Chapter 24 Your Formal Introduction, Eve #2
“The Grand Championships is a competition where humans compete before the galaxy’s elite,” Rafe says evenly. “On the surface, it’s a spectacle. In truth, it’s proof that humans can be trained, disciplined, and displayed.”
“With all due respect, Sovereigns, you want me to lie to Tribune Jin Kol?”
“We want you to present the truth in its proper context,” Rafe corrects. “The gradual progress we're making. The legal employment of humans like yourself.”
“The Grand Championships begin in one hundred and fifty days,” Lorian says.
“Humans are important to us, Eve. So important, in fact, Rafe and I will spend most of that time here at the Spire, training you to represent us effectively.
You'll need to answer Jin Kol's questions with the ease of a seasoned galactic ambassador.”
One hundred and fifty days of intensive training with these two dangerously handsome, rich, and manipulative alien men—what could possibly go wrong? “What kind of training?”
“Cultural education,” Rafe says. “Galactic law. Diplomatic protocols. Economic theory regarding human integration into interspecies commerce and data security. The Spire’s reception network is the first line of defense against infiltration.
You’ll need to know how to detect proxy interference, reroute encrypted transmissions, and repair corrupted guest records without triggering alarms. If you’re to serve as liaison to the IGC, you must understand how the system works and how to hide within it if needed for the protection of the Spire. ”
Do ambassadors for hotels always know so much about computers and security?
“Historical context, personal conditioning,” Lorian continues, rising suddenly from his chair. “To ensure you can handle the psychological pressure of representing humanity before the galaxy's most powerful elite.”
Lorian moves around the table with fluid grace, approaching me directly.
I force myself to remain still as he stops close enough that I can smell the exotic scent emanating from his skin. What did Lira call it? Starfire oil. The scent makes me want to lean closer, even as every rational thought screams at me to step back.
“You're fascinating, Eve,” he says. “Most humans would be begging for relief from the Venus Lock by now or weeping at learning about Denise's fate. But your composure under pressure is remarkable.”
I feel Lorian’s presence behind me, too close to be professional. I can feel his warm breath against my neck. “You dream, don't you, Eve?”
Have they been watching my dreams? “How do you—”
“The neural scanners in your suite,” Rafe says. “They monitor everything.”
“We know when your fingers brush over the Venus Lock, seeking relief that can never come,” Lorian adds.
Mortification floods through me, followed by an unwanted feeling of sexual excitement at his intimate knowledge of my most private moments.
“Your arousal is spiking, Eve,” Rafe observes from his seat, consulting a display. “Don’t feel self-conscious. It's a common female response to psychological dominance.”
I want to die of embarrassment.
“Are you up to the challenge of being our human liaison, Eve Eden?” Lorian asks. His finger lightly tracing an invisible collar around my neck. “One hundred and fifty days of intensive training with us?”
“Respectfully, what if I fail, Sovereigns?”
“Then Tribune Jin Kol will shut down the Championships publicly, meaning that it will be worse for humans as the Championships will go underground with no rules. At the moment, it has the possibility of turning into something real, with a future where humans actually do choose to compete,” Rafe says matter-of-factly.
“But if you fail, the progress we've made toward legal human employment would have been for nothing.”
“The choice is yours,” Lorian adds, circling my neck with his finger again. “You can be part of humanity's evolution toward true freedom, or you can let fear govern you, serve out your contract as a mere receptionist, and then go back to Earth.”
“I understand,” I say finally, although I don’t think I have a choice. “I'll do my best to fulfill the role of liaison as required.”
“Excellent,” Rafe nods. “We'll begin your training tomorrow.”
“One last thing,” Lorian says, not stepping back from my personal space. “The training will be... comprehensive. We'll push your boundaries and test your limits. We’re not going to be as lenient as we were with our first human employees.”
As I look between them, I feel as if time has stopped and is waiting for me to say something, to make a decision that will affect the rest of my life.
“I'm ready,” I lie.
“Good. It’s so good to start out optimistically,” Lorian says.
“One more thing, Eve,” Rafe says. “This concerns your safety and our claim. This morning, you were given a draught reserved for those under our protection. Do you know what you consumed?”
“No, Sovereign.”
His grey lips curve faintly. “It was us. Both of us. Our seed, sanctified by Imperial rite, poured into your cup, and the Spire’s employees watched you consume it. In our culture, to drink what we give you is not indulgence; it signals devotion.”
I can’t breathe now that I know what I drank—their semen. And everyone knew but me. Heat sears my skin, shame and arousal tangling until I don’t know which is stronger.
I shouldn’t find that sexy.
“And we watched you from our private room. We watched the way your lips closed around the rim of the goblet and savored every swallow you took until you finished it all. Make no mistake, you are ours.”
Lorian traces his fingers around my neck once more giving me goose bumps. “Every time you are given it to drink, you’ll drink it, with your eyes open and looking at us if we are in the dining hall, and you will remember who you belong to.”
I’m so stunned I don’t know how to respond. All at once, this is everything I have ever dreamed about, and at the same time, a terrible erotic nightmare.
Lorian pushes my head down. “Bow, little Eve, and say thank you.”
“Thank you, Sovereigns.”
“Dismissed,” Rafe says.
As a guard leads me from the chamber, my composure finally cracks in the elevator.
My hands tremble as the full weight of my situation settles over me.
I'm trapped, but perhaps not powerless. Scared but also strangely aroused by the challenge ahead.
I remember what Cal said: “The Sovereigns are interested in you; use it to your advantage.” By drinking their semen at breakfast? Really, Cal?
When the elevator doors open, my heart sinks.
Waiting for me in the corridor is the last person I want to see, Rae from the Office of Interspecies Resources.
The woman's sharp, angular features and asymmetrical black hair are unmistakable, as are the cold grey eyes that look at me with barely concealed disdain.
“I'm here to escort you to High Table,” Rae says, her voice clipped and professional. “The Sovereigns want you properly introduced to the protocols tonight.”
As we walk toward the dining hall, Rae's hostility becomes more apparent. “I still think you should be wearing a collar instead of that uniform,” she says conversationally. “But I suppose even the Sovereigns make mistakes sometimes.”
I say nothing because I’m still thinking about what I drank for breakfast and wondering if they’re jacking off into a goblet right now that I’ll have to drink in front of everyone at dinner.
“Oh, and you should know,” Rae continues with false sweetness, “a human female matching your description has been added to the guest simulation programs. Apparently she does everything a human companion would do and more.”
“Well,” I say, finally replying to this little bitch, “if the human hologram isn't wearing a pet collar, I don't mind. That’s as close as any of them will ever get to having sex with me.” Then, remembering what Lira said about the semen drink, I add, “And as you know, the Sovereigns have safe-guarded me in every way they can think of; perhaps the hologram is another way. I’m assuming you were at the first meal and saw me drink from their Devotional goblet. The Sovereigns favor me.” I’m surprised by how good it feels to say that last sentence, even if I’m still internally divided by how I feel about their attention… and their semen.
Rae stops walking, and her mouth falls open slightly. For the first time since I've met her, the woman seems at a loss for words.
I keep walking, not bothering to look back. Of all the things I've learned today about Denise, about Terra Ka, about the Sovereigns' plans for me, this small victory feels surprisingly good. It's a tiny battle won in what will probably be a long war.