by Aria Bell
“Mother.”
“Oh, fine. I’ll let you get back to your duties.” Her expression turned serious once more. “Keep safe, my son. Let the human do her job. I love you.”
I would say nothing to commit myself to anything, except this. “I love you too, Mother.”
The viewscreen went dark. I immediately walked to my training room and practiced sword forms until my arms screamed and some of the images of the human warming my sheets vanished from my mind.
When it became close to the time of the ceremony, my head servant, Cort, began making worried noises about me cleaning up and getting ready.
I showered and dressed in the traditional royal garb for the event. Bare-chested, save for my necklace which I was never without. Silver and black pants with writing in High Jardanian along the sides proclaiming the history of the Mar’Don royal line. On my head, I wore a simple circlet of zerophyte, etched with the names of the battles I’d won. Over it all, I wore a sleeveless, purple and black robe, open in the front to bare my heart to my enemies and dare them to try taking it. And of course my sword belt and sword.
Ionas kept me updated on the progress for the ceremony. Hovercams would be used to film the ceremony out on the main balcony, where there would be nobles and wealthy merchant traders in attendance, although not nearly as many who would’ve attended had I given them the proper three days’ notice. But I had done exactly as I’d planned.
Ionas was clearly annoyed, even scandalized, at the short notice I’d given. Or he was scandalized I’d chosen a human for a courtezhana. Not that it mattered to me. Although the vidshow broadcasts were all full of the news and wild speculation on who the human female might be who’d captured the attention of a notorious royal bachelor. I was happy to see the story had eclipsed the reporting on the assassination attempts.
The time for the ceremony finally arrived. Not a moment too soon. My inner chambers were all locked and guarded, but my outer chambers had been turned into a reception area for the ceremony. The main balcony was off the great room of my chambers. I headed there with my bodyguards—all but one—and high-ranking members of my household and staff in formation behind me.
Through the wide double doors, the night air had a light chill to it. Rows and rows of ornamental heater stands gave off light and warmth for the crowds gathered on either side of the black-carpeted path. The balcony itself was the largest in the fortress, stretching over forty meters long, over half of that covered by a roof, and thirty wide, with a sheer edge instead of a railing. The edge was protected by an invisible force field so no one would fall off the balcony and go tumbling down the mountain, but the effect of all that openness was still striking.
Music began to play. The Mar’Don Triumph Theme my father had had commissioned following the Doi’san wars. I made my way to the end of the carpet, to the edge of the balcony where I stood under the night sky filled with stars. My guards and my entourage all spread out to take their places. Hovercams floated around the balcony with gentle whirring noises, filming everything for the holoshows and vidcasts.
I stood at attention, my hand on the hilt of my sword as I waited for my courtezhana.
Six Jardan women bore an enclosed litter on their shoulders as they gracefully made their way down the carpet toward me. The litter was the traditional black and gold, with ornate scrollwork and battle scenes and love ballads depicted on the sides. Right side for battle. Left side for love. I could not see her because of the gold curtains.
The crowd murmured as the procession made its way to me and the hovercams circled it, eager to glimpse the female inside. If I could’ve had my way, this ceremony would’ve been completely private, only the two of us here on the balcony. Preferably naked. But there were certain duties and obligations even a prince couldn’t get out of.
The litter was set down at the edge of the run of carpet where the balcony spread out beyond the roof into open mountain air. For a moment I held my breath, suddenly tense and eager to see her.
The curtains moved aside and Melika Gendressa stepped out.
Stunning. Simply stunning. All I could do was stare at the vision before me.
She wore the traditional black and silver dress, long, flowing skirts of davasil silks, gloves that covered her from fingertips to upper arm. The V-cut bodice revealed cleavage that my hands ached to touch, that I wanted to run my tongue across and feel the flawless perfection of her skin. Her hair had been taken out of the confines of a braid and done up in an elaborate style popular now in Syrelundra. Her big dark eyes seemed to shine in the light glow. The glance she sent my way was demure, perhaps even shy.
I had never wanted her as badly as I did right then.
There was a murmur of appreciation from the gathered Jardan as she made her way to me with her head held high.
The high priest of Ungeni, flown here this afternoon for the ceremony, began his sacred blessings. How she was to be blood of the clan, bound to Clan Mar’Don. How the Mar’Don must mean more to her than life. Then he turned to me and formally asked me my intentions.
“Hear my words, citizens, subjects, comrades,” I said, looking out over the crowd and the hovercams before finally turning my gaze to the small human beauty standing before me. “Melika Gendressa is my mate. I claim her. She is my courtezhana. She will stand by my side. She will defy my enemies beside me. I vow to honor her, cherish her, and protect her, even above my own life.”
Those were the formal words. Only then did they truly sink in. I had set this in motion for many reasons, luring out my enemies, circling out of the well-meaning trap my mother had put me in, making the human mine when I wanted her. But those had all been strategic—except for the last, which had been my cock talking.
“Before the warriors and the nobles of Avoloxa,” the high priest proclaimed. “You may now claim your mate.”
Melika stared up at me with those wide, dark eyes. Eyes so dark, so deep, I felt as if I could lose my soul in them. Her lips were parted and her tongue poked out as she licked at them. The sight sent a thrill through me. My little human warrior so nervous. It made me want to take her in my arms and reassure her until all her doubts fled her mind. I took a step toward her, intending to claim her lips as proof to the world that she was indeed my courtezhana.
But as I reached for her, she suddenly launched herself into me. “Look out!” she yelled.
She did not weigh nearly enough to stagger me when she crashed into my body. But her actions gave me the moment I needed to identify the threat and catch her up in my arms. I whirled her out of the way as a combat robot crashed down from the roof of the balcony and killed the high priest with a swipe of its blade-tipped arms.
The robot was shorter and narrower than I was, but it walked on a base of four insect-like legs. Its multiple limbs were tipped with blades, blasters, and other weapons.
With a growl, I shielded Melika with one arm and with the other, ripped free my blade and severed its central core processor with one mighty blow. It jerked and went down in a heap of scrap. Shouts filled the air. Hovercams circled too close, getting in the way, trying to get a view of the slain high priest and the destroyed robot.
Melika was struggling in my grip. I realized she wanted her body free to fight by my side. I let her loose, then immediately regretted it when more robots with specialized legs clawed their way up the mountain slope and over the clear force field at the edge of the balcony. Their sensor eyes glowed menacingly.
Chaos broke out. My bodyguards rushed to attack. Warriors drew swords and faced off against the threat still coming over the balcony as the females and unarmed servants fled to the interior or to my chambers. Attack sirens began to sound throughout the fortress.
Two robots came for me. I left them so much twisted metal with a sweep of my blade. Another robot took down one of my bodyguards. Blaster bolts began to fly in all directions, from my bodyguards and from the robots. Somehow, Melika had come up with a blaster pistol and her fighting stick. She shot down tw
o robots and when another tried to stab her, she fried its processor with an EMP pulse when she hammered its head with the stick. I was starting to have a smidgen of respect for that weapon. But it was no sword.
I gave in to my battle rage, letting it power me to new heights, feeding on my anger that these enemies had ruined my kiss and put my mate in danger. I slashed my way through robot after robot, dodging their attacks, able to tell where they would be shooting and dart aside, hacking them down without mercy. The entire time Melika had my back, throwing her magnetized disks that disrupted big groups of the robots, shooting down targets, or disabling them with pulses from her fighting stick.
By then the fortress’s defense systems were responding, shooting robots off the walls and blasting drones out of the sky, including all the broadcasting hovercams. Soon enough there were no more robots to destroy. The entire balcony was a smoking wreck of destroyed robots, tipped heaters, and scattered chairs and tables. Friendly fighters circled overhead, looking for more targets.
“We need to get you inside,” Melika said, tugging at my wrist for me to follow her. “Somewhere safe.”
“Not until every enemy is dead,” I snarled. I didn’t jerk my hand away, but she was not strong enough to pull me. She gave me the blackest scowl I’d ever seen on her pretty face and took up her position next to me again, weapons ready. My bodyguards were positioned around me in a wide circle, but most of them faced toward the balcony edge from where the robots had attacked.
But the attack had ended. Failed. My forces had taken to the air and spread out along the mountainside searching for more enemies. I wanted to lead the hunt, but I knew I would have to deal with the aftermath of this.
I sheathed my sword and growled at my guards, “Get medical attention to the wounded, now.” They scrambled to obey as I continued. “I want to know how many of my people have been hurt and who was behind this.” I leveled my sword at the scrap yard of destroyed robots. “And clean this up.”
I turned to Melika, narrowing my eyes. “And you.”
I pulled her into my embrace and kissed her. I poured all my passion into the kiss, stirred up from battle, stirred up at the sight of her fancy dress now all disheveled, more of her breasts showing than she probably wished. Passion exploded within me at the sight of her, safe, unharmed. And also respect. Because she had been by my side every moment, fighting like a true Jardan warrior. It was not as I would’ve preferred. I wanted my new little mate safe. But she had proven herself in the fire of combat.
She had proven herself to me beyond a shadow of a doubt.
I finally ended the kiss. She opened her eyes again to look up at me with an expression of pure, unrestrained need. I wanted to take her right then. But my bodyguards were cheering, and a hovercam that had escaped the fighting was flying nearby, capturing every moment for posterity.
With a smile, I considered taking her, anyway. For posterity. Let the whole world see as I claimed her with my mouth and hands and cock.
But she was already tugging at me to head into the greater safety inside my chambers. I allowed her to lead the way, since the battle was over. When the hovercam flew too close, trying to follow us into my chambers, I punched it in the lens, smashing it to bits.
The world had seen enough for one day.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Melika Gendressa
My knees were weak as we finally made our way back into the relative safety of the fortress. They were weak not because of the sneak attack that had nearly cost me the prince. They were weak because he had obliterated my world with that kiss. The kiss he had claimed me with. My lips still tingled, and I could still taste the power of him of him on my sensitive flesh. I wanted nothing more than to drag him to the nearest couch and fuck him until I couldn’t move. But I had a job to do first.
And besides, he might interpret that as begging.
I’d already decided Prince Vorgyn got his way entirely too often. Had he listened to me when I’d wanted to retreat into the safety of the fortress? No. Instead he had continued to run amok, destroying dangerous robots like some kind of enraged muscle-bound demigod. Meanwhile, I’d had to use every skill I had to keep the robots at bay. Without my kenvo suit, I was not as agile, not as fast or strong. So I’d had to make every shot and every strike count.
We’d been lucky.
I suspected the people behind the attack had wanted to create sensational vidcam footage of the prince’s death. Otherwise why attack when there were so many bodyguards and other Jardan warriors around? We had lost the high priest and at least one guard, and suffered a handful of other casualties. Mostly though, the Jardan had easily shredded through the mass of attacking Volker7 Multi-strike robots. They were a high-end, military-grade model. Available on the black market, but they didn’t come cheap. We’d probably scrapped a small city budget’s worth out there on the balcony.
At my urging, Vorgyn followed me into his inner chambers. I wasn’t happy until we were locked inside with the armor shutters over the windows and a half dozen guards stationed outside the door. I began to pace the room, pulling open closets and wardrobes to be sure there were no more surprises.
I felt him watching me intently. I paused in the mess I was making of his wardrobe and glanced his way.
He gave me a tight smile. “I doubt you’ll find any enemies in my undergarment drawer.”
I glared at him. “If you must know, I’m looking for small drones, assassin bots the size of gunjin crabs. Or listening devices.”
He slowly raised his hand and clenched it. “Little robots like that I can crush like insects.”
I rolled my eyes and returned to my search. Males. No finesse. Only concerned about breaking things. This was a complex attack. It didn’t match up with what I expected from Jardan enemies.
I finally finished my search. The room was clear. We were safe. For now. I let out a long breath.
Prince Vorgyn was still watching me. “I like it when you bend over to look under things.”
At first I didn’t understand him. Then I glanced down and realized all the fighting hadn’t been kind to the bodice of the dress I wore. My breasts were in clear danger of spilling out. I gave him a look as I adjusted myself back into place. More or less. The dress was toast, though. The skirts had slashes from blades and more than a few blaster holes. I’d even lost one of my gloves.
The room’s viewscreen lit up, showing an image of a Jardan in a uniform. He was some kind of general by the look of it. The prince immediately turned to him and demanded a status update. The robot attack had been defeated. Five casualties, including the high priest. That saddened me. The priest had seemed nice. He had even smiled at me, as if he hadn’t held the fact I was human against me. I wished I could’ve saved him. But it was all I could do to protect my prince. Vorgyn had nearly died. My second day on the job. How could I ever explain that?
Prince Vorgyn gave a bunch of orders to his commanders, ordering fleet ships to low orbit to search for possible enemy ships and to protect the dozen or so space stations around the planet. There were fighters in the air, searching for drones. Security forces had been deployed to protect the city. The fortress was on lockdown.
I was impressed as I listened to the prince give his commands. He obviously expected a lot from his people, and they seemed eager to deliver. But everyone seemed rattled by the attack. Everyone but Vorgyn himself. That stubborn, crazy fool seemed to think it had been the perfect mating celebration. Although I knew I wasn’t being fair. He had taken the news of the death of the high priest and the other casualties to heart. If anything, he seemed to blame himself for their loss. He was a true leader, not just a warrior good with a blade.
After he had set his forces in motion and given his commands, he walked back to me and set his hands on my shoulders.
“I doubted you when you first came to me,” he said. “I was wrong. You have the heart of a Jardan warrior. It was good to have you fighting by my side.” He gently shifted a hand to trace a f
inger down my cheek. The touch was tender. “I don’t like my new mate in danger. I want to defend you, not the other way around.”
His mate. In all the craziness, I had nearly forgotten. I was blood of the clan now. I was his mate.
And what would happen now?
My heart began beating faster. My mouth went dry even as my core tightened with need and my nipples ached for his touch.
I swallowed hard. “I… I only know how to fight. How to guard you. If I couldn’t do that, I would have no purpose…”
He nodded slowly. I could see in his eyes that he completely understood. “I spoke truly when I said you have the heart of a Jardan warrior in you. It is rare to find that love for battle, the focus and drive, in another species. I will not keep you from fighting by my side. But know this, if you fall fighting beside me, I will grieve. I will sing songs to honor you, little human.”
I gave a little half laugh, because I wasn’t sure how to handle the emotions flooding through me. “The key is not to fall,” I said, just to say something. Because I didn’t know what was coming next, and I was both excited and afraid.
He took me in his arms and kissed me again. This one was not as raw and passionate as the kiss he’d given when he’d claimed me. But it was tender. It started slow, and heat began to build. Stirring me back to life and awakening my body again to feelings I had shunted aside when it had been life or death on the balcony. When he finally ended the kiss, I was trembling.
“I want you,” he said, his voice rough with need. I could feel the hard length of his cock pressing against my body. “I have claimed you.”
The desire seemed to sharpen in his eyes as if he had just realized he could have me. To any depth and degree he wished. I belonged to him. That thought scared me and thrilled me at the same time.
But some spark of defiance flared inside me before I gave completely in. A desire to show him I was no easy conquest. To show him he had not won.
