Chapter Three #2
“You really don’t have to accompany me all the way to my room, Your Majesty. I know the way from here.”
“No, not at all. I’m happy to do it. Besides, I need to talk to you about something.”
And with that, we sailed on down the hall.
When it came time to make the turn to my room, the king went straight instead, away from the guest rooms and straight toward his own quarters.
We went down one long corridor after another, until we came at last to the area of the royal bedroom.
My heart sank, and I had no idea what to do.
The king was my only real ally now, or so it seemed.
If he demanded sex, what would I do? I couldn’t afford to make him angry.
He ushered me into his room, and I saw not only a huge bed in the center of the room, but a cozy seating arrangement by the window, which looked out over the courtyard.
He led me toward it, and he sat down next to me.
Almost immediately, a servant came from somewhere and asked if he’d like something to drink, and he replied that he would.
Of course, all of that was conducted in Tygerian, but I had finally learned to recognize a few words, and I surmised the rest. Finally, he turned to me and smiled.
“You must be wondering why I brought you here.”
“Yes, I-I guess I am.”
“I have a proposition to make you. I don’t need your answer this minute, but I’d like you to hear me out. I think my idea would be advantageous to us both. To your unborn child as well.”
Nervously, I had begun to pick at my robe with my fingers. I looked up at him briefly and then away again.
“What kind of proposition?”
He reached over and took my hand in his. “I’d like you to marry me, Blake.”
“I…W-what?”
“You heard me correctly, I think. I want you as my consort.” He reached over and began stroking my cheek with his forefinger.
“B-but I don’t understand. You’re the king. And I just lost my spouse only a short time ago.”
“Nevertheless. I think it would be highly beneficial to you. To us both. I don’t speak of love—I know that humans don’t have the superior emotional capacity of the Tygerians in that regard.
I’m sorry if that’s insulting, but I’m simply stating a biological fact.
I do have strong feelings for you, however.
I’d like for you to consider the benefits of marriage to me for both you and your unborn child. ”
My mind was reeling far too much for me to “consider” anything of the sort.
I was grieving. I had only just lost the love of my life, a man I felt like I had bonded to, whose child I had altered my body to be able to carry.
And yes, I knew all about that drivel that Tygerians had superior emotions and were in greater touch with their feelings, blah, blah.
I’d never believed that load of crap. They were foolhardy and reckless in the extreme, with their bodies, their minds and their hearts, though of course, they liked to think otherwise.
“Your Majesty,” I began cautiously.
“Call me Werros.”
“All right. But I think you may be...please remember I’m only here in the palace because my home with Davos has been attacked, and I literally had no place else to go. I’m terribly flattered, of course, and perhaps one day…”
I couldn’t afford to offend him. It wasn’t just me anymore. I had to think about the baby.
But the king continued as if I hadn’t spoken.
“Blake, I know how difficult this must be for you. Davos was a fine man, a hero, and a great general. He was my good friend. But he’s gone now, and the fact is that you need my protection.
I think I just need to take the decision out of your hands and make it for you.
We’ll be married in four weeks’ time. I have already informed the Council earlier today, and I’ve arranged for our wedding banns to be read in the High Church for the next three weeks to allow for any valid objections.
I’m claiming the child as my own, too. Only the doctors know the truth and the healers.
Perhaps a few of your servants. They have been told to stay quiet about it.
On pain of death, actually. When the baby is born, I’ll treat him as my own, and I’ll make you this promise.
He can take his rightful place as my heir, until we have a child of our own.
Even then, he’ll retain his princely status—he just won’t be the principal heir.
He’d still be in the line of succession, however.
I think this is something Davos would want. ”
His words left me speechless. And a little shocked by the “on pain of death” remark.
I just looked at him and shook my head. Finally, I found my voice.
“But why, Your Majesty? Why would you want to tie yourself to me? I’m a human.
Many people consider me to be the enemy. You could have your pick of consorts.”
“You’re not the enemy. Not anymore. I’ve been speaking with Evoq, and he reminded me that you’re considered to be a hero back on your planet. Officials have quietly been trying to bring you home for some time now. Did Davos never mention that to you?”
“No. He did not.”
“It’s true. I assure you. He was approached several times to negotiate your release, but he always refused.”
I had nothing to say to that, because I was speechless.
Should I believe that? Was it possible Davos had hidden something like that from me?
It wasn’t that I would have left him, but he should have told me.
It was unconscionable that he hadn’t ever mentioned it.
I felt a deep betrayal, and it must have shown on my face. The king took my hand in his.
“Your actions in the ring at the Games that night Davos took you, saved the lives of many men from your ship. When they were repatriated, they didn’t forget you. You’re considered to be a great hero on your planet.”
“I…don’t know what to say.”
“Once you were a lowly Alliance soldier and then perhaps you were the enemy, but now? Now you’re the one who will have to kneel with his pretty ass in the air and take my cock, while I’m the one who will stand behind you and fuck that sweet little ass.”
I gasped, shocked and insulted by his crudeness.
I tried to pull away, my face flaming, but he held onto me tightly.
“No, don’t turn away from me. You’re a beautiful creature, Blake, and I’ve thought so from the first moment I saw you.
I’ve always wanted you, and now I’ll have you.
And you’ll be an asset to Tygeria, because I’ll make sure the Alliance knows you prefer to stay here as my consort and bear this Tygerian child than to come home. ”
“You mean to taunt the Alliance. Let them think I’m your whore.”
“That’s the idea.” I made an angry sound and tried to turn away, and he grabbed my hand.
“I don’t mean to insult you with my words, nobyo, but I’m a plain-spoken man. A marriage between us makes perfect sense.”
Angrily, I wrenched my arm away. “Davos would never have said such things to me! He loved me.”
“If he loved you so much, then why did he never tell you the truth? Besides, Davos isn’t here anymore, is he?
I wanted you from the first moment I saw you in the ring, but Davos beat me to you.
Believe me when I say that Davos probably thought the same thing as I did, but never said it because he knew how high strung you are.
I’m simply being honest. I’ve wanted you for a very long time.
And now you belong to me. Make no mistake about that.
You need to get used to the fact. You need to accept it. ”
He bent me back over his arm, his mouth hungry for me, with what felt like months of pent-up want and resentment unleashed. He completely overpowered me, and I tried not to fight him, so he wouldn’t hurt the baby. Luckily, he took my moans for passion instead of revulsion.
“I’ve been wanting to kiss you like this for so long. Every time I saw you with Davos, I wanted to tear you away from him.”
His big, muscular arms pulled me closer, as he pushed his tongue inside my mouth to taste me.
I tried to get away from him, but he was far too strong, and he was right.
All I could do was take it, my mind in turmoil, my body shuddering.
I could cooperate and he might be kind to me.
Or I could fight him, and he might hurt me or worse—the child.
I had little choice in the matter. Finally, he let me go and looked down at me.
“Strip off your clothing. You will sleep with me tonight.”
“No, please, sir. Think of my child. I’m begging you. I-I haven’t felt well today. I don’t want to injure him. Or myself.”
He looked down at me for a long moment. “I’m not a cruel man.
We don’t have to make love, if it might endanger the child.
At least, not for now. But you will take off your clothes and lie in my arms naked tonight.
And I will touch you as much as I’ve been wanting to.
That’s non-negotiable. Now, nobyo, do as I say. ”
My fingers were fumbling, and I was trembling as I took off my robes and my under robe, and stood naked in front of him.
I had thought all the humiliation I had endured on this planet was over, but apparently not.
It seemed their gods weren’t through with me just yet.
He twirled his finger in the air and dutifully, I turned in place for him, hating every moment of it.
He came closer, hooking a hand around my waist and pulling me flush with his body.