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Mir’ Ahn stopped at the kiosk and turned to see what drew the warriors’ attention. When he focused on it, he realized he couldn’t have missed it if he’d attempted to — it was frozen on the screen. Normally there was a feed of continuously rotating information the standard warrior needed to be aware of, with a ticker of text running across the bottom of the screen with updates. But now the entire kiosk had been seized and reprogrammed with the official birth announcement for the next in line to the throne of Cruestace. “It’s a travesty! An insult to our people and heritage!” he said angrily. Irritated beyond all reasonhe left the offending announcement behind as he slammed into his office in search of his own personal announcement that had no doubt been delivered in his absence. Stomping over to his desk, he grabbed up his tablet and powered it up. “Where is it?” he shouted at the tablet. He scrolled through several screens and apps before he lifted the tablet into the air, squeezing it in his powerful hands causing irreparable damage before throwing it against the wall to break into multiple pieces and landing in a small pile on the floor just below where it had impacted the wall all the while bellowing angrily.

“Steward Mir’ Ahn! May I be of service, sir?”

Mir’ Ahn spun and focused on the warrior standing there his weapon drawn, prepared to protect him if need be. “How dare they?!” Mir’ Ahn demanded.

“Who, sir? I shall take them to task over their insult, sir!” Warrior Xhin declared.

“Them!” Mir’ Ahn screamed, his finger shoved in the direction of the palace. “How dare they not recognize my importance? My status?! How dare they exclude me?!” he shrieked.

The warrior stepped further into the office, closing the door behind himself. “I don’t understand, sir.”

“The bastard child is born! There was no witnessing of the birth. Our traditions to uphold the monarchy simply tossed out of the window as though they had no basis for existing! And as if that was not enough insult, they send out birth announcements and do not bother to include my name on the list of esteemed citizens to receive a personalized announcement!”

“I saw one at the kiosk when I ran to aid you, sir.”

“It is not a personalized announcement! It’s a generalized announcement for any who happen to see it!” Mir’ Ahn shrieked. “Do you not see the insult?! I shall make them all regret their disrespect!”

“Perhaps they only sent generalized announcements,” Warrior Xhin said. “Surely they know better than to disrespect a male of your patriotism and dedication to our people.”

Seething in his anger, Mir’ Ahn clenched his teeth as he spoke. “My sister, simpering, ignorant, embarrassingly tractable fool that she is, garnered her own personalized announcement! She is no better than I! Do you hear me?!”

“Yes, Steward Mir’ Ahn. And I agree wholeheartedly! There is none more loyal to our cause than you, and you shall receive the recognition that’s been denied you all these years!” The warrior stepped closer. “But, sir, please! Do not make your objections too obvious. If they know our true hearts, they will be alerted to look closer! Our plan is at hand, sir. The birth only means it is our time.”

Mir’ Ahn ground his teeth as his anger grew hotter and hotter, then suddenly he jerked his own neck this way and that, the sound of cracking, crunching bones seeming to give the male some relief of the rage that had taken over his psyche. He drew a deep breath and raised his chin defiantly before turning his attention to Warrior Xhin. “I want them to suffer. I want them to pay for the years of not recognizing the male that I am, and my contributions to our people. I want to stand beside them in their suffering and be light of heart knowing all is finally right in our world.”

“It is coming, sir. It is coming.”

“Days. I will wait no more than absolutely necessary, Xhin. Days. I will only wait days! Do you hear me?!”

“Yes, sir. I do. It will be done.”

“Go!” Mir’ Ahn ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Xhin answered, saluting with his upper arm slammed over his chest just as those saluting the Sovereign and Sire would do.

Mir’ Ahn watched him go, but called his name at the last moment. “Warrior Xhin!”

“Yes, sir,” Xhin answered, turning back at the door to face Mir’ Ahn.

“I think perhaps my sister should be responsible for the treasonous betrayal that will soon be visited upon the ruling family of Cruestace.”

Xhin didn’t want to presume it was acceptable to agree with Mir’ Ahn. Perhaps he was being tested… “I can carryout any circumstance you wish to inflict, sir. If you are sure this is the best presentation of the situation yet to arrive, I can see to it, sir.”

“Then see to it,” Mir’ Ahn spat.

“Yes, sir.” Xhin hurried from Mir’ Ahn’s office, hesitating momentarily at the information kiosk to glance at the photo of the newborn male it was up to him to dispose of. The male was cradled by his mother, who was within the protective embrace of her mate, Sire Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok as he laid a hand on the youngling, and looked lovingly into the eyes of its mother. “I’ll see you soon,” he whispered.

Chapter 14

Mirilla stepped into the corridor leading to the medical suite on the third floor of the palace. In her hands she carried a basket filled with a selection of fruits, flowers, and sweets she’d personally put together for the Sirena. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Please…” she whispered. Realizing that one word could apply for so many different things, she didn’t even try to fill in the details. It could be please let the youngling be strong and healthy. It could be please let the Sirena recover quickly. It could be please let all the stresses of the birth melt away leaving nothing but happiness behind as quickly as possible. It could mean please don’t let anyone notice she’d spent the night with Bart. Please don’t let them care if they had noticed. Please don’t let Bart be angry with me. Please let him still want me. Please let me still hold my position here in the palace. “Just, please,” she whispered. She left the words hanging there, her statement unfinished as she pasted her usual smile on her lips and started down the corridor. Only a minute later she came within view of the security detail standing outside the medical suite and realized at once that they must have been part of the security forces that moved planet side with the Sire and Sirena — she was not familiar with them at all.

“Good morning,” she said pleasantly.

Neither guard spoke. She wasn’t surprised — she’d not been properly introduced. They didn’t know who she was. “I’m Mirilla. Head of Staff for the palace and lady in waiting to our Sovereigna.”

Both males at least turned their attention to her.

“Can we help you?” one of them asked.

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