Ari eyed Doral’s handsome, earnest face mulling over his words. “No one should ever mistake your quietness for a lack of intellect, lover,” he observed softly.
Thinking of how the elder would have used saving the Tetriarch for his own ends brought a genuine smile to Ari’s face. “Patricio would have reveled in being a hero.” On further reflection, Ari could not prevent a long groan. “He would have been insufferable.”
Doral’s lips quirked. Fleur gave a soft huff of laughter.
Ari drew Fleur into his arms and hugged her tightly. “We almost lost you. I can’t bear to think about it.” He buried his face in her hair for a long moment before looking up again.
“We are going to start a new fashion,” he announced. “In the future, all our social functions will require complete nudity. No concealed weapons that way.”
With a wobbly laugh, Fleur looked at him in disbelief. “Ari, think, Tryterion Ambassador Jaunty, nude? LFP Council head Gilla, nude?”
“Council Chair Tetaria,” Doral muttered under his breath.
Fleur shuddered. “Not an attractive picture. Besides, your weapons should be concealed.” She looked pointedly at their groins. “We provoke enough comment as it is.”
Doral grunted softly. Ari chuckled. “I’ll concede loin cloths.”
Suddenly serious again, Ari’s eyes sought Doral. “I hear what you are saying, Doral.”
He reached for Doral and pulled him into their embrace, resting his forehead on Doral’s broad shoulder, allowing Doral’s strong body to support some of his weight. “You take extraordinary care of me, Visconte. I do notice.”
Doral rested his cheek against Ari’s head. “On the rare occasions you allow it, my Lord.”
Fleur tightened her arms around them both.
* * * * *
Elder Patricio’s funeral contained enough pomp and ceremony to gladden even his shriveled heart. Due to the timing, the entire governing council for the LFP and all of their entourage attended. The assassination attempt on Queen Constante spawned unprecedented outrage among the League members.
Ari, Fleur and Doral watched the endless file of dignitaries as they “paid their last respects” to the elder.
“Do you think this outrage is really about Herrimon’s assassination attempt?” Fleur looked at Ari then Doral in question. “Or fear of the possibility we would retaliate by prohibiting any export of cinnagin?”
Her two men exchanged glances.
“Never mind. I know the answer,” Fleur said.
Ari drew her to him and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. “Their priorities are misplaced.”
Doral stroked her cheek. “Very.”
Chapter Ten
Six months later:
Doral stood behind Fleur, his arms wrapping her in a protective embrace. They watched through a large viewport as the newly re-christened, VRN Progress left the orbiting space dock. Though well insulated, the carbon-fiber walls and honeycombed floor vibrated as the massively powerful thrusters pushed the hyper-light battle cruiser away from the gantry tower. Then she blinked into the blackness of space.
“That is the last of them, Doral. Our new fleet will please Ari enormously. I didn’t realize Augoust Herrimon was so wealthy. His personal navy was massive.” She snuggled back against his chest with a satisfied purr.
“We cannot prove it to the LFP’s satisfaction, my Queen, but the Haarb had been supplying him ships for several years in preparation for the Verdantian occupation. I imagine Krakoll is beyond livid at the confiscation of Herrimon’s property by the LFP. I am certain he counted on getting those vessels back at some point.”
“What is your best guess at a recovery timetable for our people?”
“The mining asteroids of AEtel and XEno are the first targets. The records indicated many of our men were sold there. But the brothel ships and pleasure planets won’t be so easy. It will still take longer than I would like, my Queen. I am afraid—years.”
Fleur sighed. “It is a miracle it is happening at all.” She turned in his arms and rose awkwardly on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Thank you. You and Ari make a formidable pair. I should never doubt you.”
“You are welcome. Come on, sweetheart, let me get you back planet-side. I know you tire easily these days.”
She smiled sweetly. “Can you work one more miracle and get Ari back within the next three months?”
He gazed down at her, caressing the precious swelling in her midsection. “I miss him, too.” He smiled. “And he will be here in three days. I didn’t say anything beca––” The rest was strangled by Fleur’s exclamation as she leapt to give him a joyous hug. Laughing, Doral supported her as she slid down.
“The legal proceedings to transfer all Augoust’s real property to the Sovereign Planet of Verdantia were expedited due to ‘egregious violation of the principles and directives of the LFP’.” Doral’s face betrayed his satisfaction. “Seems they frown on assassination attempts and Lockwood really held their feet to the fire. Ari was able to wrap up the legal paperwork and leave much sooner than he thought possible.”
“Oh, Doral! Can we contact him?”
“I am afraid not, kitten. Ari will be hyper-light and inter-spacial right now. When he drops out of hyper-light we can reach him—late tomorrow evening, most probably.”
“I am not that tired. Can’t we stay here? Station Commander Huller’s quarters are very comfortable. We won’t be able to communicate if we are planetside.”
“You are sure it is not too much for you?”
“I am sure.” Her eyes gleamed with anticipation. “Sari and Camilla will complain but I don’t care.”
“I have a very difficult time saying no to you. I’ll tell Station Commander Huller to bunk in with the officers for a couple more days.”
* * *
Sari had told Fleur she would sit on her if she didn’t get off her feet and rest. So, Fleur was lying down, staring at the ceiling in her quarters and trying to quell her spiraling excitement at Ari’s imminent arrival when her private com line chimed.
“Your Majesty?”
“Yes, Captain O’her’d?”
“I received an encoded communication from a Captain Eric DeStroia marked ‘Urgent-For Your Eyes Only’. The visconte threatened to dismember me if I disturbed you, but you might want to see this. Would you like me to relay it to your private com center for decoding?”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you.”
Fleur waited impatiently as the communications downloaded from the decoding translator. When the screen indicated a one hundred percent download, she pressed the print request then sat down and read DeStroia’s stunning findings. She sat for a long time trying to decide what to do with the information. Finally, she rang the call button in her quarters.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Please locate Visconte DeLorion and tell him I would like to see him at his convenience.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, and make sure he knows it is not an emergency. I don’t want him breaking his neck in a sprint to get here. He is a bit overly solicitous lately.”
A light chuckle crackled over the com line. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll tell him but I don’t think it will do any good.”
Twenty minutes later, the door to her quarters burst open. “Are you all right? Is anything wrong?” Doral hovered over her anxiously.
Fleur rolled her eyes. “I hope you get over this. I plan to have several more babies. At this rate, you will make yourself, and me, insane. In the order you asked, ‘Yes, I am all right. No, nothing is wrong. No, it is not the twins’.” She leveled an exasperated look at Doral. “Sit.”
Chastened, he sat and watched her, his eyes unhappy.
Fleur gazed at her beautiful visconte for a few moments, her face softening with love. “I cannot stay upset with you so don’t look so worried.” A gentle smile graced her lips. He returned her gaze with one of equal feeling.
Fleur handed Doral the commu
nications. “I want you to read this all the way through before you say anything.”
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
To: Her Most Sovereign Majesty, Fleur de Luna Constante
From: Captain Eric DeStroia
Re: The Subject of Dossier 137849
I traced the subject of your request to the Oshtesh village of Sh’r Un Kree. You asked for verifiable information so be advised this is not officially documented, but I believe she was held under guard in Sylvan Mintoth by the LFP’s Captain Steffania Rickard for at least thirty days before being handed over to the Oshtesh. This would place her with Rickard a month prior to your request to verify her whereabouts.
Several reputable sources testified to her presence in the residence of Primus G’hed. When I asked to see the subject, I was informed she had been sold off-world to the flesh-trader, Adluba dre Sallan. I was able to track the slaver to a sex-house on the planet Orillian.
Dre Sallan confirmed he had previously had possession of the subject but had recently sold her to a Trill ore-trader for use as its egg host. He relayed the startling information that Primus G’hed had contacted him asking if he would take her off world. Dre Sallan said she was unpopular with his clientele and her constant escape attempts were very troublesome. After her last, almost successful attempt, he had her blinded. His comment was, “Now she cannot see to run”.
I located the Trill trader in the Vortian city of L’apellat. It allowed me to observe the woman it had purchased and examine the sale documents from dre Sallan. She is the individual identified in your dossier.
The Trill kept her nude, chained to a wall with her arms loosely restrained by elbow cuffs and a chain run behind her back. Her nipples and clitoris had been pierced with gold rings. And she was most definitely blind.
She appeared in good physical condition, well hydrated and well nourished. I did not see any sores or open wounds. She was clean and in an advanced gravid condition.
Her housing, while utilitarian, was clean. I was not allowed to speak with her and cannot advise as to her mental state.
The Trill trader was very pleased with her and indicated she would hatch its offspring in another thirty NT solar days. It expected it would be able to get several hatchings from her before it had to replace her.
As you most likely know, Your Majesty, the insectoid Trill is both male and female in cycles. During the female cycle, it uses an ovipositor to implant multiple eggs into the uterus of its egg host.
The egg host incubates the eggs until the Trill go into their “male” cycle. At this time, the eggs are fertilized by an appendage similar to the human male’s penis. It indicated a restraint table was used to prevent any unavoidable injury to itself or the egg host during both egg implantation and fertilization.
The Trill ejaculate every hour or so during a fertilization period that can last several days. Their ejaculate is caustic and scar tissue can form after several broods. When the egg host’s birthing channel is no longer elastic enough to accommodate the ovipositor or male fertilization organ, they are sold. This Trill trader had an agreement with a local weaving mill to purchase its “retired” egg hosts.
I returned to Sh’r Un Kree and again sought out Oshtesh Primus G’hed, determined to discover how he came to have the subject. I sought the name of the individual who directed and authorized his actions. Again, I received no satisfactory answer from him. I know this is more than you requested but I must acknowledge a driving desire to know who would have the power to violate so many Verdantian laws.
While we maintain an excellent relationship with the Oshtesh, I was stonewalled. Ultimately, I acquired copies of the orders directing how the subject was to be handled. I would prefer not to go into how I did so. It is best you maintain plausible deniability.
Attached to this communication are copies of the orders. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the authorizing signature, I destroyed my copies and all record of my investigation’s findings. Other than the originals, you hold the only copy. On my oath, my Queen, I will go to my grave before divulging this individual’s name.
If possible for Your Majesty, I most respectfully request an answer to the one question haunting me. What did she do?
As always, I am in your service,
Capt. Eric DeStroia
Doral put the papers aside in silence and hid his thoughts carefully, emotionally overwhelmed by the actions his lovers had taken. No one has ever cared enough to avenge me.
He watched Fleur pick the report up and drop the papers into the metal trash canister. Pointing a lightweight pulse gun at the container, she set its intensity on maximum and pulled the trigger. In mere seconds, the canister contained nothing but a dusting of ash.
“I don’t know what to say. The woman was Allegra Contradina?”
“Yes.”
“Captain DeStroia. He is head of the Royal Chamber guard, is he not?” Now that Doral thought about it, Eric had not been at his post outside the royal apartments for months. He should have caught that.
“Yes. Eric and I grew up together. He is very loyal to me.”
“And are you going to answer the captain’s question?”
“No.” She carefully laid the pulse gun on the table then crossed her arms. “He loves you very much, Doral.”
Doral remembered lying next to Ari in the ritual chamber many months past—he remembered the terse words Ari had spoken. “He said he would not forget.” Doral’s eyes returned to Fleur. “He never intended for me to know, did he?”
“I can’t answer as to Ari’s intentions. I was equally unaware of his actions. But I will tell you what mine are.” He saw her expression harden, her lovely blue eyes cold, angry.
“I want her utterly, completely, thoroughly destroyed. I want any evidence of House Contradina wiped from the face of this planet. I have already disbursed the estates and outside holdings.”
She looked away for a moment. “His solution was much more creative than I thought to be, though I can’t imagine Ari anticipated a Trill ore trader would buy her. I just want her dead.”
Fleur returned her gaze to Doral. “Will you think less of me if I tell you I feel a certain satisfaction at her fate?”
“Ah, kitten… I… I… why?” Doral scrubbed his face with his hands. The thought of Fleur being anywhere near the warped filth of Allegra Contradina upset him. “Why? You should not contaminate yourself with that—female.”
She looked at him for long moments, a myriad of emotions fleeting across her face. Her voice came out raw, harsh. “Why? You ask me why?”
Her tone gentled. “Doral, you are a rare soul. Allegra and her brother savagely violated you for years. You were the victim of incredible evil and yet it is not in you to victimize others.
“By Her Light, you protect me from yourself. I find that remarkable. My dearest love, you have an honor about you as beautiful as your face and form. Doral, you are a good man.”
How could he respond to that? What he knew about himself made a lie of her words. He watched as her mouth thinned in frustration.
“My love for you and Ari cannot be measured in words. It can only be measured by what I will do for you. Absolutely anything. By what I want for you. Absolutely everything. I would move Verdantia from her orbit to defend you from all that would hurt you.” She rose and crossed to him, sliding into his lap and snuggling into his broad chest. She hugged him fiercely.
“You are mine, Doral, every bit as much as Ari. Those who hurt you do so at their peril.”
So fierce, my love. Her warm, fragrant hair caught on his mouth as he kissed the top of her head. “My little hell-cat. And Ari…” A small huff of breath escaped. I am going to need time to wrap my mind around this. Silence descended in the chamber for long minutes.
“I love you, Fleur. I don’t deserve the two of you.” He put two fingers on her lips to halt her protest. “Shh, I am not going to question my good fortune any longer.”
He pushed her away. “It is very late, sweetheart.
You need to be in bed.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he slipped an arm under her knees and stood. “You deserve to be loved, Doral,” she whispered into his neck. Pulling her into a tight hug, he crossed the chamber to the bed and laid her down, sitting beside her. Doral couldn’t help the soft smile on his face he undid her robe, caressing her bared skin with a gentle palm, brushing his fingertips across her breasts, watching as her nipples pebbled and stood out from the pink flesh surrounding them. “Sore?”
“No,” she breathed. “Don’t stop. It feels good.”
She awkwardly reached toward his tunic fastenings. Her pregnancy has made her ungainly. His hand came up to stop her. He couldn’t prevent his quiet laugh. “I’ll remove my clothes. You watch.”
She grinned. “As you wish. It is not a hardship.”
With a huff of amusement, he stripped methodically, folding his clothes as he took them off. When he turned back to her, he was nude. Semi-aroused, his cock hung thickly against his thighs. Fleur purred with appreciation.
“My golden warrior. Come, love.” She patted the bed near her. “Bring the brush.”
It had become their routine while Ari was away. She brushed and braided his waist-length hair before they retired for the night. He found her nurturing care infinitely soothing. He performed the same service for her on many evenings though it would have been more efficient to summon Sari or Camilla, for as hard as he tried, he was appallingly inept at braiding fine blond hair.
* * * * *
“This braid’s a proper rodent’s nest, pet,” Sari scolded the next morning as she picked the snarls out of Fleur’s hair. “I wish you would call for me. Our visconte does many things well, but this is not one of them.”
Fleur winced. “Ouch! Not so hard, please. I would not deprive Visconte DeLorion of this service if he tied it in knots and died it a royal purple.”
“Sorry, pet. You are too softhearted, m’lady. But I understand.”
“If you could see the pleasure it gives him, Sari and he is far gentler than you!”
Hers to Command Page 22
