.
Amusement flowed from the planet and she felt him retreat to a previously unused corner of her mind. Humans didn’t use their entire brains at one time and it seemed that it was exactly the kind of arrangement that this planet preferred.
She could almost feel him setting up housekeeping.
Sebena looked at Issul’s face and reached up to caress his jaw, neck and shoulders. He ran his hands over her back and arched his hips into hers. The pillar of heat inside her started to move once again and she placed her hands on his shoulders for balance. The column that hid them from view flickered randomly as the joining continued. Sebena could see Issul with her, the pleasure that they were finding together as they moved as one and off in the corner of their thoughts, Zeering burned brightly.
The tension within her coiled and tightened, Sebena dug her nails into his shoulders and when his hands bruised her hips and his lips crushed against hers, he howled and she moaned. Their bodies locked together as his spasmodic jerks thrust him to the hilt in harsh repetition.
She sighed and licked at his lips while their galloping heartbeats slowed and synchronized.
The concealing column was gone now. The priests were on their knees and staring in astonishment. She looked around them and a sinking feeling began.
Sebena took in her position, Issul’s hands on her ass, and the cheerful hum of Zeering in her mind. “Oh, hell.”
His chuckle in her ear brought her head around to glare at him.
“You think this is funny?” She punched his chest lightly.
“You are alive, well and bonded to me. I am relieved and ecstatic.”
She could feel the tension seeping out of him, and the cum seeping out of her. Her pink hair surrounded her and she knew that as soon as she dismounted, her body would be visible to all and sundry. “This is embarrassing.”
He laughed. “The priests are in shock. You are now the embodiment of Zeering. Your body is holy to them.”
She tried to move off him, but her muscles were locked. “How long were we like that?”
“Making love?”
“Coupling. My limbs are tight and I feel like I ran a marathon.”
“What’s a marathon?” He rubbed her back and buttocks with long strokes of his hands.
“A foot race on Terra that takes hours for the participants.” She groaned and leaned her head against his chest as he unknotted her legs and lifted her away from him before readjusting her posture so she was draped across his lap once again.
The high priest stepped forward. “Greetings, Avatar Issul. Greetings, Avatar Sebena. We greet you on behalf of the population of Zeering.”
She arranged her hair to cover her breasts and Issul’s arm across her hips covered her bikini area. The priests were staring at her, some with an appalled expression, some with admiration and some with mindless worship. The lust was the least shocking to her.
She felt Zeering sweep into control of her body. “Thank you, Priest. Greetings to you all. It is with great joy that I present my new Avatar to you. She will represent the women in your population and requires female priests to attend her. This will begin today.”
“But, Zeering, that is impossible. We have made this temple a sanctuary for the males of this world.”
She felt Zeering smile. “It is no longer a sanctuary. My Avatars will begin to bring balance to this world. It has been skewed for far too long.”
“My Lord, this is impossible. We cannot bring women into our temple. The priests would revolt.”
“Let them go. Only the faithful are worthy to remain in my presence. Those who doubt my judgement are free to leave.”
To Sebena’s horror, Zeering stood upright in her body wearing nothing but a cloak of pink hair.
“I have re-joined Issul and bonded to Sebena. We now will spend a night together and in the morning, there will be change.”
Issul stood at her side and took her hand. “This couple is my choice and they will rule over my surface until they choose to leave it, together.”
Zeering walked them through the throne room and with only a nod to the high priest, they returned to Issul’s quarters where Sebena’s adventure began.
Chapter Eight
The moment that the doors closed behind them, Zeering released them both. Sebena’s blush flared into solid and vibrant life the moment she was free and Issul simply smiled and shook his head.
“Does he march you around naked a lot?” Sebena darted into the bathing room and grabbed a towel to wrap around her.
“Not a lot. No. You were fading quickly and getting inside you mentally and physically was the most effective way to save what was left of your life. Burning off our clothing made that possible.”
She groaned and came out of the bathroom to see Issul lounging on the bed. “Was having us hike here naked part of his fun?” She had to ask Issul, Zeering was hiding from her irritation.
“It was necessary. Getting the priests to provide appropriate clothing for us would have taken longer than you would have liked. Your hair covered most of you.” His lips were twitching with amusement.
She lifted a hank and scowled at the pink locks. “How stupid does it look?”
“It looks lovely. I especially like that Zeering matched the rest of you to the pink.”
She glanced down and her blush fired again as she caught his meaning.
Sebena sighed and began rummaging through the wardrobes that lined the wall. The men’s clothing was all neatly arranged, but there was nothing designed for someone of her frame, so she took one of the shirts and pulled it over her head. It fell to her knees and she rolled up the sleeves until she could see her hands.
“Why get dressed?”
“Because it makes me feel better. I am not a fan of public nudity, especially if it centres around me.” She returned to the bathroom and looked for the bottle that she had used as soap.
She emerged from the bathroom and looked him up and down. “Issul, did someone remove the bottle of bath soap? The one that poisoned me is missing.”
“Not that I am aware of. They are under orders to only enter these chambers for personal attendance and housekeeping. Neither of those were needed in the last two days.”
That shocked her. “Two days?”
“Time moves differently when you are with Zeering. He is not focussed on anything but making sure that every cell recognizes him.” Issul got to his feet and opened a set of doors that let the sunset stream through the room.
“So, we were in there and together for two days? Why aren’t I sore?”
He laughed. “There are a few advantages to being an Avatar. Being impervious to damage is one of them.”
“So, if I had been poisoned after the change, there wouldn’t have been any problem?” She quirked a brow. “Why would they have bothered to poison you if they knew you were impervious to damage?”
“I am not sure that they knew. Zeering has never shared my vulnerabilities with the Reeban or the lack of them for that matter. They never asked. They simply decided that they would rather have one of their own on the throne.” He shrugged.
A knock on the door startled them both.
Issul wandered casually to the door and opened one side.
Sebena heard him speaking and a lighter feminine voice replied, but she couldn’t make out their words.
“Sebena, this is Karri. She has volunteered to be your maid and dresser.” Issul opened the door wide and a young Reeban woman stood there, her black feathers lying flat against her skull.
Sebena chuckled. “Get some pants on, Issul, and let her in.”
As the timid, young woman came in, her backpack bulging, Sebena wondered how many times in the next few years that she would have to utter that exact sentence. He seemed completely at ease in his skin and having had a portion of him inside her, she had to admit that he had reason for pride.
“Welcome, Karri.”
The young woman gave her a surprised look. “Thank you, Avatar Sebena. I was supposed to be here two days ago, but you were…busy.”
Laughing, Sebena led the young woman to a sitting area near the balcony. “Do you think you can work with my hair? I know it isn’t feathers, but I like it.”
Karri nodded shyly. “I have had training as a groomer, Avatar Sebena. I can also offer you a massage and nail treatments. The clothing that I selected was based on your measurements when you arrived. I hope it will be suitable.”
“Let’s start with just getting a brush for my hair. The changes Zeering made created a much softer and lighter substance than I am used to.”
Karri opened her backpack and pulled out swaths of silk. “This is a lounging robe. It may be more comfortable than Avatar Issul’s shirt.”
Issul was wearing pants but lounging on the bed once again. “I like the way she looks in my shirt.”
Sebena lifted her hand. “Your opinion was not asked for.”
Karri was shocked. “You speak to him like that? The Avatar of Zeering?”
Sebena snorted. “Of course. He was being a twit. And thanks to Zeering, there are now two Avatars to work with the people of his world. One who understands the female perspective and then him.” She jerked her thumb at Issul and he barked a laugh.
She removed the shirt she was wearing and slipped the robe on, enjoying the slick feel of the fabric against her skin. It covered her to her toes.
The deep purple colour contrasted nicely with her hair, the patterns on the hem were elaborate and stiffened the fabric into straight lines. Karri pulled gowns, brushes and some items that Sebena couldn’t identify out of her pack.
“Avatar Sebena, may I set up a dressing station for you?”
“Of course. Use whatever resources are available and send for anything you need. The priests will provide it.”
Under Karri’s polite ministrations, her hair was braided and Karri had created a list of necessary items to request from the priests.
“How did you come to volunteer for this position, Karri?”
Issul was at the door requesting dinner and Karri leaned forward to whisper, “I was selected by the priests because my family already had four other daughters and my brother was one of the candidates who died on the throne.”
“What are your feelings about that?” Sebena watched the grief flicker over the woman’s features.
“He should not have listened to the priesthood. He knew that Zeering’s Avatar was alive.”
“How?”
“Zeering never grieved. If Issul had died, Zeering would have grieved and we would have known it. Planets have been known to begin ice ages because they lost their Avatars.”
Issul opened the doors as the priests brought a table into their chambers. Chairs followed and soon, a meal was brought to them. The empty spaces in their rooms were rapidly taking on a homier look.
“Have the priests prepared a room for you?”
Karri shook her head. “They don’t host women in the temple.”
“That is about to change. If I do one thing, it will be to create a little more equilibrium here in the temple.” She checked her reflection in the mirror on one wall. The braiding had been done neatly and the two long, twisted locks hung to her hips on either side of her head.
Zeering, are you growing out my hair?
Among Issul’s people, the women are considered most feminine when their hair reaches their ankles. I am attempting to please you both with this effort, but you really need to eat, I need some raw materials to work from.
You could have mentioned something.
I just did. Now, go and have a meal with your mate. He is eager to share the simple moments of life with you.
She sent a mental growl to the planet and smiled at her maid. “If you have somewhere to be, you are dismissed for the evening. Will you return tomorrow?”
Karri grinned, her cute beaked nose bright gold and gleaming in the sunset. “I will be happy to. I will bring a seamstress with me and we will set about building you the proper wardrobe for a woman of your station.”
“Until tomorrow then.” Sebena smiled and inclined her head in dismissal. Karri grabbed her backpack and left with a spring in her step and a lift to her feathers.
It was a blatant insult to assign a woman of such a low family to the service of an Avatar, but Sebena liked her. The dark black hair denoted the lowest of merchant classes, as did the gold beak. The more exotic the colouring, the higher the caste of Reeban. Karri was firmly at the bottom of the financial food chain and Sebena couldn’t help but think that someone was trying to capitalize on her brother’s death at the hands of the Avatar’s throne.
Chapter Nine
Issul smiled and served her a portion of the dinner. “It isn’t what you are used to, but it is fairly tasty. We can make other arrangements in the future, but for tonight, we are stuck with Reeban cuisine.”
“I will deal with it as long as Zeering keeps me from having any untoward reactions spurred by ingesting the food.”
“You will be impervious to anything that his soil can produce, as well as most commonly imported substances.”
“Nice.” Sebena eyed the food on the wide platter in front of her. The colours were bright and the combination was appetizing.
“What is your impression of your maid?”
“Karri? She seems genuine, but they will try and use her against us. That much is certain.” Sebena mimicked his hold on the eating utensils that resembled chopsticks crossed with spoons. It took a few tries, but he didn’t seem to mind getting the small noodles flicked in his face.
Issul simply wiped the food away and continued his meal, his shoulders moving in silent laughter.
She shrugged and kept working to get some of the food into her. She wasn’t brave enough to ask what it was quite yet. Sebena would let the contents of her plate remain a mystery.
“Zeering will guard you against anything that they plan. We will not be allowed off world for a few decades, but I am sure that we will find ways to amuse ourselves.”
His switch of topics made her blink.
“Please tell me that your mind isn’t always on sex.”
“Only when you are around, Sebena. It seems that I have a weakness where you are concerned.” He portioned off another serving and continued to eat.
She finished her meal and sat back. The table was strewn with the wreckage of her attempts at learning how to use the implements.
“Who does the dishes?”
“There will be s
ome acolytes here in an hour to remove the remains of our meal.” He finished his food and sat back.
“So, what is the routine here? Do we engage in public spectacles every day or was this a special occasion?”
“A special occasion. Zeering had to refresh his connection to me and begin his connection with you. It was a matter of urgency that the toxins be removed from your body and the only place to do it was within Zeering’s energy column. I did not have enough power stored in my body to heal you.”
“Will we find out who poisoned me?”
She was amazed as he smiled. “I know exactly who poisoned you. Priest Novik Alort. He is descended from the high priest that was in power when I disappeared. He is the only priest recorded as coming through those doors in the last few weeks.”
She paused. “Wait. Recorded?”
“Of course. When this temple was built, my private quarters had full scanners implanted in the hall outside the doors as well as the balcony. Everything coming into this room is recorded in detail and Zeering accessed the computer while we were joining.”
“He can multitask? How nice.” Her voice was dry.
“He is a good planet to be linked to. He has never forced me into any position that I would not have wished to be in.” Issul smiled.
Sebena smiled shyly, got to her feet and dropped into his lap. “That is the sweetest thing.”
“You will be fitted with a wardrobe suiting your new station in the morning and we will meet with the high priest and local politicians and work out the current state of the population.”
“Is that it?”
He loosely draped his arms around her hips and nuzzled at her neck while speaking. “We don’t do much aside from negotiating for mineral rights and determine colony statuses. Our concern is the state of the planet, not its population.”
She lifted her chin as he rubbed her neck with his lips and nose. Sebena sighed and enjoyed being cuddled.
“I am amazed that I am not sore from our previous joining.”
“Zeering is thoughtful that way. He keeps our bodies up to species standard at all times and will attempt to grant any requests you have regarding your physical systems.”
