Chapter 8 #2
“You’re very welcome.” I go with patting her awkwardly on the back, even though my dick is now hard again.
“I wasn’t going to let anything near them.
I was swimming nearby when I heard the Aquilian’s song.
I arrived just in time to see you taken in by it.
I thought it was the least I could do, considering my dragons have declared you as my mate.
To be honest, they wouldn’t let me leave until we knew that you had returned safely.
They could feel the vibration of those predators in the water. ”
She pulls back and just stares at me. It takes all my willpower to avert my gaze from her luscious breasts. Lila has most definitely lost her Earth modesty.
“Thank you.” She leans in and presses a small kiss to my lips. I don’t pull away, and I lean into the small gesture from my mate. She gasps and pulls back again, her eyes even wider than before, and I can’t help but smirk at her. She shakes her head, confusion in her gaze, before pulling away.
I let her go, and suddenly, she’s fully clothed. We both turn and look at the two warlocks. Xylene points at her husband.
“We need everyone fully focused on the situation and not your tits, Lila,” he grumbles.
“Thank you. So what happens now? Do they need Nikos to return? Or is there someone else who can rule?”
All four of us turn to face the remaining group of Aquilians. Nixie and her mother, who is still the queen I guess, step forward.
“My mother will rule, as is her right. There is nothing that says it has to be a male on the throne. Now that Nikos is with child, he won’t want to leave his mate,” Nixie declares loudly, and there’s a rumbling of dissension from behind them, but Xylene just raises an eyebrow, and it quickly shuts off.
“The warlocks support and acknowledge the rule of Queen Nerissa. Please let us know if we can aid in any way.”
“And I name Nixie as my heir.” Nerissa, her mother, steels her spine, and instead of being the meek, cowering woman I have met before, she is now all steel and strength. “And anyone who is not happy about that can go swim in the Molastay Trench.”
She walks over to the throne, stepping over the lump that is her former husband, and takes a seat on it.
“If you could kindly release my guards?” she asks the warlocks and looks upward.
Following her gaze, Lila and I look up, and there, high on the ceiling of the massive throne room, are two dozen uniformed guards just floating amongst the now thinning smoke.
There is a massive hole in one wall, which I’m assuming the king’s laser tore through, and it will need to be repaired.
“Fine.” Cronus waves a hand, and they come hurtling toward the ground, their shouts of horror echoing through the large room.
“Tst,” Xylene hisses at her husband and stops their plummeting descent so that they land gently.
“You’re no fun.” He sticks his tongue out at her, and she rolls her eyes.
“You’ve had enough fun. You killed the king. I think that’s enough mayhem for one day.”
The guards scramble to their feet, and they look dazed and confused, but Nerissa doesn’t allow that for very long. “Swear your fealty to me,” she commands loudly, and that has them jumping to attention. All of them get down on one knee, their fists to their breast plates, and bow their heads.
“All hail Queen Nerissa,” one of them calls out, and the others follow suit.
“Hail Queen Nerissa. Long live the queen.” The rest of the people come out from the corner they were huddled in and also take a knee, though one or two of the older women look disgruntled.
Nerissa turns her attention to them, looking scornfully at the majority as Nixie steps to her side, showing her support for her mother.
“Since my husband is no longer breathing, he has no need for your… services.” Ah, I can tell by her tone that these are his remaining harem members.
There are a couple of small children who bear a slight resemblance to the former king.
“Those of you who have children will be provided for, though none of them will have claim to the throne from now on. As for the rest of you, you reap what you sow. You knew he was a married man and in no position to make any of you promises. I have put up with you for long enough. You may leave the castle with any belongings that you brought with you. Anything my husband” —she spits this word like it tastes bad in her mouth— “gave you is property of the crown and belongs to me. Guards, escort these women below so they may retrieve their belongings.” Most of the women readily agree, but one of them glares at her.
“What about my son? Where is he? He was named Marlin’s successor.” She has the same long black hair as her son and a hawk-like nose.
“He was eaten.” Lila points at me, and the woman turns her glare on me.
“He damaged the crown prince of the dragon’s mate. It is a death sentence, and I carried it out,” I tell her flatly.
“I demand compensation.” She doesn’t look upset at the news her son is dead, just annoyed.
“Compensation denied,” Nerissa says dryly.
“And if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself in the dungeon for your son’s crimes.
You’re lucky the dragon prince is happy with the outcome.
” She turns her attention to a couple of gentlemen who I hadn’t noticed cowering behind the women.
They are real heroes! “Also, I will be assessing all positions granted by my husband over the last few years. Please have ministers and advisors assemble early tomorrow morning in the palace below. Nixie will be my only named advisor until I’ve had a chance to assess loyalties.
Make no mistake, things will change in Aquilia.
My husband kept us cut off from the galaxy for too long, and that will no longer be the case.
Please remove this from my sight. Throw it into the Molastay Trench for the sea monsters to devour.
” Four guards get to their feet and quickly do as commanded.
A trail of blood leads to the pool as they drag the king’s mangled corpse before they all leap into the water.
Hopefully those sea monsters stay in the trench and don’t go in search of what’s causing the blood.
I look around the room, and while she has been talking, a few more people have appeared from wherever they were hiding. They look like staff members, but I can already see that having a new queen is giving them a reason to smile.
She finally turns her attention back to us. “King Cronus and Queen Xylene, I owe you a great debt of gratitude. My former husband was actively working to repress our people so they didn’t rise against him. How can we ever repay you?”
“Never make a pass at my wife, and we’ll call it even,” Cronus says, and the queen smiles and nods her head regally.
“Of course not.” She turns her attention to me. “Prince Tirrian, it is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you will convey my well wishes to your father, and know that you are welcome on Aquilia whenever you wish to swim in your dragon form. Our waters are your waters.”
“Thank you, Queen Nerissa, and may I say it is lovely to see you on that throne. I’m sure my father will be in touch with you to discuss trade or a treaty. Your ex was never open to anything.”
She snorts derisively. “Why does that not surprise me?” She finally turns her attention to my mate. Her eyes narrow slightly, and she takes a moment to really study Lila before asking, “Now, what are your intentions toward my son?”