by Evelyn Marks
“Have you been able to call home? To either Earth or Mars, have you spoken with friends and family?” Alicia asked.
“Yes, I spoke to my father and brothers back on Earth, and I’ve talked to my best friend on Mars,” I told them. Alicia glanced at Burton, who stared at me long and hard.
“Okay,” he took a deep breath and then stood up. “We’ll take your word for it then Rea,” he said.
I breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “I really appreciate all the concern, but trust me. I would have said something myself if I was being held against my will,” I told everyone. After that the meeting was adjourned and the room emptied out.
“Hey Saphia?” I called her to stay behind, I had a few words for her of course.
“Madame Rea, I hope you understand that I—” she started to apologize, but I cut her off.
“Saphia, what I told you was in confidence. If I hadn’t truly wanted to stay on Radon with Darion then I would have said something myself to the ambassador,” I said. “I appreciate your concern, but Darion and I are fine and I’m coming to truly think of Radon as home. I don’t want to leave.”
Saphia glanced down at her feet for a moment and then back up at me. “I...apologize for overstepping my bounds,” she said decisively. Her apology didn’t seem so sincere.
“But?” I asked, sensing that there was more.
“As you know, half our planet had undergone a massive blight and famine. Chief Darion’s solution to this was to eradicate the blight by fire. The regions he ‘saved’ from the blight, he scorched nearly down to the bedrock. People lived in those areas. Not all of us fled. My family protested...and they couldn’t get far enough in time—” she paused as emotion overcame her. All I could do was stare at her wide eyed as I envisioned what she was telling me.
“Much of my family was wiped out because of Chief Darion and I see no one else to blame but him for it. Sure, he ‘rescued’ as many survivors as possible. He started programs to get us back on our feet and that’s why I’m here. But...I blame him for their deaths that did happen. So perhaps—perhaps I went to ambassador Burton out of more than just concern for you Madame Rea.”
“I get it. I understand the anger you feel towards him for that.” I didn’t really know what to say, so I paused. I understood the other factors that had made her go over my head. But...if she was telling the truth, then Darion might have a darker side to him I haven’t even begun to realize, even with him having abducted me.
“I apologize for it,” she said. I nodded and then took a deep breath. It had been a heavy morning.
“I can’t tell you how to cope with such a profound loss,” I said. “But I know that hurting other people, whether inadvertently or not, isn’t the way to go. Two wrongs don't make a right.”
Saphia sighed just as heavily as I had and she gave me one nod. “I...will take my leave,” she said, her words stilted. She turned on her heel and left before I could say anything more. I rubbed my eyes and then checked the time. If I stayed at the embassy, I’d have to get all my work done in an awkward environment. I didn’t want that. I figured I could just download my work e-mails at the palace and work from there. Maybe Darion would even let me use his private office.
On my way out of the building, I let the receptionist know I’d be working from home for the day. Then I arranged transportation, that wasn’t Saphia, to get back to the palace. When I got to Darion’s smaller study, Nye was just leaving, and Darion seemed to be right on his heels.
“Rea, you’re back early,” Darion said with a smile. He seemed genuinely glad to see me, and gave me a peck on the cheek.
“Yeah...I had a weird morning, I thought it’d be better to work from here. Do you mind if I use your office?” I asked, but strode past him anyway. Darion followed behind me and shut the door.
“What made your morning weird?” he asked, slightly cautious, almost on the edge. It seemed like if he needed to be mad at what I told him, he would be in a second. I wondered what that could mean for Saphia and decided to heavily edit the retelling of my morning.
“Some...disgruntled person tried to stir up an issue at the embassy today,” I said.
“A disturbed citizen?” he walked over to the desk and sat down across from me. I’d taken a seat in the huge, leather, high backed chair and he hadn’t questioned it.
“Yes, he...he lived in the region that was affected by the blight. He said some things about how you stopped it from spreading, that innocent lives were lost with the method you used,” I said. I wanted to know more about Darion’s actions. What made him do what he did, instead of waiting until everyone could be evacuated?
“I did what any ruler would in my position. The blight was moving at an unprecedented rate. Of course, there were protesters trying to protect their homes. But in the meanwhile, the blight was running rampant. I had to act swiftly. We got as many out as we could. Those who stayed knew they’d be martyrs for a fruitless cause. What was I to do? Spare a few or condemn the entire planet?” Darion released a deep breath, his features were all pinched in annoyance and anger. Clearly it was still a sensitive topic.
“I saved my people, plain and simple,” he added in a murmur.
“I was just shocked to hear the specifics...is all,” I told him.
“Yes well, we kept how the famine was cured hidden from the rest of the galactic alliance. It was too controversial. We had enough opposition to it here on Radon. We didn’t need even more opposition from other planets,” he explained. “It was the only option with a guarantee that the blight would be fully eradicated,” he added.
“Okay...I believe you,” I said. Darion studied my gaze, then he nodded.
“Good,” he said.
Chapter 2
Darion
“DO YOU HAVE MUCH WORK to finish today?” I asked her. Rea was using my computer to get to her e-mail. She had an endearing expression of concentration. Her brow was slightly drawn together and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth.
“I’m not sure yet. It depends on what these e-mails say. Why?” She glanced over at me briefly. Her expression was only half curious.
“I set up a surprise for you—for us actually,” I told her.
“A surprise? What kind?” she asked, I had her full attention then.
“You finish your work first, then I will tell you,” I said. I got up and went to kiss her softly on the lips. She gave me a wry smile, then sighed.
“Okay fine...” she mumbled. “Torture me why don’t you.”
I chuckled and left her to her e-mails.
REA FOUND ME JUST AS I was having a bit of luggage taken out to a waiting glider.
“Where are we going?” she asked excitedly. She came over to me by the bed and I grinned at her.
“It is a surprise remember? Go refresh yourself and wear something comfortable,” I told her.
“Okay! But what kind of comfortable? Like outdoorsy comfortable? Hanging out comfortable...?” she asked.
“That is all I will say, now go,” I said. She gave me a light kiss on the lips before walking off towards the bathroom and closet. She didn’t take long to ready herself. Fifteen minutes later, we were on our way to Rona, a small island nearby that my family owned. I hoped that she would appreciate what I had planned for us there.
“Okay, are you have to tell me where you’re taking me. How long are we staying there?” she asked. Our surroundings sped by as the glider traveled swiftly from the city. It could cover all terrain, including short distances of flight.
“We are staying there for three days and you will see it when we arrive,” I told her. I smiled at her impatient pout. She glanced briefly at the driver, before she slid her hand onto my lap. Laughing, I stopped her before she started something we couldn’t finish.
“You are quite impatient when it comes to surprises,” I murmured.
“Yes well, it adds to the buildup of the surprise if I’m anxious to know what it is. And I’m very anxious,” she said. Sh
e gave me a sultry grin and I took her other hand in mine just to be sure.
“You’re bad,” I chuckled.
“If I’m bad then...” she trailed off. She looked at me as if she wasn’t sure she should continue with her statement. Though I caught on to where she was going.
“I can be all kinds of worse Rea,” I murmured. She bit her lip then, her smile not gone, and glanced out at our passing surroundings. We were nearing the glider ocean transfer. It was where Ocean Boulevard let out to the actual water.
“This can go over water, right?” Rea looked at me, then at the driver.
“Of course. I didn’t intend for us to die on this trip,” I chuckled.
“Ha! So, it’s a trip...” she said coyly. I laughed and simply shook my head at her.
“Apparently, I’ve given you all sorts of clues. I won’t say another word until we arrive,” I told her. She sighed dramatically, but settled for watching the buildings and pedestrians disappear as we got out on the open water. The sky was clear and the ocean was calm. We reached the small island relatively quickly.
When the back of the house came into view, Rea gasped. The house was large, of course, but that wasn’t what made her go speechless. The beach behind the house was set up with an altar, a common tradition of human weddings. The arch was woven with red and white flowers and it stood in the sand waiting for us. There was white linen set up as an aisle from the back of the house leading to it as well.
“Darion...” she gasped. “I—I don’t know what to say. You planned all this?”
“Yes, I wanted us to be truly married, in both our eyes,” I told her. “Nye should also be here to properly document it as well,” I added with a chuckle.
“Aw, Nye...” she said, her voice misty. The glider circled around to the front of the house and landed in the drive. Standing out front was indeed Nye, a butler, cook, and housekeeper to welcome us.
“He does come in handy,” I said as we got out.
“Welcome Chief Darion, Madame Rea. I trust your ride went well?” Nye asked as we approached them.
“The ride was perfect. Is everything in order?” I asked.
“Yes, everything is set. Take your time. I will be enjoying the cool breeze out back...” Nye said. Rea gave him a fond smile as he left. The house staff introduced themselves before returning to their duties.
“Come, I want to show you something.” I took Rea’s hand and led her to the side of the house. There was a trail that led away from the beach to the small wooded area of the island.
“Cool, we can do all sorts of outdoor activities here,” she said excitedly. “It’ll be like a honeymoon.”
“That is exactly what I hoped for our time here,” I said. “I...want you to know that I didn’t set this up just to appease you. In part I did. But mostly I did this because I realized something,” I told her. Rea smiled at me and we stopped just within the cover of trees.
“What’d you realize?” she asked.
“That I love you.”
Chapter 3
Rea
I LOOKED AT HIM WITH wide eyes and a growing smile. I was sure I looked silly, but he’d just told me he loved me! That was something I couldn’t picture him telling me. Even if we ended up old and gray together.
“You love me?” I asked. I wanted to hear him say it again. He smiled and pushed a lock of hair behind my ear.
“Yes, I love you Rea,” he said as a matter of fact. “Of course I do,” he added. My chest filled up with a bubbly warmth and I stretched up on my tip toes to give him a kiss. His lips moved against mine hungrily as his hand pressed against my lower back.
“I do not want to pressure you Rea. If you don’t have the same feelings for me then—” he started to say after breaking the kiss.
“I love you too,” I told him. He let out a long sigh and then wrapped his other arm around my waist.
“To hear you say that...I feel like now we’re already married,” he said, a smile in his voice.
“We can’t let that beautiful wedding arch go to waste out there,” I said.
“I nearly forgot!” he exclaimed suddenly. Darion got down on one knee and took my left hand in his. I honestly couldn’t believe he was going to such lengths. Covering all his bases, who knew there was a romantic deep down in Chief Darion? “Clearly I am not very well practiced in all of this. But for you, I’ll try my best if you’ll have me...Rea, will you marry me?” He looked up at me in earnest, his amber eyes as open and vulnerable as I’ve ever seen them.
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you,” I said in a voice barely above a whisper. Darion’s grin stretched across his whole face. He scooped me up into a hug as he stood up.
“Okay, let’s go,” he said, excited. Giddy, I followed him into the house. He led me up to the second level. In the master bedroom, there was a white dress draped over the bed. It was simple, full length dress made from sheer material and perfect for a beach wedding in late fall.
“You really thought of everything...” I said, “Or is this Nye’s doing?’ I added.
“A bit of both,” he chuckled.
“Okay, well you can’t watch me get ready. I’m about to be a bride. The groom can’t see the bride until we’re walking down the aisle,” I said and shooed him away. Laughing, he went to wait outside. I quickly changed into the dress. It fit perfectly and hugged my body in all the right places. I tamed my hair a bit and then pinned it to fall over one shoulder. Once I felt ready, I left the room to go and marry my husband the right way.
I hurried out to the living room balcony doors, then paused to take a breath. The doors were wide open and Darion was waiting in front of the arch with Nye. He hadn’t noticed me yet. He was wearing a loose white linen shirt, over loose white pants. We were certainly having a bohemian sort of wedding. His hair was even loose and fell down his back and around his shoulders. Darion turned his head and smiled when he saw me, a huge smile that sent warmth through my chest. He stepped under the arch and Nye took position to officiate. I walked down the aisle, slowly, but not too slow. Really, I wanted to skip down to him and jump into his arms. But we were doing things the right way.
“You look beautiful,” Darion said when I finally reached him. He took my hands in his and what felt like a current surged from his hands into mine. I became intensely aware of both myself and him. I felt as if we were soul mates truly come together.
“So do you,” I said, my voice thick. I couldn’t help but be emotional, it was my wedding after all.
“Would you like me to recite vows, or would you rather speak your own?” Nye asked.
“Speak our own?” Darion asked. I nodded and he took a deep breath before he started. “I know we did not exactly start on Radon the right way. But I’m determined to go forward the right way with you Rea. I love you and I want nothing but your happiness. I promise to cherish and value you always. I promise to protect you and to always be by your side. Forever.”
I swallowed hard, determined not to cry through the most important part. Darion had spoken solemnly and he smiled, almost shyly.
“And now your vows Rea?” Nye prompted.
“Oh, right...” I said and laughed. Darion chuckled with me and he wiped a tear I hadn’t been aware of from my cheek. He took my hand again as I took a cleansing breath. “Darion, when I met you...I didn’t fathom that we’d be standing here now,” I paused with a small chuckle that he mirrored. “I can’t help but feel like we’re connected now in a way that’s unbreakable. I don’t want anyone else but you Darion... I love you.”
His smile widened and was breathtaking. I really started crying then and he took my face in his hands. He sealed his lips over mine and I felt our bond solidified.
“I suppose I can skip the part where you accept her vow Chief Darion?” Nye quipped.
“I do! Of course, I accept and I’ll accept a thousand times over,” Darion said, a laugh in his voice.
“Fine then, you may put these rings on one another...” Nye handed us
silver wedding bands. Mine matched the white gold diamond wedding ring I wore, and Darion's ring completed the set. He slid the ring onto my finger first, then I reciprocated. “Now you may kiss the bride,” Nye said.
Laughing, we kissed again, and everything was right.
Chapter 4
Darion
THE HAPPINESS ON REA’S face as we signed an authentic marriage document was well worth setting up the ceremony. Once it was signed, Nye tucked it away to take it back to the palace.
“Congratulations Chief, Madame Rea,” Nye said and bowed at the waist before taking his leave. Rea turned to me with a bright smile and picked up a glass of champagne.
“Toast?” she asked.
“Why would we eat toast with champagne?” I teased. She giggled as I tapped my glass to hers. “To a happy marriage?”
“To a happy marriage,” she said. We remained out on the deck for some time, simply watching the ocean water. She sat relaxed against my chest when we sat in the large swinging egg couch. It felt as if we were in our own little pod and it was just us and the water.
“Should we have something to eat now...or would you like to stay like this forever?” I asked her in a low voice.
“How about hidden option number three?” she asked. She turned slightly and smirked up at me. Her hand had begun to travel up my thigh and already my sex had stiffened.
“I like that much better. I knew I married a wise woman,” I joked. She giggled and sat up some. I met her kiss with heated passion; I nibbled her lip and slid my tongue into her mouth. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her onto my lap. She continued to rub against my penis, but soon faltered. I rubbed my hand over her cleft. I broke the kiss; we were both breathing hard.
I slid my hands along her thighs and pushed one of her legs open. Her dress was not difficult for me to navigate through. When my fingers found her folds, I discovered that she was naked underneath. My sex hardened even further, especially as I felt how wet she was already. She rocked her hips and rubbed her clitoris against my fingers. She sucked on and nibbled my neck while she moved. I stilled her hips and slid two fingers inside her. She moaned as I drove her towards a quick orgasm.
