Chapter 9
Khaazai watched as his human wife closed her eyes again and tilted her head towards the gray sky above them. She inhaled through her nose, her eyes closed, seeming to take enjoyment from what most would consider dismal weather.
"Don't you enjoy the scent?" She asked, seeming entranced with her experience.
With the constant rain, he’d never really taken a moment to enjoy it. It was just something he was used to, and something he hadn’t truly noticed.
Wanting to understand her enjoyment, Khaazai closed his eyes, and he sucked in a breath.
He smelled the earthy scent of wet soil combined with the floral notes coming off of his mother’s garden not far away, and then there was Zahra’s delectable scent.
An image of her naked, spread out before him with little raindrops dotting her skin flashed through his mind.
His wife might just convince him the rain could be enjoyable.
Especially if she fulfilled the fantasy that had just flashed through his mind.
"It smells nice," Khaazai agreed as he opened his eyes and found both human women watching him. They appeared amused with his attempts at understanding the joys of rain. "Now let us head inside before my sister wonders where we are."
Khaazai gestured for the both of them to follow him inside as he led the way over the small courtyard.
As they walked, he found himself enjoying the splatters of rain on his head.
His wife had a way of enjoying something he’d taken for granted and even thought of as a nuisance. Now, he had a new take on it.
"Wow!" Holly exclaimed from behind him as they entered the main entrance of his childhood home.
He turned to watch Zahra’s facial expressions.
He had much to learn about humans and their expressions, but he figure he had the basics down.
Smiles tended to be good. Frowns meant they didn’t understand or were upset.
From there he could only guess what the others meant.
Would she have the same astonished reaction as Holly?
Zahra's eyes spread wide as she took in everything around her. "I have no words." she finally said.
Khaazai puffed up his chest, feeling proud of his family home. "My family has ruled or played important roles in our planet’s political system for generations." Which had gifted them with an abundance of wealth.
"And now you do."
It wasn't a question, but he chose to answer anyway. "I became my cousin's general. His right-hand man, so to speak. I could have challenged him for the position of emperor.”
"But you didn't."
Again, not a question, but Khaazai chose to answer Zahra again. "No. My cousin is a fair and level-headed emperor. I would rather support him than cause unnecessary strife among my people by challenging his position."
"It's very loyal of you." Zahra said with adoration. “We have many periods in human history where families have fought each other over the chance for power. Sometimes, people find the appeal of power too tempting and turn against their own family members.”
"I still lead the people, in a way." Khaazai inclined his head. "The people may not realize it, but I do have my cousin's ear. I report their issues back to him, and advise him on how to handle certain issues. He’s a big enough male to know more than one head can be better at times."
"Well, I bet they'd be thankful for all that you do for them." Zahra replied appearing to admire his choice to back his cousin rather than oppose him. He figured it was another small win for him.
Khaazai would be the first to admit, his people weren’t much different than her people’s past. Strength was valued among his people.
Thankfully, no one would challenge and take his life as he got older.
Only the emperor would be challenged. The position of general was determined by more than brute strength.
He needed cunning, and Khaazai prided himself on both his brain and his brawn.
"There you are!" His sister's voice echoed through the massive entryway, her voice bouncing off the stone walls.
“Vera." Khaazai greeted warmly with a slight bow of his head. She in turn offered a bow and a hand over her chest in a respectful greeting. After so many years away, he felt bad he hadn’t visited her more.
It was time to change that error. He may have lost his parents, but he refused to lose his sister as well.
“Brother. It is good to see you again." Vera said as she straightened, her eyes lighting with happiness.
"It's been too long." Khaazai agreed.
He’d been off world for many years before he'd found Zahra and came back to their home world.
His cousin, the emperor, had wanted to know what was going on in the universe.
In the last few years the universe had seemed to go to shit.
There was the Sri'thean war, the Frirens and their arena, plus a whole number of other issues. It only helped Khaazai to realize why his people avoided outside contact as much as possible. This alliance was out of their normal behavior… and if he hadn’t wanted Zahra and convinced his cousin, it would have never happened.
Zahra... and for some reason he'd been unable to get her out of his mind. So, unlike their females. None that he knew of had ever tried to join their military... none that he knew of and he'd already proposed the idea of welcoming women into their ranks after see Zahra’s skill. His cousin had been intrigued with the idea. And their wedding night battle had only helped Khaazai with convincing his cousin. Look at what a human woman could do against a Khuuz’eth general.
Sure, he’d taken it easy on her, but her moves and show of skill assisted him in his argument.
"Meet my wife, Zahra." Khaazai placed a hand to the small of Zahra’s back, drawing her forward.
The moment he touched her, a small growl of pleasure crawled up his throat.
He smothered the sound before it could reach anyone's ears, lest he embarrass Zahra or cause her to be any more nervous than she already was right now.
Vera turned to Zahra, her eyes lighting with interest. “It's nice to meet you.” She placed a hand to her chest and bowed slightly.
Zahra glanced at him, and he blinked slowly in agreement.
Zahra faced Vera and placed her hand to her chest in greeting.
Vera’s eyes slid back to Khaazai. "I never thought to see my brother married."
"Oh?" Zahra asked with a smile, appearing to enjoy this meeting. “Was he a bit of a playboy?”
“Play… boy?” Vera shook her head as she looked to Khaazai for a translation.
He had nothing. His translator hadn’t been able to translate as well.
“It means a man who is attractive and uses his good looks to attract as many women as he wants.” Zahra laughed.
Khaazai wasn’t fond of the term, but he did preen with pleasure that she found him attractive. Physically they’d been a good match, they both appeared to enjoy how the other looked, and he hoped they would bond in other important areas as well.
"Not that I know of. Khaazai has never seemed to meet his match among our people. He’s definitely never brought a female back to our home, which means I'm excited to get to know you." Vera's eyes moved to Holly. "And another human?"
"Holly is the cultural anthropologist and is here to assist Zahra as she navigates our world." Khaazai explained.
"Brother, if you don't mind, I can show them to their rooms and then meet you for dinner?" Vera inquired, always the helpful one.
Khaazai inclined his head. Then watched as his sister led the women through their home. His sister had been right. Bringing Zahra here would give him the advantage he needed in capturing her heart. He felt certain of this.
A pinging on his comm drew his attention.
"General." A male’s voice came through.
"What is it?” Khaazai growled as he headed through the home he'd missed for so many years.
He hadn't been back much since his parents died in a shuttle accident.
So many memories within these walls. Some of them hurt to remember and some of them he looked back on fondly.
But Vera insisted on living here, which meant if he wanted to stay connected to his sister, he would need to face the many emotions this home stirred inside his chest.
"You wanted updates on the Sri’thaens."
"What do you have?" Khaazai asked as he walked into his father's study, the door closing behind him once he’d entered.
"This alliance with the humans has sparked their interest." The other male informed him. “There’s been a lot more chatter.”
"Any threats to us?" If the Sri’thaens felt threatened by this alliance there was always the chance they might attack. It was a factor he and his cousin had already discussed.
"Not as of yet, but there's a fair bit of chatter on their side regarding this alliance. They are uncomfortable with it, and there seems to be quite a bit of worry on their end."
Khaazai sat down in a chair and pulled a tablet up in front of him. "I'll inform the emperor, but in the meantime, I want more patrols around the home world. Also, I want our warships scattered throughout our system. Any movement on the Sri’thean's part, report back to me immediately."
"Yes, sir." And the line went dead.
Khaazai pulled up Draagmax’s name and initiated a video hail.
The emperor's face greeted him in a matter of seconds. "Cousin, shouldn't you be enjoying your time with your wife?"
"I'm allowing my sister to settle her into her rooms. Besides, I knew you'd want to hear the latest report on the Sri’thaens."
Draagmax leaned in closer to the screen as he cocked his head. "And?"
"A bit more chatter on their end. The written reports haven't come in, but they are showing interest in our alliance with the humans." Khaazai informed him. Anticipation built in his muscles. He didn’t want to say he enjoyed fighting, but as a warrior species, he found himself keen on showing the Sri’thaens the deadly side of his plasma spear.
"Actions taken so far?"