by Maia Starr
"I am glad that you like it because it is your new home. That is, if you want it to be. If you would want to live with me," I asked her.
She came over to me and put her small arms around my waist and said, "Yes, I would love to."
"Good, I am glad. I must be off. Make yourself at home," I said as I gave her a deep kiss. I reluctantly left her side and went to the council chambers. As soon as I walked in, a ruckus of voices erupted simultaneously as everyone shouted at me. I was lectured about my dangerous actions the entire day into the night. It was a long night.
It was the complete opposite of the praise that I was getting from the public Kalazaron outside the building. On the inside, the elders and the council were scowling me for my warrior ways. I guess my reckless efforts couldn’t win over everyone. I was on damage control on the inside. They knew that I had left to rescue Ella. They did not think it a worthy cause. I did not have any explanation for them other than, “I’m always going to do what I want when it comes to my own, personal matters.”
They did not like that answer as they considered this personal matter the same as a matter of the master, because it put their master in danger.
After an exhausting day of balancing the adoration of the public and the scorn of the council, I finally retired to my living quarters. This time it was different, because Ella was living there. Her very presence gave the entire a place a new feeling. I loved it.
“I like coming home and finding you here,” I said to her as soon as I walked in.
"You do?” she responded as she walked seductively to me.
"I do. It is a beautiful sight to come home to after what I've been through in the council room," I said, putting my arms around her. She pulled herself up on her tiptoes and arched her head back begging for a kiss.
I kissed her on the lips and then she said, "Was it very bad? What did they say?"
"That I should not have put the master in such reckless danger and other things like that. After a while, I stopped listening," I laughed.
"You are bad," she said to me.
"I try to be," I said playfully as I slapped her ass. She squealed in delight. The tension of the day had already melted away from me just from playing around with her in this flirty way. I had made the best decision by having her with me. She was what I needed. She was what I wanted.
"I have a surprise for you," she said as she grabbed my hand and led me over to the table. There was a large meal laid out.
"Did you do this?" I asked her.
"Yes, I cooked our first meal in our home that we share together now. I am a very good cook," she said to me as she sat down at the table.
I found it very interesting that I was with a human that had already had experience living on the planet. She knew the ways of the planet. She knew how to cook the food and prepare it. It was as if she was one of us. She had been here long enough. She was now a Kalazaron, whether she thought of herself in that way or not.
"It smells delicious. I cannot wait to try it," I said to her.
"Wait until you try dessert," she said with a smile.
I assumed that she was the desert, but I would wait to find out later.
We sat down and began to eat and it was possibly the most delicious meal I had ever eaten, which was stunning considering she had not lived on the planet that long. As we ate, she said, "I am glad today happened. The crowds outside cheering you on like that. It was unbelievable and you deserve it. I am glad that I was sent to the Outpost."
"You are? Why?"
"It allowed me to see more of the planet, and how others live. It gave me an experience of battle that made me very happy to be alive. But most of all, it showed the subjects of the capital city that you are a true warrior and are worthy of being the master. They truly worship you now. They see you as a stronger warrior and that will only help you in being the best master they have ever had. That would not have happened had I not been sent there."
She had a point. I was now the warrior master and seen as almost godlike. It would help in the long run. I only hoped that it would be enough. Would it be enough for them to allow me to take a human female as a wife, and not a Kalazaron female? I smiled and did not bring up this point as I did not want to ruin our dinner. I was going to figure out a way around it anyways. I got what I wanted. I wanted to be with Ella. I wanted her to be my wife and I was going to figure out how a master could have a human female wife instead of a Kalazaron wife.
"Ella, you are very right. I am glad that I was in that battle. I learned a lot in the Outpost. I learned a lot from the generals. I feel like a better warrior and a better master."
"And I am now a better lover," she said playfully. We both laughed and continued eating our meal. When we were done, we had dessert in the bedroom.
The next day, as promised, I took actions toward making Belvenreed a stronger Outpost. No one denied my firsthand accounts of what was needed. I spent all day going through the various lists that the generals at the Outpost had given me. I designed a specific task force to handle each request that was needed. I had engineers involved. I had defensive tactic teams involved in coming up with new ways to guard the fence line. Most importantly, I had a team working on coming up with a better way to get supplies to the Outpost.
It was this very visual supply train that was causing the raids. The rebels knew when the supply ships arrived because there was no way to hide them at their size. If we could keep the rebels from know when a new supply was arriving, then they would not attack as much. I had them looking into an underground supply chain, or perhaps another way that did not involve something showing up on radar. It was a lot of work, and it was all put into action as soon as the next day. It was my promise to the warriors that I had fought with. It was my promise to the warriors that were injured in the reconstructionist building. I was not going to let them down.
Chapter 9
ELLA CAPRICIO
I had to admit that it was a heady feeling to see Thaedon being honored the way he was. I had never seen anything else like it. The Kalazaron worshipped him. I was shocked at how fast the news of his battle exploits traveled from Belvenreed and then spread like wildfire throughout the capital city. He deserved it, of course, because he was very brave. I had seen firsthand what a good warrior he was. Now, the entire capital city knew it and they were honoring him with a grand parade.
The warriors seemed to have more respect for him than any other master before him. He told me it was because masters did not fight in battles. Because he did, the young warriors really felt like he knew what they were going through. He had the respect, honor, and pride of everyone. Being the sole female that had his full attention made me feel very special. Especially after I had given my virginity to him. I was scared that he would be rid of me afterwards, but he kept his word.
I was now living in his living quarters and it was the most tremendous space I had ever seen. I looked over the city towards the market where I used to live with the Loki family. It wasn't that long ago that I thought my fate was to be with them forever. I thought I would be there captive in an abusive situation for the rest of my life. I didn't dare dream that it would ever be this good. That I would actually fall in love with my new owner.
A part of me found it really sexy to feel owned by such an attractive and powerful Kalazaron warrior. It made me feel very safe and untouchable. I knew that he would get in trouble for his actions, but because he did, he was on his way to being the best master the capital city had ever seen. So it worked out for him in a good way.
However, there was still the complication that he would eventually want to or need to marry a Kalazaron female. I tried not to think about it too much because I knew there was nothing that I could do about it. I had only been with him as his lover for a few days and I wanted that happiness to last without thinking about the problems of the future.
However, nothing prepared me for the satisfaction that I would get two weeks later. A grand ceremony was planned to honor Thae
don for his bravery in the battle at Belvenreed Outpost.
"The dressmaker is coming in an hour. Order as many dresses as you'd like, but you must order one special," he said to me one day.
"I do? Why?" I asked him.
"There is to be a ceremony honoring my fighting at the Outpost. You are to escort me. Therefore, you will need a dress. A really beautiful one," he smiled at me.
"You want me to go with you? To be at your side? What will the Kalazaron say?" I said to him confused. Did he really want me at his side after the way everyone had reacted to us dancing at the coronation? True, I was covered in blue paint as the Loki sisters' slave. Still, I could not shake that feeling after that happened.
"Yes, I want you at my side. You will not argue your way out of it. Find a dress," he said in a final way. He was very abrupt and dominating when he wanted to be; this is why he was the master.
It felt great to be with an elite dressmaker. I ordered a very beautiful, red dress. When the day came for the celebration, I put on the dress and had help fixing my hair. I felt so beautiful. I didn't feel like a captive slave any longer. If I were on Earth, I would say I felt like a princess. I guess this was as close to a princess as one could get on this planet of Kaethon.
"You look absolutely beautiful. This is how it's meant to be. This is who you are meant to be," Thaedon said to me as I walked out of the dressing area into the living quarters and twirled around for him to look at the dress.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything, not just the dress," I said to him.
"I have another surprise for you. You will see at the ceremony. Look in the front row; I think you will feel satisfied."
"What is it?"
"You must wait and see." He smiled.
We left for the ceremony being held at the Stanis Trials Arena. When we were led to the grand entrance I realized that all the invited were already sitting inside. I grew very nervous and jittery.
“It is all right, Ella. Do not be nervous. You are the real prize,” Thaedon whispered in my ear. I looked up at him in his handsome state. His gorgeous hair hanging down to his jaw. His rogue beard and strong square jaw still gave him that mysterious look that made him look like a dangerous player instead of a master. I smiled at him. He was right. I was with him. I had nothing to be nervous about.
The doors opened and the entire audience stood up. Silence came over the vast, echoing arena. I walked with Thaedon as he held my hand high in the air. I felt like a bride being led down an aisle between all the people. There was a grand stage with two chairs set up. I swallowed hard. Did he expect me to sit at his side? This is crazy.
I followed his lead. He kept walking, holding my hand tightly as though he knew that I did not want to go up there. I climbed the stairs with him. He placed me in front of the chair and nodded at me. I narrowed my eyes at him in disapproval of him not telling me this was what was going to happen. He gave me a big, sideways, mischievous grin.
I sat down in the chair and he sat beside me. Then a leader of ceremony began to speak and recite the battle of Belvenreed. It was a battle that was fast becoming an epic tale. I looked down at the crowd before me and I saw the surprise that Thaedon had placed for me. Right there in the front row were the Loki sisters. They both had angry pouts on their faces and their arms crossed in anger. I smiled at them. I looked at Thaedon and he smiled at me. He knew that this was my opportunity for pay back. My presence at his side was giving the sisters their comeuppance for their mistreatment of me for so many years. They would now have to deal with seeing me at the side of their leader. It was the best revenge possible. I savored every second of it.
After the honoring ceremony, things could not have been any better for me. I had become the mate of the master and I was falling hard for him. He had not yet told me he loved me and I wanted to tell him I did every day, but I could not. Then everything changed.
I found out that I was pregnant. I had heard that it was possible for a human female to be impregnated by a Kalazaron, but it was rare. I was so happy I could burst. As soon as I found out, I went to Thaedon’s council chamber to tell him. I stood outside the door and heard my name, so I stopped.
“Ella Capricio. You have had your fun with the human female. But it is time for you to keep her in a captive slave state and nothing else. You should find a Kalazaron female to make you a proper mate. It is expected of you,” a familiar voice said through the door. Hearing the words hurt me. I knew that Thaedon was constantly being lectured about me, but I thought after the ceremony where he made it clear that he wanted me by having me sit by his side on the stage that he would be left to his own devices on the matter. I was wrong.
Then I heard Thaedon respond, “So you have said before, and I heard you the first time you said it loud and clear. Don’t you know that I know that I cannot be with a human because I’m the master?”
I gasped and quickly covered my mouth to keep me from bursting into loud cries. I moved away from the door and ran back to the elevator. I made it back to the living quarters as fast as I could. I heard it from Thaedon himself. He could not be with me. It was not allowed. It was the worst timing, because I was carrying his child. I would have to keep it a secret. I would have to keep our baby a secret until I could figure out what to do.
Chapter 10
MASTER THAEDON KREE
I was tired of hearing the same issue over and over, especially from Consulate Dalik Moscurn. I much preferred the company of his cousin, General Rendor Moscurn at the Belvenreed Outpost. Here the consulate was in my council chambers once more telling me that I could not be with Ella.
“Ella Capricio. You have had your fun with the human female. But it is time for you to keep her in a captive slave state and nothing else. You should find a Kalazaron female to make you a proper mate. It is expected of you.”
“So you have said before, and I heard you the first time you said it loud and clear. Don’t you know that I know that I cannot be with a human because I’m the master?”
“No, you do not seem to know it.”
“Because I don’t expect it. I have my advisor Huine Srit scouring the rules, and so far there is nothing that says a master cannot make a human female his true mate,” I said in response. I was so tired of hearing this from him. This hypocrite was in love with a human female and everyone knew the story of how hard it was for them to be together, but they prevailed. Now, he was trying to keep me from mine, simply on the grounds that I was the master. I would not have it.
“It is not about the known rules. It is simply about what it right. What kind of model do you make to the female Kalazaron that you perhaps find them not to be as good as the human females? At least take a Kalazaron as a wife and keep the human slave as a lover. That is accepted.”
“I won’t do that to Ella. I am disappointed with you, Consulate Moscurn. Must I have your human taken from you to remind you that you will do anything to keep her?”
His face went stone cold. “Over my dead body,” he said in restrained anger.
“That is what I thought. Now, if you have nothing else to discuss about matters of the day, then you are dismissed and I will hear no more of my personal life. That is my decision, and my decision only. If you have not realized by now, I do things like no other master has done in the past. Perhaps it is time for a change.”
He walked out and I felt complete anger that my word as master was not being taken seriously when it came to Ella. What more would I have to do? I had proven myself in battles of intellect in the Stanis Trials. I had proven myself on the battlefield at the Belvenreed Outpost. Of course what I said would be done, but it was under scrutiny. I didn’t want to subject Ella to that. She deserved better. I deserved better.
I made my way back to the living quarters. I’d had enough of being the master for the day. I walked in and found Ella sitting at the vast wall of windows, staring off in the distance with distinct sadness on her face.
“What is it? You seem very upset,” I said as I pu
t my hand on her shoulder.
“What do you think I would be doing if I were at the Outpost still? I was actually happy there. Being here is very… complex.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying you don’t want to be here? Where is this coming from?” I was confused. Where the hell was this coming from? First I had to get it from the Consulate, now I was getting it from Ella herself.
“It was just something I was thinking about.”
“No, I’m not going to take that for an answer. Something else is happening. Tell me,” I said, squatting down next to her. Tears fell from her eyes and she was silent.
“Tell me. I can’t help if you don’t tell me,” I said in anger. She got up and ran to the bedroom and shut me out. I was frustrated.
