Chapter 13 #2
The female trembled in place but made an effort to lift her head and meet the queen’s gaze, her eyes wide.
She stole a furtive look at her mother, his expression pleading, and that told him all he needed to know when the matriarch gave her a sharp look in turn, silencing any objection that she might have made.
Nerisha’s head bowed momentarily, but she straightened, her body rigid, and she addressed Zathexa with a clear voice. “I am ready, High Queen.”
The queen settled back into her throne with a resigned nod of her head as she waved Jathella forward. “Escort them.”
The captain of the guard nodded and turned toward them, extending her hand in silent invitation.
Therxian drew himself up from his coiled tail, his jaw clenching as he dipped his head in acknowledgment and proceeded from the room with Jathella at his side and Nerisha noticeably trailing reluctantly behind once they were out of view.
He glanced back at her with concern, his gavo rising slightly. “This is not necessary. You should not feel obligated to sacrifice your body and the joys of choosing when you are of age.”
Her head bowed, her gavo wilting until the fans flattened completely with misery. “It is a great honor to have this opportunity. The entire sixth house waits on my good news.”
Therxian made a face—an all to human expression from his extended time among them in the Vir mountains—and sighed.
Drawing to a stop, he turned toward her and crossed his arms over his chest as he peered at her.
He was aware of Jathella stopping a little further down the corridor as she turned to look back at them quizzically, but he did not care.
He was not going any farther. Although he knew everything depended on his subversive abilities, he could not do this in good conscience.
“Do you truly wish to breed with me... a male at least three times older, larger at my full maturity while you still have revolutions before you reach your full size?”
She noticeably balked, her mouth falling open.
Jathella frowned and rejoined him at his side.
“Therxian, this is not what your mother commanded. The purpose of the gathering was clear, and this female, however young she may be, had every opportunity to rescind. Speaking this way disrespects the queen’s authority.
If you just continue to your chambers, everything has been prepared, including abundant food and drink, and—"
He waved her comments away, his focus trained on the young female wilting in front of him.
For a moment, it appeared as if Nerisha was trying to rally herself to reassure him of her intentions and willingness to go through with the breeding.
Disappointment filled him... and dread. But then her mouth snapped shut, and she jerked her chin downward in the negative as her eyes lowered in embarrassment.
Her tail twisted around her anxiously, but she somehow managed to speak despite her obvious discomfort. “I know that this opportunity could be very prestigious for the sixth family—and the chance of being the mother of the next queen is something that anyone would want—but...”
“But?” he prodded.
Her gavo twitched as she gave him a reluctant smile. “But you are old and not very attractive,” she admitted quietly.
He grinned, not the least bit offended. “A young female such as yourself would do better enjoying the company of the young males from the haga.”
A shy smile curled the female’s lips, and she inclined her head in agreement, her gavo snapping lightly, demonstrating more life and spirit than the female had shown since entering the palace.
“There is one... he is a harvester. He has delicate features and possesses the most beautiful hands. He is also a very attractive shade of purple.”
Therxian rumbled with amusement. “That is much better. So, you will go and keep him company, but remain hidden,” he instructed, guiding her to Jathella with one hand. “If anyone asks, you were in my nest all evening.”
She smiled shyly and snapped her gavo vigorously. “Thank you, Therxian,” she whispered as she joined Jathella and looked up at the captain of the guard expectantly.
Jathella’s wings twitched, and she cast Therxian an annoyed scowl. “This is not what the queen intended.”
“No. It is what is right,” Therxian agreed. “As you can see for yourself.”
Jathella hesitated, her eyes dropping briefly to Narisha, who stared up at her pleadingly, before reluctantly returning to him.
Her gavo trembled briefly with her indecision for a short time as her gaze darted between them before she finally sighed and offered him a grimace of annoyance.
“Very well, but you will owe me for this,” she informed him, and she pointed her velkat at him as if to emphasize her point.
It was only after lowering it that she peered down at Narisha and gave an even heavier sigh.
“Come along,” she grumbled to the female as she led her away.
He waited in the corridor, watching to cover their retreat until the last possible moment. His body relaxed by degrees as he waited, and a smile curled the corners of his mouth. That was easier to deal with than he had expected. Now if only they all could be so easy.
No matter. He would handle the breeding situation.
He certainly was not going to allow any of the noble families to get their way.
Or his mother. For now, he had a meal waiting for him and a particularly feisty and amusing human female in his nest. He grinned at the thought of the small female as he turned toward his nest. He wondered how she reacted to the palace staff invading his nest.