Page 27 of Scars & Starlight
“I was always partial to solar power myself,” Besson agrees. He doesn’t argue with my statement, though I don’t miss the calculating gleam in his eyes. Is he wondering if there is a way to convince me to share more with him now?
Sighing, I brace myself to repeat the story of Avaris, the Ghorvek, and the ways the Avaren and humans can live in harmony in the future. We shouldn’t have left Kiko on the Talon. Next time we visit a military leader, I’m bringing the AU with us.
“Well, that was exhausting,”Tara sighs as her back hits the co-pilot’s seat on the Talon.
By the time we were done negotiating the next moves with Besson, stars ignited in the night sky. The male had offered us both luxurious suites fit for royalty in his home, but I declined. I sensed Tara’s unease at the thought of spending the night under the roof of a human of such reputation. I did, however, accept his offer to leave the Talon docked here until firstlight and the continuation of our mission.
“So, the UK next?” Tara asks with the gentle smile I’ve grown accustomed to seeing on her face.
“If by ‘the UK’ you mean the archipelago humans call the British Isles, then yes. That’s the plan.”
That area of the planet is ruled by the only female on our list of leaders, a woman called Margaret Elmsleigh. Margaret – or Maggie as her friends call her, according to our intel – is also the youngest world leader. If everything we have learned about humans so far is togo by, it is highly likely that there is more to her ascent to power than meets the eye.
“So, who are you going to have overseeing the fighting force we’re assembling on this continent?” my match asks next.
There is something about how easily she became military-minded, thinking like a leader, that really appeals to me. There is no doubt in my mind that she was made for me, to rule with me. I get an overwhelming urge to lay her across the Talon’s consoles and worship her body, perhaps begin working on all the royal heirs I want to give her.
I clear my throat and my mind of these fantasies before I do something brash. “I considered perhaps sending Avenis,” I answer her belatedly. “And I’m certain your Sergeant Potts will want someone to accompany her?”
Her smile, having wavered when I stayed silent so long, returns in a flash. “You’re so considerate,” she praises me, making me want to preen under her approving gaze. “I think he’s going to have Eric do it,” she muses. “He’s basically his second-in-command in all things military around our base.”
I hum neutrally, watching Besson’s men patrol his vast estate. “Let’s discuss it with them,” I say decisively, calling out my command cube and letting it hover in the air in front of us. I hail my security chief first. Her face appears before us, framed by her dark hair, black with a blue sheen.
“My prince,” she greets me respectfully. She then looks at my match. “Prin–” Avenis starts coughing violently at my warning look. “Excuse me,” she apologizes. “It seems I have to relearn how to breathe.” Her confident smile successfully distracts Tara from the near-slip. I must tell her tonight – I have no choice anymore. It’s too dangerous to hold back when she could find out from others at any moment.
“Avenis, we’ve established rapport with Jethro Besson,” I tell her, eager to get this conversation over with so I can talk with my match instead. “Please report to Sergeant Potts at Tara’s camp atfirstlight. Besson will be expecting you to coordinate the merging of our forces against the Ghorvek on this continent.”
“It will be my pleasure, Commander,” she replies with a bow. Nothing more is said – for the most part, we laid our plans during our briefing with Tara. So, in order to communicate with Potts, I hail Orien next. When I hear female laughter before our eyes even meet, I sigh inwardly. It took less than a planetary rotation for him to have the women in Tara’s home eating out of his hand.
“Orien, we must speak with the human Potts.”
“Right away, Commander,” he replies, moving already.
“Oh, and Orien?”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Be prepared to take a fighter ship to London once we’ve spoken to the leader there,” I instruct. “She has secrets that need to be uncovered if we are to trust her.” And he needs to direct his charm elsewhere.
Orien’s grin turns deadly, and Tara fidgets by my side. I place my hand on the back of her neck, gently scratching her nape, enjoying the way her cheeks color.
“I will be eagerly awaiting your orders, Commander,” my intelligence chief purrs.
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m sure, my friend.”
When Orien reaches Potts, the latter confirms Tara’s prediction of assigning his son, Eric, to accompany Avenis to Besson’s compound. I watch as my match, with Kiko now on her lap and all but vibrating with excitement to be there, yawns repeatedly. I dismiss the cube and face her, my mouth stretching into a smile as I observe her treating the AU with the same gentleness a child might with their favorite toy.
“Would you like to retire and get some rest?” I ask her quietly in the silence that follows.
She looks at me from under her lashes and nods shyly. “Can you go with me? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Of course,” I murmur. Standing up, I offer her my hand. “Actually, there is something I wanted to discuss with you, if you’re up for it,” I tell her once Kiko hops off and her small palm meets mine.
“Oh?” she asks in a whisper. “Nothing bad, is it?”
I chuckle nervously. “The opposite of bad. At least I think so.”
We store Kiko in his compartment as he doesn’t need to be present for this revelation, then I lead her to the hatch that opens into a resting area. Located in the upper section of the fighter ship, it consists of a bed that should fit one Avaren and one human, a synth module for nourishment, and a narrow cleaning chamber where one can take care of their biological needs.
