Page 47 of Scars & Starlight
“You’re the best, you know that?” I murmur, then raise a hand to wipe off a speck of dead Ghorvek from his cheek.
My gallant, but vicious white knight.
24
KAIREN
We’re halfway to the human country of Russia the next day when Queen Raelith hails us on the comms. Thankfully, we both cleaned up and rested – sadly only in the literal sense of the word – and don’t show any consequences of our encounter with the Ghorvek yesterday.
“Mother,” I greet her, my voice taking on a gentleness I only used for her or my sister before Tara arrived in my life.
“My treasure,” she replies before her eyes settle on Tara by my side. “And this must be my new daughter.”
I groan and cover my face with my hands. “Mom, I thought I told you to ease her in.”
“Nonsense,” Avaris’ matriarch replies. “No match of yours is going to be scared off by an effusive new mother, Kai.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” Tara replies in a strangled voice. I turn to see the flush covering most of her exposed skin.
Mother clicks her tongue. “Please. Call me Mother, or Rae if you absolutely can’t yet. I’m so glad we’ve finally met.”
“What do you mean, finally, Mother?” I roll my eyes. “I only met her a moonfall ago.”
“Well,” she replies haughtily. “I’ve been waiting to meet the female who will eventually replace me since you were born.”
I bang my head back against the headrest. She makes me feel like such a juvenile. “Don’t even talk about that, Mom.”
“You realize I might choose to retire one day, my son?” she shoots back with her arms braced on her hips. “Perhaps I want to spend time with my grandchildren instead of in countless meetings?”
“You don’t have any grandchildren,” I reply dryly.
The queen narrows her green eyes at us. “Well, have you two been doing anything to change that?”
“Mother!” I protest as Tara starts choking. I place a hand on my match’s back and rub it in soothing circles. “I know I’m the first of your children to find their match, but this is unacceptable.”
The queen deflates and throws my princess an apologetic look. “Forgive me, Tara. I should have spared you the full brunt of my personality until we at least had brunch with some good Vasari spirits together here on Avaris.”
Thankfully, my match is a good sport, and instead of getting upset at boundaries crossed, she smiles gently.
“I’m looking forward to that,” she says. “I mean brunch, not making grandchildren. I mean, talking about making grandchildren! But I’m notnot–”
I interrupt her rambling with a press of my lips against hers, swallowing the words that would make her dig the hole she’s in any deeper. Her shoulders drop, and I realize just how tense she was, holding herself so rigidly. When we part, I stroke her cheek with my thumb, feeling the heat from her flush. By Vireon’s light, she is beautiful.
A cooing sound shakes me out of my admiration, and I turn to see that my sister has joined my mother on the other side of the conversation. “You guys are adorable!” she gushes, clasping herhands in front of her face. Her eyes, purple like mine, shimmer with moisture.
“Hi, Elara,” I greet her, resigned to having my match be a curiosity to the women in my family this rotation.
“Hiiii, Kai,” she singsongs. “Hi, Tara!”
“Hi, Elara,” my princess murmurs shyly.
“When are you coming to Avaris?” my little sister asks, her eyes round and hopeful.
“Oh, um,” Tara stutters, looking at me for help.
“We need to finish making contact with the leading groups around the humans’ planet,” I answer instead of her. “Then we’ll come home.”
While Elara prattles on about everything she wants to show off on Avaris, I glance at Tara, hoping she doesn’t mind me qualifying Avaris as her home, but she just appears grateful to be out of the line of fire. Her adorable awkwardness makes me want to protect her from everyone. But it also urges the predatory part of me to make her uncomfortable in other ways. Ways that make her wet for me.
