Captives of the Kratzen (Hearts in Orbit)

by S. C. Mitchell

  “All hail Queen Christina.” Kathryn’s voice rang out.

  “All hail Queen Christina.” Everyone in the room answered.

  It was done.

  Chapter 26

  Tina cocked her head as Kirtl trundled into the House la Cross throne room. “Well?”

  “He’s cunning, that one. You’re going to have your hands full undoing the damage he’s done over the past sixteen years.”

  Kirtl had been lurking near Pavel Fenrus’s cell to learn anything he could useful to Tina.

  “Anything you can tell me?”

  Blarmlings had developed a strict code of noninterference in human matters. Their ability to read minds could certainly be misused, and Tina refused to use any influence she had because of their friendship. Kirtl would tell her, or he wouldn’t.

  “He has done evil, criminal things, and thus lost his right to Blarmling privacy.” Kirtl pulled himself up into a cushioned seat and relaxed into it. “And this is a story you need to hear.”

  “Did he ever truly serve my father and my family?” Tina needed to know how far back his betrayal went.

  As the story poured out of Kirtl’s mouth, Tina’s heart broke all over again. The loss, the hurt. And to learn that Pavel had planned it all from the beginning, made it sting all the worse. He’d played the part of a loyal servant, working his way up into her father’s favor, always with the intent of betraying him to take over the House. Pavel specifically chose the timing of the pirate attack to be when her family would all be in residence. He’d ordered everyone of the blood executed.

  And he was part of conspiracy that targeted the most powerful Houses across the planet. A power grab by a small, organized group, not to make the planet better, but only to make the planet theirs. They’d invited the pirates to invade, opened doors on House defenses, and let people die.

  In the end the betrayers were also betrayed by the pirates, but that didn’t stop their plans to take over. Still working, still entrenched throughout Quendor, taking whatever was left to take.

  Pavel ascended the throne of House la Cross after the pirates left, and put down anyone who disputed his claim under the guise of searching for survivors of House la Cross.

  By the time Kathryn came back, he had a sufficient propaganda network in place to discredit her, and cast doubts on her identity as heir to the throne. He’d have killed her if she hadn’t fled underground.

  It was a galaxy-wide news report about the defeat of the Pirates of the Dark Nebula that had focused on the crew of The Starboard Mist and identified Tina. She hadn’t even been aware of it.

  When word reached Pavel that she’d been found, the information had already spread planet-wide that an heir had survived, and her bloodline was legitimized. So he’d decided to try and control her. Place her on the throne and marry her off to some distant royal who owed him allegiance so he could still retain control of the kingdom.

  It was no wonder he’d spent so much time parading royal dandies past her.

  Thank goodness Kirtl was here to help her. She’d never have gotten a straight story from him.

  “But I need to leave.” Kirtl’s soft voice penetrated her musings.

  “Leave?” Well, this wasn’t his world. And truthfully, the kingdom wasn’t really hospitable to non-Quendorians. She did have her hands full changing ingrained ideas about their superiority as a race.

  “Pfft. Many worlds I’ve been on harbor the same attitude. It’s a human thing I’ve learned to accept.” Kirtl jumped down from his chair. “It’s just that I promised Mom I’d have the ship back yesterday. I don’t want to worry her.”

  Tina stood, crouched down, and hugged her little friend. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ve still got a little leave time left. If you need me, mailpost my Dad’s terminal via Galaxynet, and I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

  They were all on leave from The Starboard Mist. Her mission and new status here on Quendor meant she wouldn’t be returning any time soon. Kirtl would take the rest of his allotted time, then return to the ship.

  But what about Carter? He’d have to resign his Fleet commission to stay here with her. As much as she wanted that, could she really ask that of him?

  ~ ~ ~

  Carter couldn’t deny there was something about Tina’s new confidence he found incredibly sexy. She’d always been a strong woman. It was one of her many attributes that attracted him. She had this commanding presence he found reassuring.

  The people of her House seemed to feel the same. A confident, optimistic mood spread quickly through the palace and out to the towns and villages of her kingdom. From what he’d gathered, many of the other Houses were still in disarray, but House la Cross was now solidly behind its new queen.

  They’d come to the starport to see Kirtl off. The Blarmling planned to spend the rest of his leave on Blarm with his family. Carter only had a few days to decide what he would do.

  That really depended on what Tina needed from him. He knew if she asked, he’d gladly give up his Fleet commission to stay by her side forever. She was everything to him.

  But how did she feel?

  Hand in hand they left the starport after Kirtl blasted off. He assumed they’d be going back to the throne room, but she pulled him down strange hallways to a suite of rooms she called the House family quarters.

  The rooms were clean but not fancy. The furnishings were mostly utilitarian, though some pieces had real charm. She told him it had been much more opulent in her youth, before the pirates raided it. “I’m fine with it as it is. I’m certainly not used to living in even this level of luxury.”

  Their shipboard cabins were small, compact quarters. Compared to that, this was spacious and lavish.

  “It’s nice.”

  Her smile brightened the room, then it drooped a bit. “I am worried there will be gifts pouring in from people who can’t afford them, to earn favor with their new queen. I’ll have to see what I can do to stop that.”

  Queen.

  Frack.

  That was another complication. Where did that put him? Them?

  “And how can I earn your favor, my queen? Are you in need of a court jester perhaps?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Carter.”

  Tilting her head as if in thought, she added, “Though you do make me laugh at times. I love that about you.”

  He bowed. “I am your humble servant. Any role you require. I will fulfill.”

  A mischievous light sparkled in her dark eyes. “What I require right now is a lover. Could you, maybe, fill that role?”

  Well, how she felt about him hadn’t seemed to change. And how he felt about her certainly hadn’t changed.

  His cock hardened in response, as he pulled her in to ravish those pouty lips.

  ~ ~ ~

  This is what she needed. Tina’s heart pounded in her ears, excitement tightened her stomach, and damp heat built further below.

  Yes her status had changed. Their status would be changing. How? She didn’t know. But right now she needed to stop thinking and just be.

  Be with this man who made her feel not like a queen, but like a woman.

  His kiss so fierce it bruised her lips as his tongue prodded to possess her mouth. Phat photons he was passionate. His desire so evident in the thick erection pulsing against her stomach through his slacks.

  She drank him in and let her worries and frustrations float away on the winds of passion.

  Breaking the kiss, he sighed. “By the gods, I’ve missed you. Where’s the bedroom.”

  She gasped for breath. “I have eighteen.”

  He cocked his head. “Then we’d better get started, as I plan on using each and every one if we don’t expire first.”

  The master bedroom wa
s huge. She’d rarely been in there as a child. It had been her parents’ room. Could she . . .?

  No.

  She tugged his hand, leading him down the hall to the room she’d been using. The one she’d had as a child.

  “Nice,” he said, scanning the chamber as he shed his shirt.

  The dense musculature of his upper body and rippling abdominals drew her gaze like a magnaton duralink. She placed the palm of her hand between the flat planes of his chest, then ran her fingers down across the wonderfully taut ridges of his abdominals.

  “Nice,” she echoed.

  They had time to explore. She wasn’t going to rush this. Each ripple, each expanse. She wanted to see and touch all of him.

  “And what would you have me do, my queen.” He stood so close his warm breath cascaded off her shoulder, sending tingles through her breasts, tightening her nipples.

  “Do me. Ravish me. Take me to the Vestal Heavens.”

  He scooped her up, one arm supporting her shoulders, the other under her knees. “As you command.”

  She chuckled. “And knock off the My Queen poodoo. With you I am just Tina.”

  His eyes blazed with passion. “You have never been just Tina.”

  Something prodded her waist, and only then did she realize she still wore her blaster at her side. She unbuckled the holster belt, and he did likewise with his. Then he gathered them both up and walked them across the room to place them on a table. “Safety first.”

  A cocky smile played over his lips as he added, “One loaded weapon in that bed will be more than enough.”

  He toed off his boots on the way back, then stripped off his slacks to stand completely naked before her. His erection stood out bold and pulsing.

  “Oh, it’s a weapon now?” She couldn’t resist wrapping her fingers around the hard shaft.

  He groaned. “Well, you did ask me to ravish you.”

  Tugging her shirt over her head, she threw it to the side and unclasped her bra, freeing her aching breasts. “Yes, please.”

  Cradling her breast in one of his big hands, he bent down to take the stiff peak into his mouth. “Mmmm.”

  The vibration of his pleasure penetrated to the depths of her core. Heat built like a simmering Mandovian teaconator. Without losing his connection to her breast, he helped divest her of her boots and socks, as his tongue swirled around her tight nipple.

  While freeing the magna catch on her slacks, she writhed in pleasure under his ministrations. Gods the man knew how to use that tongue.

  She wiggled her slacks down as he continued his assault on her breasts. Sucking and licking one, as his hand cupped the other, rolling the tender nipple between thumb and forefinger.

  “Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods.” Her mind whirled as she writhed in the sheets, her core on fire, causing damp heat to flood her channel.

  Then he pulled away, panting heavily. “I can’t wait. I need you now. It’s been too long.”

  He dragged her slacks the rest of the way down her legs, tore off her panties, then cupped her mound, pushing long, skilled fingers into her. Fireworks exploded as deft digits explored her most intimate area. So deep, so good.

  Wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. Tension built and she clenched hard.

  “You’re more than ready.” His breath expelled in gasps. “And so am I.”

  He spread her thighs, kneeling between them holding his pulsing cock in one hand.

  Then he was in her. So big, so full.

  Rocked to her core, her world condensed down into that one place where they joined together. Where he pushed into her again and again.

  “Tina.” He pushed in one last time to the hilt and exploded.

  The walls of her resistance crumbled, the dam of her emotions broke. As he yelled her name, a cascading ripple of pure pleasure washed through her, her entire body trembling as her mind soared.

  Fisting the sheets, she simply tried to hold on to any shred of sanity, as the orgasmic wave rumbled like thunder through her system.

  ~ ~ ~

  Exhausted yet fully sated, Carter collapsed onto the softness that was Tina la Cross. He forced strength into his arms and elbows to keep from squashing her too badly.

  Gods, this woman. So . . . everything.

  Lifting up, he gazed into her exotic black eyes. Deep pools of mystery he planned to discover layer by layer. So much more to know, to do, to be.

  He swiped his finger across her forehead, pushing aside one of the long, damp curls that had fallen across the bridge of her nose. Her dark, copper skin glistened with dewy sweat.

  She was so beautiful.

  Everything he wanted, right here beneath him. He could stay this way forever.

  But he was probably squashing her.

  He slid out of her warmth, rolling to the side.

  She shifted to face him. “That was nice.” She kissed the tip of his nose.

  His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He was still gasping for breath. But in the calm aftermath, slowly he settled. The warmth of her body pressed against him, now had a calming effect, and he pulled her closer into a comfortable hug.

  Then he chuckled. “That was more than just nice.”

  But worry niggled its way into his mind. She was a queen.

  What was he? A lowly Fleet marine. Things had been different when they’d both been refugees from the Dark Nebulan pirates.

  Was there really any chance for them?

  I’ll never know unless I ask.

  When it came to Tina, he was done being shy.

  “Marry me.”

  Her eyes brightened. A big smile spread across her luscious lips.

  “Okay.”

  Chapter 27

  Carter jogged through bright flowering plants and ancient gnarled trees in the royal gardens outside the palace, inhaling cool, fragrant air with each stride. What a pleasure to be able to exercise outdoors.

  He’d spent most of the last few months in space, with the exception of brief shore leaves, and his weeks on Caprica where he could barely move without pain. The ability to workout planetside was something to be savored.

  He drank in the fresh air of Quendor as he ran.

  “I could get used to this.”

  He’d have to. If he was going to make Tina his wife, he’d need to be where she was. And this was her home. Where she was queen.

  Which made him . . . what? Some kind of royal consort?

  As he jogged along he did encounter other people, all of them Quendorians. He’d smile, sometimes wave. Occasionally he’d receive a stilted half-wave back, but for the most part they would either frown, look away, or outright glare at him.

  Tina warned him about the institutionalized racism of the planet of old, but she’d also told him she’d be doing her best to change that. It appeared she had a long way to go.

  I simply need to roll with it, be as friendly as possible, and leave the rest to the politicians.

  He wasn’t going to let a few frowns deter him from smiling and waving.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Okay?”

  Tina paced the royal reception room, her stomach in knots. “The man of my dreams, the man I love more than anything else in the galaxy, asks me to marry him and all I can think of to answer is okay?”

  Antigua put her hand to her face, but not quick enough to hide the broad smile. “I think it’s romantic. He caught you by surprise, unprepared.”

  He certainly had, though looking back it shouldn’t have surprised her. This was where they’d been headed. She’d simply had so many other things on her mind.

  Like the mind-blowing sex they’d just had.

  Yeah, that probably had messed with her head a little.

  They’d made
love twice more after he’d asked her to marry him. Hopefully her response to that had been a little more ardent. For the most part she’d used her mouth for things other than talking. Fun things.

  After a restful, warm sleep in his arms, they’d woken to arousal and another round. It was all so right. Marrying him was the logical next step.

  But worries wormed their way into her thoughts. How would her council react to this news? She decided to run it past a few friends first. So she gathered Kathryn, Libby, and her granddaughter Antigua for a light breakfast meeting while Carter went to jog in the royal gardens.

  “Okay, so that was probably the worst way to accept a marriage proposal ever, right?”

  Libby chuckled. “I’ve seen worse, but not much.”

  Kathryn nodded, but her face sobered. “Though it might make it easier when you have to tell him you can’t marry him.”

  A chill coursed through Tina’s gut. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, honey.” Her eyes drooped. “Pavel is an evil, lying bastard, but in this he spoke truth. You can’t marry Carter. You need to marry a Quendorian.”

  “Why? I don’t see—”

  Kathryn held up her hand. “The man you marry becomes King of House la Cross. You may not know it, but by the law of the land, that puts him over everyone, including you. Your people love you and your family line, still they wouldn’t hold with being lorded over by an alien. There would be a revolt for sure.”

  “Isn’t there some way we could change that law. I’m queen.” Tina knew she was grasping.

  Societal change took years, generations. Dictators who forced their will on their people rarely succeeded in anything but civil war.

  Pushing her half-eaten breakfast aside, Kathryn leaned back in her chair. “I’m on your side, believe me. Tanis and I have been leading the resistance here in the kingdom for a long time now. But we also spent time off planet, on other worlds. We agree things need to change, but they cannot be changed overnight. We walk the razors edge. Even now there are factions ready to band together to oppose us at every turn. Those who never left the planet. Those that went into hiding to emerge after the pirates left. They want a return to the way things were. They know no other way.”