Battalion's Bride

by C. J. Scarlett

Thrusting into her, he murmured. “You’re a good queen to tend to your drones needs so well. One would almost think you enjoyed such pursuits.”

  Opening her mouth along the side of his neck she gently nibbled at his flesh. “I love being with you this way…every way. You deserve all the pleasure that might be yielded to drone.”

  Powering into her with a vengeance, Ember realized that she’d finally whispered the words that broke his resolve. Feeling her body constrict around his rod, her stomach fluttered, and then she came apart in his arms. With one final punch of his hips, Haroc stilled, emptying himself into her. His arms relaxed, only very slightly and he whispered tenderly. “I am proud to be your queen maker and that is something I never thought I’d ever say to a queen.”

  “I’m proud to be your queen as well.”

  “Do you honestly love Valic just as much as me?”

  Nodding, she smiled at his hesitant question. “Have no fear that I will play favorites. He’s just as entwined in my heart as you are.”

  “That’s good to know. I see you two have worked up an appetite. Luckily, you are in a family unit with a drone nice enough to bring you food.”

  Both of the looked over to see Valic standing in the open doorway with a huge covered tray. The approving smile on his face told her, he liked seeing them together and maybe that he approved of her loving them both equally.

  “Wash up and come and eat. If you take too long, I’m going to eat it all myself.”

  Tripping over their tangle of bedclothes, they ran to the cleansing room and managed to shower and pull on clean clothing quickly. Racing back out to the main room they landed at the table with Valic.

  Ember grabbed her hydration pack and sucked down the cool refreshing liquid while the guys negotiated the food. Soon they were shoveling food into their mouths at the speed of light, feeding her along the way. Honestly, they were eating a lot and rapidly, like it was a race of some sort.

  Suddenly, their com sounded. It was the Shardon vessel. “We require your presence, commander, immediately.”

  “Give us nine microns.” Turning to Ember, she shook her head and dove for her boots. “I know, that means three minutes.”

  Rushing to the docking ring, the entered the Shardon vessel and went immediately to their medical bay. Skidding to a stop, two critical pieces of information slammed home. Dark had somehow acquired a rather magnificent set of wings. And Dark and Dargon were facing off with the Maruvian Queen’s family. The small queen seemed to be hiding behind Dark.

  “You are not taking my little queen anywhere without my permission.”

  Dark was seriously angry. “She’s not a child. Your daughter is fifty fucking years old and she can do as she pleases.”

  Dargon’s growly voice joined the mix. “Stand down stranger. The human is correct. You do not command here. The queen will do as she pleases. Do not make me remove your head from your worthless body.”

  Pointedly ignoring the Golugua, the older drone glared at Dark. “Touch her and you will die.”

  Dark glared right back. “I’m not all that easy to kill. I also tend not to stay dead, so there’s that.”

  The older man squinted his eyes, as if trying to figure out if what he was saying could possibly be true.

  Haroc stepped boldly between them. “What is this disagreement about?”

  “The half breed human wishes to take my young queen and I forbid it.”

  “He’s not a half breed. He’s pure human, which are highly coveted by our queens for mating. The queen you sired, is no longer a child. You have no right to make demands of her and you know it.”

  “We know nothing of this creature or the home world you promised us. It is all just useless words. We have spent our lives protecting Shana. I will not permit her to be taken away from our protection.”

  “Dark is a member of my extended clan. He goes home with us. If Queen Shana selects him for mating, you are welcome in our spacious home as well. No one is trying to separate your family, but you know better than most that queens command and drones obey.”

  The older man’s voice softened. “I am not bereft of the knowledge of right and wrong.”

  “You must submit or be eliminated from our ranks, for none on our home world will allow you to run over the rights of a queen.”

  “With a tiny jerk of his head, he stated. “We submit. Queens command, drones obey.”

  Ember stepped forward and held out her hand to the Maruvian queen. Her dark eyes sought out Dark for approval, and he nodded. Shana stepped forward and took her hands. Ember pulled her into a warm embrace. “Greetings Shana. I’m real sorry about the battle and I’m glad you got rid of that horrible parasite.”

  “Thank you for saving me. Your strategy was brilliant. I didn’t think my being here would cause so much trouble.”

  Holding her out to look into her face, Ember assured her. You couldn’t be trouble if you tried. In this sector of space, your kind are at peace with other species and you have no enemies. Breathe easy.”

  “I worried that I would be hunted because of my heritage.”

  “No one is out to get you around these parts. Have you eaten, I can show you to the dining hall.”

  Slipping his hand around her waist, Dark pulled her back to his chest. “She does not need you to show her around. That’s my job.” Dark was now glaring at her and Ember was getting fed up with his new attitude. It occurred to Ember that the serum had bulked him to the size of Maruvian warrior. It had also brought out a possessive streak a mile wide.

  Waving her hand at Dark, Ember commented casually. “You can tell him to get his damn hands off you and he has to obey.” The woman blinked at her, making Ember wonder if she understood her rights at all. “I’m just saying if you don’t want him grabbing you up that way, speak up.”

  The woman looked rather smitten. “I like it when he grabs me up. Dark is very unlike our drones. He’s bold, decisive and does as he likes.”

  “Yea, well that’s probably going to start getting old real soon. When it does, just speak up.”

  Looking over her shoulder, she practically purred. “This is me speaking up. I want more grabbing.”

  Dark smiled indulgently at her. “We’ll see what we can do about that in the near future. However, for now we need to slow down on the grabbing and get to know each other.”

  “You’re not very fun.”

  Ember had to hand it to the cute little Maruvian woman, she had the pouty female look down to an art form. And her dumb brother was buying it, hook, line and sinker.

  “I wish to go to the room for eating.”

  Slipping a wing around her, Dark started to walk off. Ember stepped in front of him, folding her arms over her shoulder. “Care to explain the new flying gear, brother?

  Flaring his wings out like a Maruvian warrior, Dark smirked. “Haroc said I should have gotten wings cloned while I was on the Shardon vessel. Since they were still here, I decided to ask if it was possible.”

  Blowing an exasperated strand of hair from her forehead, she responded. “God knows, those clones love a good challenge. I suppose that you two have spent all night talking and now here we are.

  Nodding, Dark replied. “Shana appreciates my alpha side. Most women don’t. You barely tolerate it. It’s nice to feel accepted.”

  “Hooking up with the hot woman I get. My only real question is why get wings?”

  “I ain’t interested in being the only weak ass person around with no wings.”

  Now he was just being an ass. Lots of Maruvians didn’t have wings. Reaching out one gigantic hand, he gently pressed her back and to the side, so they could pass.

  His touching caused her clan to step closer and Dargon’s growly voice sounded off. “You do not touch our queen. I will rip you head…”

  “From my worthless shoulder. I know. You need to come up with a different threat. Using the same one all the time is not cool. It feels less intimidati
ng each time I hear it.”

  Dargon sat on the floor and shook his head back and forth as if considering the advice. Waving one hand outwards, he mused out loud. “What could possibly be more intimidating that making someone headless. That is a threat that should strike fear into the hearts of my enemies no matter how often I say it.”

  Ember squatted down to his level. “You could always threatened to rend them limb from limb.”

  “That is the saying that Armon uses. I am not allowed to use it. I know this because I already asked.”

  Valic bent down. “Or you could threaten to peal the skin from their head and use it as a mask.”

  “Not terrifying enough.”

  Haroc chimed in. “You could say you will gut them where they stand. Everyone knows that if a person is gutted they can’t escape because they would slip on their own entrails.”

  “I’m not sure most beings would think that and it’s too much to explain.”

  Ember perked up. “On my home world we had pirates that sailed the oceans attacking vessels of commerce. They wore a patch over one eye and had lots of terrifying threats. We could get you a ticked out monocle to keep you wired into messages and the date stream.”

  “What are their threats?”

  “Harr your scurvy scum, fall into line or I’ll make you walk the plank. It means you’ll shove them out an airlock. There were a lot of good pirate sayings. You could mix them and keep people wondering what you’re talking about. If you look mean and grumble crap no one understands, they tend to get scared. Then if they still can’t figure it out they get terrified.”

  Licking her face again, he panted. “I like the looking mean part and the two step process of inducing terror. Where do I get a monocle?”

  Wiping her hand down her face, Ember sighed. “I do not like you liking my face with the same tongue you use to lick your junk.”

  Preening a bit, Dargon responded smugly. “You should be honored, because I happen to have magnificent junk. Dark said I am well hung, and should be proud of what the gods gave me.”

  Shoving up from the floor, Ember reminded herself to murderize her ridiculous brother the very first chance she got.

  Chapter 18

  Home World

  ~ Ember ~

  Music Mix

  Ember sat on an old rusty crate, watching Haroc’s brother attach a hand crafted old school monocle to Dargon’s right eye. It looked a bit like steam punk.

  Drale was a little withdrawn and nerdy, but totally devoted to his prim and proper human mate, Alexia. They were real cute together. More importantly, he was the Maruvian equivalent of mister fix-it.

  Drale explained quietly, “The interface is hidden in the metal rim around the eye peace. The glass is ballistic and has a special coating on the inside to minimize sheen. It will make the images that flash before you eye, easier to distinguish.”

  “Will it make my eye change color, look extra sacred or shoot lasers.”

  “Um no, but it will keep you in contact with your clan via a small voice activated microphone hidden in the strap near the ear. It will also link with any open source data stream and allow you pull maps and other critical information from the stream.”

  Raking his claw on the floor, Dargon stated flatly. “I don’t suppose I have to worry about getting lost in the woods or anything like that.”

  Scratching him behind the ear, Drale replied. “That’s not the only thing. You can use the mapping features to locate water sources, and natural salt licks. You can even use the data stream to identify unknown vegetation and animals so you’ll know what’s safe to eat and medical information so you can better protect and care for your queen.”

  Dargon’s head came up. “You are correct. It will make me a better hunter and provider for my own mate one day. This is an advantage that distinguishes me and according to Golugua law, no one can imitate me.”

  Drale smiled down at him. “This will put you at the top of the pecking order when it comes to being selected by a mate.”

  Licking Drale’s hand, he circled around behind him and ran over to her. Ember felt like palm smacking herself. “A lick is your way of saying thank you, isn’t it Dargon?”

  Nodding he shook his head back and forth wildly. “See it does not come off, no matter what I do.”

  “I see that. What do say about us going out to show off your new tech to Armon?”

  Sticking his nose in the air, Dargon walked to the door and waited on her. Coming smoothly to her feet, Ember smiled at Drale. “Thank you for helping us out with this. I hate it when I get a brilliant idea and not the slightest way to make it happen. It’s embarrassing, really.”

  “I am happy to contribute you making your stay on our home world comfortable. My mate and I have a mating gift for you personally. It is our way of both welcoming you to our family and thanking you taking my brother to you.”

  “No one needs to thank me for that. Haroc and Valic are locked so deep in my heart that they’re never coming out again.”

  “I am pleased that your mating is born of love, like my own.” Holding out his hand, there was a little jewel encrusted earing, clearly designed to wrap around the lobe of one ear.

  “It is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Are you sure it’s okay for me to have it.”

  “My Alexia and I worked on it together, just for you.”

  Reaching out, she took it gently from his hand. Affixing it to her ear, she found it extremely comfortable to wear.

  “Simply press the larger jewel in the center to activate the communication device. Once it is on, you voice prompt it in exactly the same manner as I showed Dargon.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “Just be yourself and enjoy your new life among our people. That will be thanks enough.”

  “If you ever need anything at all, know I am will be there for you and Alexia.”

  Dargon clawed at the floor, reminding her that he was waiting. Walking out of the Drale’s workshop and breathing the clean fresh air was amazing. There were several huge fire pits with people sitting around, enjoying the warmth. Little ones were flying back and forth playing a game that seemed an awful lot like tag. Maruvian children were really adorable.

  She saw Dark sitting in the branches of a large tree with the little Maruvian queen on his lap. She was wearing a beautiful white gown and using her hands to explain something related to flying to him. Dark was munching on some type of fruit, totally enthralled in her conversation. She gave a silent thanks to God that he was here with her and accepted by her new clan. Haroc’s family was so sweet and loving, it was impossible to find fault with them about anything.

  Dargon was prancing around at Armon’s side apparently experiencing an elevation in status, secondary to his valor in battle and newfound tech. Smiling at him, she caught his eye and gave him a little salute. He jerked her head towards Haroc and Valic. Bossy was the word that came to mind when she thought of him.

  Their first day on the planet had been spent introducing Shana at court and giving deposition about their experiences. It took a huge team of assistants to break them all apart and make a detailed record of the part they played in the mission. Now they’d settled into a steady routine.

  Sitting between Haroc and Valic, she allowed them to feed her from their plate. It was just easier than hunting down food for herself.

  Their father, Vraden seemed very reserved. He had an older human woman clinging to his arm and seemed to be loving every second of having her there. “I am told my Queen Carolyn that she has dispatched one of our battleships to the rift. Shana and her family have given us a signal that will draw other drones wishing for freedom through the rift. Talon has come up with a better plan than doing battle if their queens.”

  Haroc placed a hand against this side. “I am happy to be spawning. I have had my fill of battle.”

  Are you ready for me to have a look?”

  Nodding,
Haroc proudly lifted up the side of his shirt. Ember dropped to her knees to get a good view and gasps broke out around the assembled group.

  Haroc shook his head. “Human queens don’t think anything about kneeling. It is not seen as a sign of subservience.”

  Ember’s eyes sought out Valic and he smiled slightly. “Get your sexy self over here as well.”

  Valic rose and lifted his shirt as he walked over. She inspected both of them closely and there was a slightly swollen bump on the side of their lower abdomen.

  Vraden spoke quietly. “We need to get them to a medical scanner to be certain.”

  Dargon pounced over. “There is no need. I can scan them with my ocular. Out of the way you landlubbers, or I’ll Keelhaul the lot of you.”

  Several confused drones scrambled out of his way.

  “Medical scan activate. Target spawning for target one and target two.”

  Shining his little light beam over Haroc and then Valic, a small medical imager projected an image of their egg sacs. Ember could barely make out several tiny wiggling globs that looked a bit like tadpoles to her.

  Dargon’s smug voice announced target one is currently carrying sixteen spawn and target two is carrying four. File save and send to Queen Ember. If you have further need for my assistance please do not hesitate to ask.”

  Trotting back over to Armon’s pack he flounced down onto the ground and began licking his magnificent junk. Ember almost laughed out loud, but though better of it since so many people were around.

  Haroc held out his hands and Ember slipped her hands into his as she rose. Giving them each a kiss, she murmured. You did very well, both of you.”

  Raec’s voice intruded upon their moment. “I spawned eighteen my first time.”

  Haroc replied politely. “Yes but my family is a tri-bond and Valic is carrying four. In case you cannot count, that is twenty in total. Between you and the one your queen birth, that makes nineteen. Our Ember was in her fertile phase, so she may yet test positive. That means my family unit is stronger and more robust than yours.”

  “You don’t have to take everything so seriously.”