Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
“Someone wants your throne, and it’s not me.” King Virak of Tagja City tapped long fingers on the arm of his throne. “I suspect it’s the terria mines beneath Exir City that they’re after.”
Drex sighed. “They were abandoned because they were causing the city to become unstable.”
“There are those who care nothing for the city and only for the terria, which would give them a key ingredient to building a virlux cannon.”
“Building one of those is against universal law.”
Virak waved a hand that could only be described as elegant. “Many care nothing for universal laws. Wealth and power, my friend. Those are the true laws of the universe. Ask your brother about it.”
Drex raised a brow while stifling a laugh. “Trak would sooner gouge out his own eyes before he’d try to usurp me. He cannot sit still for longer than a sun cycle.”
“I didn’t say he was looking to unseat you, but he may have an inkling of who has been operating on-planet with the capabilities and desire to do so.
” Tagja City’s king was tall and lean, with a chiseled face described by some as ruthless, but apparently females of many species found him exceptionally attractive.
According to Trak, however, he showed no interest in taking a lover—not even the human female he had been matched with the previous year.
Drex had no interest in the king’s sex life, or lack thereof. They were friends, but not the sort who had personal discussions. Their conversations revolved around serious matters of governance, resources, and of course, providing adequate protection for their people, when needed.
“I will speak with Trak,” said Drex. “One of his officers has connections that may yield some information.”
“That would be wise,” said Virak, who was wise, himself. “Your brother’s resourcefulness has saved his life many times. Perhaps it will save yours, too.”
“It is my people I worry about more,” murmured Drex. “I have over two million Virilians—mostly tradespeople—sprawled out over the city. They would not fare well against an attack.”
Virak’s throne room was large and well-lit, thanks to a massive overhead dome that allowed in the light.
Unlike the smooth, polished walls of Exir City, Tagja was brightly decorated with ornate mosaics, glass inlays and sculptural architecture.
The city was a brilliant masterpiece to the past opulence of the Virilian people. It was much, much older than Exir City.
Tagja had survived the change in climate because it had been originally made underground.
The meteor blast, which had happened so very long ago, had left Tagja and its treasures intact.
Exir City, on the other hand, had been built after the blast, linking it with old Urtass tunnels, which the people had believed were abandoned by the great beasts.
Not the case, as they had learned many times over.
Tagja City had hosted the population of Exir City many times. Urtass thrived in Virilia’s current climate of hot, dry and acetic. Little wonder why there were more of them roaming the sands these days.
“Ah, High Sage Ferias.” Virak swiftly got to his feet and strode to Drex’s great-aunt, who stood in the open doorway with his brother.
She rested one hand lightly on Trak’s arm, but instead of extending the other to Virak, she swept it before her.
Virak clasped his hands behind his back and bowed. Even kings deferred to a Sage.
Trak raised one eyebrow at the odd display, as if he were somehow above it. He was not. He greeted Ferias the same way, but Trak owed the High Sage a great deal. It had been she, after all, who had matched him with the human woman who was now his mate.
Virak had not been as successful with the match Ferias had chosen for him. No one knew exactly why. The word had been that the female had grown unhappy and had abruptly returned to Earth after mere weeks of her arrival. Virak had never spoken of her again, or told anyone why she had left.
Drex had left Madison with Anna and the child.
They had been speaking too fast for his translator to keep up and the buzz in his ear had given him a headache.
The two females had struck an almost immediate friendship.
He doubted Madison had even noticed when he left the room to speak with the king of Tagja City.
He wondered now, though, what had happened between Virak and his match. Things with Madison were going alarmingly well. He liked having sex with her. He also liked her. That was the concerning part.
“Is it yet safe to return to Exir City?” Ferias inquired.
The Sage had been here since before the Urtass caused the evacuation.
She had settled into a soft settee next to the king’s throne.
His great-aunt was very fond of Virak. Perhaps she could shed light on what had happened with the king’s match.
Then, he shook himself of the thought. It was not like him to engage in gossip or nose into the business of others. He truly had bigger issues to address.
“Scouts are returning shortly with the answer,” replied Virak. “I have so enjoyed your visit,” he said warmly. “Your council is always deeply appreciated.”
Ferias’ white eyes moved over Virak as if she could see him.
She did see something, as he knew, but not what everyone else could see.
Sages saw through the layers of a being, but blind sages saw through all, to the essence of living things.
It was a burden, but also a gift that would hopefully begin to restore their numbers.
If the humans would allow more than a dozen females to leave at a time, there would be many more young Virilians filling the cities.
“It saddens me that your match did not stay. She would have given you a beautiful, healthy child.”
Drex noticed the shadow that crossed the king’s face.
He possessed an aloof air that could be off-putting to those who didn’t know him.
Drex liked Virak just fine, but his criteria was simple—the king was a trustworthy ally.
But now, he felt a prick of sympathy for Virak. The male had clearly hoped for an heir.
“It saddened me, too,” said Virak. “I had hoped…” He waved a hand again and looked away. “Ah well. Not all things are meant to be. It pleases me to see other matches bearing fruit.” He nodded to Drex and Trak. “The Letu family is fortunate, indeed.”
A smile curved Ferias’ lips. “Do not lose hope, King Virak.”
“Do not waste your precious matches on me, High Sage,” he said. “My situation is…unique. It does not surprise me that a female would be repulsed by me.”
That was more than Drex was expecting to hear.
And it reawakened his curiosity to know what was wrong with the king of Tagja City that would cause any female to be “repulsed.” A glance at Trak registered alarm as his brother’s mouth was opening, likely in preparation to ask that very personal, very inappropriate question. Drex elbowed Trak in the ribs, hard.
“Ow.” Trak rubbed his torso and sent Drex a dark look.
Drex scowled. “We have taken enough of your time, Virak.” He bowed, then poked Trak again so his brother would follow suit.
“You will be updated the instant I hear word on the status of Exir City,” said Virak in a distant voice. He sat in his throne and gestured to an attendant to bring a beverage for Ferias. “I will escort your great-aunt to her transport when she wishes to go.”
Outside the throne room, Trak landed a hard punch on Drex’s shoulder. “Bloody hell. What was that for?”
“You shouldn’t ask personal questions.” He rubbed his own shoulder. “I knew what you were going to say.”
Trak spread his hands but lowered his voice. “Well, really. What could make a female find him repulsive? Honestly, he’s more handsome than me, and I have it on good authority that I am a fine specimen.”
Drex did not roll his eyes, but the urge was there. “It is none of our business.” He was wondering the same thing, but he would never tell Trak that. “Let us be off before you get us forcibly ousted from the city.”
“I bet he would have told us.”
“Honestly, brother, I don’t want to know.”
“You know what I do want to know?”
Drex groaned. “No.”
“What are you going to do with that beautiful female you have been dallying with?”
Drex set his jaw and answered honestly. “I have no idea.”
“Is it possible she could be pregnant?”
Drex let out a curse. “Yes.”
Trak appeared to think about that. “You know, for a king, you should be better at making decisions. Especially easy ones like this.”