Chapter 9
Scarlet
“I believe in being prepared for anything,” Havali said, clearly proud of himself and his forethought for having a plan for when Peony had to tap out.
Her nest anxiety was starting to get really bad, though Scarlet could probably attribute some of it to suddenly leaving home and coming all the way out here.
It was a big change, even if Atem had deliberately packed up their entire bed to make the transition easier for her.
If domini females were really that attached to their nest while pregnant, then Peony might just be unhappy simply because she was no longer at home.
Scarlet still wanted to check her over again later.
For something like this, there was no such thing as an overabundance of caution.
Scarlet stepped in closer to the monument, reading over the very last species name that had been added to the stone, the letters glimmering with a pretty, frosted stone that, despite being amethyst in color, Scarlet was pretty sure wasn’t amethyst.
Kreecharma - Kree
She didn't recognize the species or the planet. Though, she supposed, in a few days, she would probably get a chance to meet the alien delegation from there.
And, maybe, humans could soon be added to the bottom of the list. What flowers would they even send to add to the monument? What flower was so quintessentially human that it was allowed to travel to the other side of the universe to be their botanical representation?
Maybe peonies. She chuckled at her own joke.
“Something funny?” Havali asked, turning her attention back to him. Still walking through the spiral, Alanna was talking poor Tuvo’s ear off. He looked so politely confused and terrified to speak.
“Just a silly thought,” she shrugged it off.
“I’d like to hear it anyway.”
“Really? Why?”
“I want to know what put that bright smile on your face. You don’t do it nearly enough. I thought if I knew what caused it, I could do something similar to make you do it again.”
Unprepared for the sincerity of that surprisingly serious answer, Scarlet just stared at him.
He cocked his head, all three of his shining, black eyes focused completely on her.
It should have been unnerving. Black eyes alone were supposed to be scary on their own – doll eyes, shark eyes, etc – but add in the alien element of there being three all angled so that the inner corners pointed towards each other, and it was probably the stuff of someone’s nightmares.
But that direct and willful gaze only made her shiver with a strange anticipation as a heat she hadn’t felt in a long time started in her core.
Holy shit, she was being turned on by an alien. An alien king. A hot alien king.
She was almost disappointed in herself that her stupid libido would pick the hottest, most eligible guy on the planet to be attracted to. Wasn’t that shallow? Hadn’t she spent so long trying to prove to herself and others that looks didn’t matter?
Not to say she was actively seeking out an objectively ugly person. That was just as shallow as only looking for handsome people, just in the opposite direction. She wasn’t trying to prove her superiority to vanity and the basic concept of attraction.
Still, she just kind of thought she’d end up with an ordinary guy. Ordinary alien guy?
Either way, she was afraid that she was just blinded by how attractive Havali was, on top of finding out just how important a person he was. After all, he still wasn’t treating her like his mate, and she didn’t actually know anything about him.
“Why did you want to be First Guardian?” The, admittedly lame, quite obvious get-to-know-you question spilled from her lips without her really thinking about it.
Her face flushed when she realized that, not only had she blurted that out, but she had ignored his question, making it seem like she was very obviously trying to change the subject.
Havali cocked his head a bit, but he didn’t resist her unintentional subject change. “I served in the military when I was young, but then I changed my career path and joined the police. Worked my way up from there. Why did you want to become a healer?”
“I wanted to help people. Isn’t that always the reason?
” She laughed. “It sounds super cliché, but after spending my entire childhood only focused on my looks and stupid talents that, really, earned me nothing, I wanted to do something worthwhile.
And I didn't want to go to medical school, so I thought: Hey, a nurse helps a lot of people. I should do that.”
“What talents are stupid?” He asked, frowning. “Doesn’t a talent, by definition, have some worth?”
“Not my talents. My mom really wanted me to sing, but I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket if it had an ergonomic handle that velcroed to my fingers.”
“What?” He laughed at her ridiculous metaphor.
“It means, my voice sounds like a symphony of constipated cats in heat-” he only laughed harder, still obviously confused, “-so my mom tried to push dancing on me. But I thought ballet was stupid because it hurt and, as it turns out, I have as much ability to stay in rhythm as I do to hold a note. Those two things are probably related somehow, actually. Anyway. So, she tried to get me to juggle, but that earned me no real points in the competition. So, we finally settled on hula hoops.”
“What hoops?” He repeated, still chuckling.
“Hula hoops,” she chuckled, demonstrating with her hands.
“They’re rings. They go around your body and you kind of wiggle to make them spin around you.
People who are good at it can be really impressive.
I was ten when I started, had just started getting taller, but my torso hadn’t grown to match my limbs yet, and, as stated, I had absolutely no rhythm. ”
“Ah, these hoops are a type of dance.”
“Yeah. Kind of. Pointless and, since I wasn’t even that good at it, not even pretty.”
“I think I should like to determine that for myself.”
He growled. Actually growled.
Scarlet recognized that growl.
The domini non-verbal communication methods included growling. A legitimate, animalistic growl that was gravely and intimidating. But just like a noise in the back of the throat, it could be altered for many sorts of occasions.
That was a flirtatious growl. The kind of low rumble that a girl could too easily imagine vibrating through her body as he mounted her from behind, like an animal. One hand on her clit, another in her hair, pulling her head back as he thrust forward.
Without her permission, that mental image flashed in Scarlet’s mind and then refused to leave. The lingering heat of yearning remained in her body even as she tried to forcibly shove away the idea of him mercilessly punishing her pussy from behind.
She could only imagine the look on her face at that moment, because Havali suddenly cleared his throat and looked away.
“Excuse me. I didn't mean to-”
Scarlet didn't know what possessed her. For the rest of her life, looking back on this moment, she would have no idea why she did what she did.
She stepped forward, lifted herself up on her toes, and kissed his cheek.
It was a quick peck. It could practically be considered fully platonic.
Her body didn't even touch his, but she felt the lingering heat of his skin on her lips as his scent filled her nose.
A rich, masculine scent that almost reminded her of the billboard they passed, but mixed with his own smell that, together, made her think of silk fabrics, warm nights, and scentless candles.
Seductive and understated and all the more powerful for it.
Havali gave her a look like he hadn’t expected that, but it was quickly covered as he gave her a uniquely male grin. Smug and pleased.
“Does this have a special meaning among humans?” He asked, that growl back in his voice. Softer now, but still noticeable.
Scarlet bit her lip. Part of her wanted to lie and promise him it was just something friends did – even though she knew damn well that wasn’t her intention.
Another part of her wanted to confess that the heat he ignited with his growl needed some means of escape, but she was terrified to put that out in the universe and give him that power over her.
She ended up saying nothing. Which, in and of itself, was telling.
And it was clearly a message that Havali understood as his smirking grin widened.
“I was meaning to ask you, Healer Scarlet, if you would do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the opening ceremonies.”
She should say no. She should definitely say no.
She said, “Yes.”
***
“I can’t do this.”
Scarlet’s announcement was blaringly loud in the otherwise quiet hover. Two pairs and three triads of eyes all turned to look at her, surprised by the outburst that came, seemingly, from nowhere.
It was the day of the opening ceremonies and they had reached the only part that really mattered. It was time to schmooze and mingle with the various Coalition representatives and their entourages. Most had brought their mates, but some had brought councilors or partners or advisors.
Atem had been gone most of the day. He had left Peony with his old clothes from yesterday – unwashed because, physically, she needed his scent to remain calm – while he went out to walk the red carpet.
Or the alien equivalent anyway. Scarlet didn't want to say it was a press junket, but that’s kind of what it seemed like as they watched Atem and the other leaders greet the press and meet each other in a quick, perfunctory way. All for show.
But that had been like an appetizer. The main course started now. As the night shields began their journey across the sky, they were all gathering at the Coalition Grand Hall dressed to kill and prepared to sniff out potential allies and enemies.
Except, Scarlet was not ready to do any of that.