Chapter 3
3
Is that simpering wistful sigh I’m hearing coming from me? I suck it in and straighten my spine. The room is crowded. Far more people than I expected and most of them appear to be scary alien guards. Like with spikes on their faces that weren’t applied by a makeup artist. But there’s no denying the man of the hour is the center of it all. He’s not just big, he glows . Gold. I don’t need to be told this is Prince Drakkon, it’s obvious.
The guys tried to press some fancy outfit on me this morning, but I turned them down. I’m not marrying the guy, even if my pussy is pouting at missing out on all that magnificence. Lord only knows what alien cock looks like, but I can live with myself if I never find out. I’m here for a story , and it’s best to remain confident and comfortable while I do that. So I’m wearing jeans and a long purple sweater. Perfectly respectable. I can admit I appear seriously underdressed compared to this guy, but when someone has swirling glowing skin, there’s not much that would compete.
I walk towards him. His smile is fierce and possessive. “My bride, I have come to you as requested. I hope that means you will be as compliant when I make demands of you.” His voice is syrupy and deep. This man is used to being obeyed without question. He doesn’t seem resentful that I refused to board his shuttle, but fully intends to use it as leverage. I can respect that.
“Um, Prince Drakkon, was it? I’m not your bride or anyone’s. I’m here as a journalist.”
One dark eyebrow wings up, but he appears unperturbed.
“Well then, we must spend some time together, no? And if in the end, I persuade you, I promise now not to remind you of it more than five, no, make that twelve times a year.”
I gape at him. Did he just make a joke? While subtly calling me spineless? Like one smile from him and I’ll give in?
My small growl of irritation has his weird eyes lighting with amusement. “If you would accompany me back to the shuttle and onto my ship, dear heart, we can have considerable more privacy for you to express those animus feelings.”
Oh god. I hadn’t considered that. If I insist on staying here, so will everyone else. There must be sixty aliens all standing at attention in this one room. I can’t have a natural conversation even with a prickly person with that many people listening in.
“You promise you aren’t going to kidnap me?”
His smile broadens. “I promise. We will not leave this galaxy without your prior approval.”
“Oh, very well,” I acquiesce with a long sigh. No doubt he has a gazillion tricks up his sleeve, but my curiosity won’t let me walk away from this one.
I’m practically humming with impatience to be alone with my bride, but ship protocols are there for a reason. I insist on accompanying her into the decontamination unit. It’s big enough for twelve, but few people want to attract my attention, so I’m usually alone. Ceejay glances around the all white room as if scanning it for clues.
The entire process only takes two minutes, so it’s not long before I’m leading her past the long line of guards at attention and towards my personal private quarters. There, no one will dare disturb us unless the ship is literally about to blow up. And probably not even then, because what would be the point?
Ceejay’s eyes widen further as she steps in and freezes, taking in the silken draperies and plush upholstered furniture. To encourage her to relax, I sink into one of the Plynos arm chairs that cost a small fortune. But they conform to your body shape over time and can even sense if certain muscles are out of balance and shift accordingly. Ceejay remains as she was.
“You can explore or sit and talk, as you wish, Ceejay.” Her name is strange on my tongue.
And apparently to her ears, too. “It’s C.J. two letters, not one word,” she corrects idly.
“My apologies.”
She waves it off. “Hey, how come I can understand everything you say, but not all those guards? Did you learn English that quickly?”
Shaking my head, I explain, “It’s one of many royal talents. You aren’t actually understanding the words coming out of my mouth. More that you are receptive to the matching psychic wave length. You are ‘hearing’ me with your brain, not your ears.”
Her brow furrows. “Can everyone hear you like that?”
I nod. “When I’m speaking to them, yes. And the same will be true for you once you agree to be my bride.”
Suspicious eyes narrow. “What? You can grant powers like a fairy godmother?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know what you are referring to, but it is not magic. When my cock sinks into your body, the nanobots will transfer via my cum and then begin to replicate in your system. It can take a few days to several weeks for the process to complete, apparently.”
“Nanobots? You want to infect me with alien technology?”
I stand up again to pour myself a stiff glass of Gassian liquor. “It is not a disease, C.J., All of those born to the royal bloodline have them. It is simply those that marry in that acquire them after birth. They don’t hurt.”
She’s sidling closer to the door. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
Tilting my head, I regard her over the rim of my glass. “Why not?”
“Because I should be focused on finding full-time employment or a better writing gig, not dirty talk with some hunky alien dude who wants to infect me.”
I snort. “I have no wish to visit diseases on you, dear one. Although now that you mention it, I do fully intend to mate with you sufficiently well to get you with child almost immediately.”
She sits down abruptly. “Now you’re talking crazy.”
Sighing, I reiterate. “I require an heir. The Empire requires that I produce one. Preferably more than one, as it is the nanobots that reveal the one destined for the throne.”
“It’s not the oldest boy or some such nonsense?” She almost sounds surprised.
“No. Any living member of the royal line may find themselves chosen as the next crown prince or princess. It’s true I was an only child, but I was hopeful of escaping the throne until my father died. I knew the instant he was gone because my skin lit up as you see it now.” I hold out my forearm where the traceries weave and dance.
“You, you didn’t have that before?” she whispers, stepping closer once again.
Shaking my head, I inform her, “No, not like this. I had some added protection, some warnings of impending danger, but nothing this dramatic. And before you walk away so quickly, consider what this could mean for your people. To have the next Empress of the Zotari Empire be of Earth will bring great respect to the women who leave here for new mates.”
C.J.’s eyes widen in disbelief. “That part wasn’t a hoax? Or just about you?”
“No. In fact, I asked that I not be chosen first for many reasons. There are many lonely men who have fought hard and valiantly for the Empire. They deserve a little comfort in the arms of a willing woman.”
“How willing can she be?”
I smile down at her. “They will not have to deal with the nanobots and the choice is entirely hers whether to leave this charming planet or not. But you can’t be telling me that all the women here are happy? That they have the protection and respect they deserve?”
“Nooo, I’m not saying that. But if these guys are so great, why can’t they find a girl on their own?”
I’m positive this must have all been explained in the literature. Maybe she’s simply checking to see if my story lines up. “Because there are far more men than women for the warrior races. And many of them desire children as well, which requires a compatible female. Earth is unusually resplendent in them.”
“So only women who are willing and able to have children get to go?” C.J. is up and pacing again, but I notice she’s not trying to shut the entire project down.
“Not at all. There are just as many warriors of an older generation that would simply be grateful for the companionship. A woman he can dote on, share a sunset with. Did you know that the sunsets of my homeworld are particularly fine? There are five moons that span across the sky while the green sun turns to shades of blue and purple.”
C.J. licks her lips as if she can taste the honeyed ice traditionally served during the summer at sunset.
There’s an abrupt and rudely annoying pinging on my communicator. Not the one that signals an incoming message but an all out alarm. I glance at it and see only an urgent summons to come to the bridge.