Muted sunlight brightened the room from his left through a small window that showed another room existed beyond. The light revealing his concern.
"Borun, I gladly married you. And took you as my blood mate because I can have only one. But I cannot and will not in any way pretend to be one of those queens. I've seen nothing that makes me even remotely impressed with them. Nor am I power hungry. I joined The Cause because I was a misfit on my home world. The Cause took me in, gave me purpose, and took me to a planet to help a people find a way to live their lives as they see fit. That doesn't mean I'm offering to carry on the cultural torch here. I'm just here to see the Slakens leave the Luvks to themselves."
* * * *
Borun couldn't believe his ears where he stared at his mate wrapped up in his sleeping skins inside their lodge. She confessed she wasn't here for power, he reflected. Rather, to monitor what was to come. And her heartsong confirmed every word she uttered. "I don't want a queen for a mate." He almost fell in her lap with relief but wanted her to try on the jacket. "This gift takes months to make. Please accept it for me. My mate deserves such things."
She smiled a little half smile, took a fistful of the jacket's finest leather reserved only for Luvk queens and their children, and rose. My sleeping skins fell away from her pale skin and beautiful curves, leaving her towering over me with the longest white hair. Pure. Soft.
All mine.
She swung the sleeveless garment around her shoulders, thrusting one arm and then the other into the sleeves, and pulled both sides together at her breasts.
What was better? Her nude body or the way the jacket left her lower body and silken hairs in my view? I rose, trying not to think about the blood racing to my manhood, and showed her the two toggle closures that clasped the sides together to conceal her breasts.
She worked to close the sides of the black leather.
But that wouldn't save her from another round of mating. I slid my palms down the warmest softest leather over her slender curves, down to her hips, and stepped to her side, pulling her conspiratorial gaze toward me as I slid one palm between her damp thighs.
She was still wet. Always wet. And by the look in her eye, willing. We really needed to speak with Mother before I lost all my senses and wallowed in Aisling. "Even though my blood burns to make love to you, little one, we must discuss what is to come and meet with Queen Ishan."
"You're right. Sometimes I can't believe I just fall under your spell."
What sweet declaration. But her heart tattled on her whether she confessed or not. He struggled to gulp down a chuckle. "You know that we have three months to plant seeds, little one."
She nodded.
"And that Kruk will take you to his bed if I haven't succeeded."
She acknowledged the grim point with another straight-lipped nod.
"But we must create a different alliance, one that will ensure you have this Rosetta Stone you need to end the sky demon raids."
"Sky demons? Raids? Are you talking about the Slakens?"
"Yes."
"Okay, tell me more."
That sparked a brilliant gleam in her eye. "Today I will request of the Sunrise Clan queen that you wish to have her son, Prince Mart for consort."
Her heart thrashed beneath her skin. "I really only want one mate, Borun."
Of all the blessed things to hear roll from her lips. But she needed a Royal Guard to protect her when I was called away. Certainly she realized that much after Royal Guards tried to capture her for two days. And she needed to learn Luvk history chiseled into the Hall of Wisdom. Now for a bit of reason. "Given you carry my child in three months, no warrior will touch you until you have given birth. Unless you request it of your consorts." Royal Guards in her case.
"That's a year, little one. A year for raids to occur. A year for you to understand the writing on the walls of the Hall of Wisdom. A year is a long time. And Prince Mart can teach you the symbols long before you must bed him. I think you will carry a child soon." Especially since I could think of nothing but bedding her.
"But what if you're wrong? What if I get trapped with more mates?"
She doesn't hear her words. "Aisling, listen to yourself. You live by Luvk law now. You are equivalent to a queen. You must protect yourself with a Royal Guard." Even though I'm not so happy with the thought of sharing her. It's for the greater good.
She planted both her feet squarely before me. "On my world, a man marries a woman. One at a time. Albeit, there are a few exceptions. But those aren't the rule. And Marshals only have one mate. One. I don't want to share what we have between us. You deserve a mate as much as anyone on this planet. So just get used to my way of doing things. I'm not a queen. I'm a Marshal. And Marshals don't operate by local law. We are held to a higher standard and must strive to be successful."
She had no idea what she faced today. "Well then, little one," he tapped her small pointed nose with the pad of one finger, "you'd better eat up because you're going to need all the energy you can muster to debate with the seven queens of Luvk."
She exhaled, loudly, and sank down into a pile of leather to chew on some fried fish and baked tartlets. The slump in her shoulders said more than anything. She didn't want to debate nor pretend to be something she wasn't. And she only wanted me for a mate.
Nor did I stomach the idea of sharing her with anyone well. But it was the way of my people. And I could if I had to. To protect her. To raise our children. She desperately needed all the protection I could find for her. And the best protection at this moment lay in her taking on one Royal Guard from each realm, as a mate or a guard. No queen would be snubbed with that solution. They'd all return to their palaces feeling equally significant. And I could choose all the finest and trustworthy warriors to work toward our goal of ending the sky demon raids.
She said nothing else.
We'd come full circle, back to riding war beasts and gritting our teeth. At least until I had to rip off a few heads to keep the respect I was due and determined to find for her. Facing Ishan and the other Queens wasn't going to be easy. Especially since Aisling had the conscience all the Queens lacked. Shit was going to sling far and wide today.
?
Chapter Nine
Against Borun's suggestion, Aisling pulled on her olive drab camouflage pants and belted them around the bottom of her white tank top. Today felt like a day for battle, she noted. Since I felt like I was going into battle, I thought the whole soldier ambiance might make me feel a little better about facing the Queens. I yanked on my black combat boots, pulled the bloused hem of each pants leg down over them, and strapped on a knife to the outer side of each of my thighs for good measure.
Borun observed without more than feigned indifference.
Well, he was going to have to get used to the fact I was in charge. I had to reach my Marshal goals. At least I felt better with the knives strapped to my puny ass. Knives saved my butt in graduate school. They just might do the trick now. I'll have to thank Goro for that. He'd hidden my knives in my backpack along with a few other items. I had been trained enough to use the syringes to keep blood on hand of my were-mate. But the knives were even more comforting. I felt a little more prepared with these rabid tigers at every turn. And now I'd take care of this harem insanity. "Everything will be fine, Borun. I'm a Marshal. They're going to have to accept that Marshals don't keep harems."
"Someone is going to accept something today." He smacked his lips. "Are you ready?"
I ignored his jab and offered him my elbow. "Shall we go?"
He shoved up, yanking on his mask.
"I really hate those damned things," I muttered.
He sighed and led me back through the maze of walkways where the hot sun struggled to burn off shade.
"You're going to be difficult, aren't you, little one?" he muttered.
"Just as difficult as you have been, dearest mate. Do you see how we're made for each other?"
He chuckled softly. "I saw that when you he
ld onto my halter and rode my war mount like the skin on my back." He shoved the doors to the great hall wide and shot me a serious gaze through the eyes of his mask. "Although, I don't feel like being flayed today."
Who was talking about skinning tigers? He escorted me back to the great hall's entrance, walking me through the village's dark wooden circular plain buildings surrounding one large square structure with a smaller identical second level capped with a peaked roof reminding me of something like an undecorated pagoda. But the simplicity of the village's architectural style didn't leave me peaceful. I stared into the bright lighting inside the cavernous space where the queens seemed focused on our entry, lounging upon their thrones in gemstone studded leather and furs.
They were queens. Maybe he was right about my being assertive. But someone had to put these females in their places. And I had enough clout to demand to be left the Hell alone. I stepped across the threshold.
"Borun," Ishan called out to where he walked a step behind me. "Bring your mate closer. We all wish to speak with her."
Jesus. Like I need to be taken by anyone anywhere. I can maneuver across a room without a guide thinking for me. So they view me as my mate's pet? I so need to bite back some wicked retorts and focus on not becoming one of these hideous pompous queens. But the last thing I need is for the Luvks to ignore me. Royalty will always be royalty. Of which I am not. Standing my ground in acting like a queen is going to be the only way I keep my sanity.
"Little one?" he prompted over my shoulder.
Borun doesn't need to usher me anywhere. I'm a Marshal. I can handle this. I headed toward the Queens.
"Take care," he whispered.
The Royal Guard loitered on the side of the room behind where we entered through the corridor-type passageway. So, I couldn't see the audience without turning. And who'd want them to think for one moment that I had any interest in choosing a dozen or twenty of them.
Quite a few tasty smells tempted my mouth to water.
I suppose food couldn't hurt anything. Just where was it though?
A slight lilting song, music of some sort, tickled the tension from the room from wherever it originated. A greeting? Or Pan's seduction? I'd be foolish to let down my guard. Not that anything about the room was welcoming. Even the lighting-anything but the awkward bright natural white of the sunlight outside-helped me feel relaxed from where it artificially illuminated this space overhead in round glassy balls.
Borun's footfalls followed me to where I claimed the spot he had stood yesterday before the attentive Queens. Back when he had proven there was a male Luvk I could connect with and mate. It was true. I'm putting a lot of stock in his integrity given the trip here. The other Royal Guards weren't trustworthy. I had the only Royal Guard I needed. Borun.
Where were Goro and Johnson? Was no one here to side with me? They would have been nice to have on hand. Especially Goro's quick wit.
"Good morning, Marshal," Queen Ishan cooed. "I trust my son took care of you?"
Did she imply we had good sex? The nerve! "I couldn't have asked for better treatment. Now, I would ask what title you prefer to be addressed by. Since there are no queens in my homeland."
The seven queens, all white with black stripes, jolted forward where they sat. "No queens?"
Dare I laugh? I nodded. "You didn't answer my question."
"How can there be no queens?" a thin homely queen blurted.
Ishan waved her off and watched my gaze. "Since we are equal, you may call us by our names."
"We are not equal-"
Borun cleared his throat.
Like that would tie my tongue. "I am a Marshal. You are queens. Those are two completely different positions with different duties. I am not your equal by any measure." I planted my hands on my hips and waited for a reply.
Ishan smiled sweetly and waved a palm at me. "But, you see, we are the same."
Could her ridiculous definition of female even begin to logically make a connection between us?
"You are powerful in your position." Ishan smiled.
I turned back toward Borun and caught him trying not to roll his eyes by looking upward where he stood with his arms crossed. As if he motioned I told you so. "I may be powerful, but only because I am a Marshal. But I am not a queen. I will not become a queen, addressed as Queen, or even appear to be a queen." I pivoted to face the arched black brows watching me from the royal thrones. "I am here to understand the world of the Luvks to see that you are represented fairly by the Order of the Marshals and not treated like slaves of the Slakens."
"Stop while you're ahead," Borun whispered.
Didn't the Queens have his heightened hearing? Couldn't they hear him verbally admonish me? I turned around to shoot him a dagger with my gaze.
"But our Royal Guards tend to that business?" a gaudily dressed queen stated in her layers and layers of metal studded leather and furs. "High-caste females like yourself should just relax and enjoy a life filled with pleasure from their consorts, Royal Guards in your case."
So much for an intelligent retort from the vagina and womb.
Borun's golden gaze drifted off to study something beyond my shoulder.
He hadn't helped at all. "I'm not high-caste. In my home world, I fought my way up the social ladder to get respect. I don't believe in inequality even though I'm surrounded by it. And I expect respect." I whirled to find many Queens had donned masks of horror.
"Here. Here," Ishan chimed in while fussing in her seat. "You are our guest on Luvk. We must ensure your safety. You have no Royal Guard. Let us each select our finest Royal Guard to send to Marshal Aisling."
The Queens all rustled with newfound enthusiasm as I was suddenly omitted from the decision making.
Hadn't they heard a thing I said? "No. I'd rather not complicate my life at the moment. I've only been here three days. Why do I require an army when I have Luvk's best warrior already?" I waved Borun's direction.
"She must have Kel." The heavy Queen waved at me as if I was incapable of rational thought. "Kel is the charmer of my brood."
Somehow no matter what I said seemed like it would make a difference. These women were either idiots or so damned sneaky that they tricked me into talking in circles.
"No, Queen Iwari," Borun spoke loudly. "Prince Var from the Ice Lands is our choice. Your lead Royal Guard."
He did not just choose me another mate. I shot him a glare.
Borun focused on the Queens. "Marshal Aisling has specifically requested Prince Mart from the Sunrise clan."
"Of course, the Marshal may request any Royal Guard she prefers," some Queen said. "A consort is a consort."
Borun's gaze met mine.
He didn't react to the venom mine certainly spat at him.
"Otherwise, Prince Lehd from the Sunset clan, Prince Proy from the Dancing Rivers, and Prince Ovh from the Smoking Lands are the only choices I'll accept in my lodge. If these do not please the Queens of those realms, those realms will lack representation in the Marshal's Royal Guard," he bellowed.
"And what of the Thunder clan?" Ishan asked.
Borun's stern gaze snapped to his mother. "Since Prince Kruk has asserted his claim on my mate, we have no need for another Royal Guard from the Thunder clan."
"There you have it," Ishan cooed. "The Marshal has sufficient protection. We can all dispense with formality and return home to protect our realms against the sky demons."
Or return home to hurl.
My knees wobbled.
* * * *
"Where's the wine, beer, or whatever you have that's got a kick strong enough to knock a war beast off the top of a palisade?" Aisling asked, standing in the doorway to the banquet hall, mindlessly staring at the bustling noble crowd before her.
Ignoring me, Borun thought. She hadn't graced me with another glance since I ticked off the only warriors I would work with to the excited Queens. But my mate's consorts were the finest and most reliable warriors of the seven realms entrusted to her service.
And I trusted them. All but Kruk. He'd proven himself anything but noble. But Aisling couldn't see this now. Not in her anger. Or fear. "Will drinking yourself into a stupor make a difference, little one?"
She shrugged. "I need a drink. Maybe ten." She just stared at the dining scene unfolding before her.
A sea of Royal Guards milled up and down the length of three long tables waiting for others to seat themselves while the Queens hustled into their seats for the midday meal.
Thanks the stars. Her commander's black form pushed through the crowd. Shorter than the Luvks, he was difficult to spot until he broke through the striped sea. Goro headed toward Aisling.
The commander would make a formidable Luvk guardsman.
My mate snaked her arms across her chest and planted her feet squarely beneath her.
Oh, Aisling was not happy with anyone.
Goro quietly nodded once in greeting and tucked his hands behind his back beneath his long jacket. "You've taken on a small army, Aisling."
"It wasn't my choice. And where in the hell were you when my genius mate decided to assist in the choosing of my entourage?"
Oh, no, she wasn't happy.
Humor curled up one corner of Goro's mouth. "I warned you that you'd have to mate with more than one male here if you chose to work with the Luvks. When you arrived at court already mated," he shot me a respectful nod, "you'd made your choice. Honestly, I doubt Johnson would have had any say in his future at all here."
?
Chapter Ten
"If every ear in the room wasn't finely tuned to what we are saying, you wouldn't be singing that tune, Goro. I was being hunted by insane tiger men," Aisling snapped at her commander in the dining hall's doorway while Borun quietly listened to her conversation.
I'll have to think of a way to smooth over this stressful situation for her, Borun thought. Later.
Goro nodded ever so slowly. "I was there, Aisling."
Feral Fever Page 9
