Page 49 of You're Not My King!

“Oh, yes, hu’nyds,” she said, once again spelling it out for me, and I recognized that name. Those were the beasts that gave Vo’ak his scars. “They’re the equivalent of dogs, but they look more like hellhounds.” Sounds wonderful. “You probably won’t see them since they’re native to the northern area of U’suhk.”

That piqued my interest. “Johnny mentioned a northern clan,” I said, conjuring up the memory. “The… traitor tribe? Or something.”

An expression I couldn’t decipher passed over her face, and she shared a look with Nie’tr, as if urging him to hush, before answering. “That’s the one,” she said, keeping her voice low as if cautious of people listening in. “Vo’ak suspects they’re rising against him, but because of the treaty put in place by his father, without any proof of treason, his hands are tied. Hopefully, he’ll either find some soon or the culprit will give up. It’s the only way peace can stay. But until then, we steer clear and only visit when necessary for trade or negotiation.”

I glanced between Nie’tr and Fiona, getting the sense we were broaching a touchy subject, but deciding to try my luck anyway. “Treaty?”

Fiona nodded, taking a deep breath, and I buckled in for a long-ass ride. “For context, Vo’ak’s father, Bylon, was not initially in the running for the leadership,” she began, giving me the whole ‘once upon a time’ vibes and everything. “It is standard for the current Great Leader to choose the next. This happens either right before death, or they can prepare the other for the role over the years as Vo’ak is doing with Puka.”

Ah, I had wondered who would ascend the ‘throne’ after Vo’ak, since he had no kids yet, but I supposed that answered my question.

She carried on, “Bylon’s father chose his cousin on his deathbed, and no one dared oppose it. However, before a Great Leader may rise to the position, the willow tree, the one that stands over our clan, must accept the transition. It is the spirit and heart of U’suhk, and if it deems the chosen Ly’zrd unsuitable, instead of the markings of their oath to the planet appearing on their skin, they are killed.”

I cringed, taking a wild shot at where this was heading. “And I’m guessing Bylon’s cousin didn’t see another sunrise?”

She nodded. “Bylon took his rightful place and was widely accepted as leader—except in the eyes of the brother and a few companions of the felled rival. They opposed the decision and took up arms against him. They were swiftly executed, of course, but Bylon was paranoid that their descendants would rise up in retaliation. He wasn’t entirely unreasonable, he was aware that they were all technically innocent, but he just couldn’t risk it. So, he created a new clan, far away from the others—a place where the families of the traitors could live and die in peace, governing themselves, but still ultimately answering to the Great Leader. Yes, it was a banishment of sorts, but settled Bylon’s nerves, while still remaining fair to the people. That was the treaty. That they’d be supervised from a distance, but mostly left alone, separated from us, unless they gave reason for interference.”

“And let me guess again,” I said with a light scoff. “They’re giving reason now?”

Nie’tr scoffed, too, answering that question without even speaking.

“When Bylon died, and the leadership passed to Vo’ak, he kept the treaty enforced,” Fiona continued, shrugging. “It made sense. There was no point changing what worked. The people were happy, there was peace, it was all fine. But recently, that clan lost their chief, a good-hearted male who put up no resistance, so as is traditional, they elected someone new.” She sighed, shaking her head in disapproval. “Dacks-ur, his incompetent youngest son, who seems to have spent his whole bitter life waiting to be a thorn in the Vo’ak’s side.” Alright, Fi, leave a few prisoners. “He thinks they’re being treated unfairly, which may have been true had they not been granted the same access to trade and supplies as every other clan. He feels cheated for being shipped off to the far end of the island because of the sins of a few.”

I grimaced, letting a slow exhale hiss past my teeth. “Wow, yeah, that’s, um…”

She leveled me with a beseeching look, clearly reading the uncertainty on my face. “You have to understand, lovey, the way of life here is different from Earth. While it sounds unethical to judge a group based purely on their blood ties, it’s the way things are done. This planet is small, and sometimes dubious decisions have to be made for its safety and well-being.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “It’s just politics, right?”

“Exactly.”

It was unethical, and probably wouldn’t slide back home, but I’d already known U’suhk was stuck in the Dark Ages with a lot of things, so I couldn’t exactly claim shock. Yeah, the dynamics of an alien planet were completely lost on me, but I understood unrest. It was just like Earth, where countries were always fighting against each other, sometimes because of outright differences or spite,but mostly just because they could.

I didn’t know why a jarring feeling stuck in my gut, but the thought of Vo’ak potentially having to douse a fire of rebellion unnerved me. If my planet’s coups were catastrophic, what would they be like here? The Ly’zrd may have lacked the scale of deadly weapons we had, but no matter where civil unrest began, the ones at the top were typically the first targets. I may have had the notion of leaving, and complained every five minutes, but that didn’t mean I wanted these guys to die.

Not only was Vo’ak growing on me, there was also Fiona and Puka. Nie’tr. He wasn’t the best guard, there was no sugar-coating it, but he’d been so damn sweet to me that it made my teeth ache. I already felt like the worst bastard ever with my plans to betray the guy—all of them, really—but the threat of war had me feeling physically ill.

I shook the heavy topic from my head, not interested in wallowing. I was walking, that was enough of a struggle. I had no reason to worry about Vo’ak. He was fine, and strong, right? Super alien, all cocky and in charge, and he’d be sure to nip any bullshit in the bud.

Hopefully.

By the time we arrived back at the campsite, I was ready to burrito in my furs and sleep for a week. Ever the perceptive cookie, Fiona had noticed my reluctance to continue with the war talk—even though I’d started it—so she’d taught me more about the planet, instead. Between her and Nie’tr, they’d listed off every plant and flower from here to kingdom come, telling me their uses and what area they were native to. I was all studied out. She’d also mentioned the other forests across the land, and how one of them was similar to what we had on Earth, but with brighter trees. It was where the wood came from for furniture, while the creepers were for smaller things—anything that could be made from branches that fell naturally, as they were protected, never to be cut down. I’d expressed a desire to see them all, just out of curiosity, if nothing else, and she’d promised to persuade Vo’ak for our next trip.

My heart had felt a little heavy.

Would I even still be here by then?

Fiona nudged me with her elbow, interrupting that train of thought. “Someone missed you,” she teased, nodding to the other side of the camp where Vo’ak stood, his hands fisted at his sides, hungry eyes pinning me to the spot.

Exhaustion has left the chat.

He looked agitated with lust, desperate and possessive, ready to leap across the space between us and wrestle me to the floor—a Ly’zrd’s mating dance. I’d admit, I hadn’t expected a welcome-home party, but I wasn’t mad. I was just glad I’d had the foresight to stop by the spring and freshen up on the road, ’cause from the dangerous smirk spreading across his face, I doubted I’d be given the chance now.

“Roo-bin.” His voice, low and sultry, echoed from his side of the camp to mine. Loud and clear. “Come.”

Ooh, big man was throwing around orders. How cute. I didn’t know what possessed me—probably the brat in me flourishing at being told what to do—but I slowly retreated, gaze never leaving him as I mirrored his smug grin.

My cock chubbed up, and something primal flashed over his face, growing more unhinged as I shouted, for the whole clan to hear, “Make me.”

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