Page 7 of Her Alien Prince
My arms folded over my chest in defense, but I pushed past that feeling to respond. "No, it doesn't help me."
"You don't have to tell him your personal business," Gaven defended. Even his tone was softer. He knew. Somehow, he knew exactly why that didn't help me, even before I’d boarded this shuttle. His green skin darkened around his loh, showing he was ready to do more than defend me verbally, if need be. The large jewels along his arms would lengthen into sharp weapons that were strong enough to both protect and harm. His back loh would remain dormant unless triggered by a compatible mate. Trent ignored him, his full attention stuck on me, waiting.
"What is it that you want?" I asked the krelin point blank. "I have no control over whether a mate selects you," I added in haste, just in case he thought I had any sway on those kinds of things. But, no matter what, I wanted at least one larva, kantos, sack given to me in the negotiations. Elder Ezra may not approve, but she would help me try to implant one of my own eggs... I knew she would, right? Maybe... I'd test her interest before I told her I had one. If I could get one. She was a scientist. It would be hard for her to resist trying it out at least once, I thought logically.
And if Trent, a diplomat for Krelis, couldn’t get one for me, then I could always try to convince Ong, the Chief of Trade, to barter for one.
"Mabel." Gaven said my name in a low growl of warning. Trent had to know that if he asked for too much, Gaven wouldn't keep it a secret. Whatever was said would be used against him. Against, Krelis, I thought sadly.
Keeping Trent's gaze, I gave him the same intense focus he gave me. What would he say?
"You want a kantos for yourself," he surmised correctly. "I need a queen for my hive." I gaped at him and he shook his head as if I were misunderstanding him. "I'm not propositioning you to carry such a burden. I need one of your strongest females to be my mate, but I knew coming into this that my goal was political peace, not attraction, nor even friendship, or otherwise."
It was the or otherwise that stirred something inside me. The state beyond friendship… love. Was he looking for love? I stilled waiting for him to state clearly what he wanted from me. Could I give him that if it were asked of me? My heart fluttered. No off-worlder ever choose to stay with an estreld mate, would he be different?
"Then what are you asking of me?"
"You," he said simply.
"I don't understand," I stammered. Gaven stood from his seat, loh glowing a light yellow-green as they extended out. One loh pointed directly at Trent's unmoving neck. He merely blinked at the threat, dismissing it while replying to me. The gentle curve of his throat bobbed, a hair's breadth from being cut by the loh. Trent was fearless, unconcerned with Gaven's response, and I found myself growing both flustered and intrigued by this dangerously handsome krelin.
"It is exactly as I stated. You wish to have a kantos sack, and I enjoy the idea of making one with you. I cannot make one alone, and it's unlikely that one created with another female would be an appropriate home for your offspring, should you have any."
"Just like that, you'd give me a,” I hesitated and used what he called it instead, “kantos sack as long as I assisted you with it, and you don't want anything in return?" It was too good to believe when krelins were known for extorting us when we needed something from them. Well, most krelins. Chief Ong was the exception, he was a sweet old krelin.
"Mabel, he is asking you to mate with him," Gaven gritted with venom. "I should slit your throat for daring to offer yourself without her approval first."
"Ah, yes," Trent mused. "You have a custom of having your males wait to be offered a token of interest from your females before discussing such things. I apologize if I've offended you, Mabel." I liked the way my name played on his tongue, and he let the sound resonate before continuing as if he too were contemplating how it rolled from his lips. "But is it not an offer of interest to ask for me to make you a kantos?"
I cleared my throat. "I haven't read your species full file. I'm unsure of the implications..." My cheeks heated, feeling I had a pretty good idea of what he meant.
"I have no misconceptions about my estreld mate being attracted to me, nor whether our union would be anything more than a political treaty to prove peace is possible," he stated plainly, with no emotional attachment to whether he'd actually form a bond with the woman he intended to make his mate. "But, I do not wish to be scorned my whole life. It is obvious you are attracted to me, and I find you delightfully forward in your appeal. You have no obligations to me. I merely ask that if we both enjoy our pairing, you would stay by my side."
"As what? Like your concubine?" I balked.
Trent pushed Gaven's loh aside with a stinger that protruded from the top of his wrist. "No." He kneeled at my feet as I sat. The black horns on his forehead were intimidating, but he scooped my hands into his own, the stinger now retracted. His thumb rubbed little soothing circles on my skin that made my insides flutter.
Wings spread out from his back, hiding us from Gaven like a shield. I stared at them in awe; they were beautiful. Black, iridescent leather stretched behind him, refracting the light of the shuttle around him, making it appear like he was glowing. He continued with a whisper that I hoped Gaven wouldn't overhear, "I know of the rumors of Krelis harems; they are wrong. I have never made a kantos with any other female. A male chooses one female to do this with. I'm unsure if I made one with you that it would be possible to make one with any other. We could grow in affection for each other. You would not be my concubine..." His words trailed off, but I knew what he didn't want to finish saying.
"I wouldn't be your mate either," I clipped coolly, removing my hands from his. I knew what I got out of the deal: a chance at a family if the larva sacks, kantos as he called them, worked. But what did he get out of it except for some kind of one-night stand? Sure, he asked for me to remain at his side, but why? He still fully planned on courting someone stronger than me to be his mate and unite our species. He wanted someone like Luan.
I was used to being compared to her. She was beautiful, smart, kind, and her strength with the moons was matched only by the Almder.
He didn't have to confirm what I said. His silence was enough.
"And what of the one you choose to court during the mating ceremony? Will you not need the kantos for your actual mate?"
He shook his head and stood. The magnificent wings behind him flapped and folded back behind him, disappearing but for a glimmer if the light hit just right. That's what I saw last time, in the Almder's alcove. The distortion before was the camouflage of his wings. Why would he want to hide something so exquisite?
"You confound me." Trent paced the small aisle of the shuttle. "Our research has shown that estrelds mate and then discard their spawn donors once they've achieved offspring. None of your mates are allowed to stay on Estreldez, and you give me this look of pure disgust when I mention wishing to have something more for myself. My estreld mate will discard me once I've mated with her, but our spawn will give hope of peace to both of our planets. I do not wish to mate and then be done. No female would dare seek comfort in my bed once I've produced spawn with another. You seek something from me. I will give it to you as it so happens to align with something I seek as well. I want a second mate, one that will stay by my side."
"That's not how mates work!" My voice rose an octave. Now I was standing from my seat and glaring at him. He couldn't just purchase me with a larva sack offering. And he completely misunderstood Estreldez. We didn't discard mates. Every mate was offered the chance to stay, they simply didn't wish to. They gave their donation and that was that. The mates brought to our planet have their fun and never return! They are all given standing authorization to return to Estreldez if they've produced offspring.
They still leave. They still do not come back!
This was not on Estreldez, and he would not put blame on us. I fumed. Even my ears felt hot.
Gaven was at my side now, his hand enclosed over my fisted one. "We will find another way, Mabel," he whispered from beside me.
