Page 30 of The Royal's Bumblebee
“On the contrary, I like questions.” I smile wider. “It’s my turn now.” I nod, getting ready to reel off some of my own. “How long is this festival? Does Izule have to take part? I would prefer he stay with me, if that’s an option. Can we stay up here?”
“Well, that depends?” Xulei started to lean down towards me, so I leaned back against Izule. My back came up against his chest and he held my biceps to steady me. “If my son is taken, then he shouldn’t display his prowess to anyone else but the female who has claimed him.”
“Good.” I nod and smile up at Izule’s mouth. I dart my gaze to his yellow eyes briefly. “You can stay with me then.”
“Don’t you want to see Izule dance for you?” Jajana teased, and Xulei slithered off with Vrujac.
“Perhaps when we’re alone?” Izule flicked his tongue out at my nose and I felt it connect. “I…would like to dance for you. But alone so you can relax and…enjoy the show?”
“Okay.” I nod. His throat scales darken and he ululates a purr at me. “Are you getting aroused again?”
“Yes.” He states with pride this time. “I am aroused byyou. I am also humbled that you sang my praises to my family, Billie.”
“I didn’t sing.” I raise a brow. “I spoke very clearly.”
“Yes, you did.” Izule’s smile is so wide I can see his jaw membranes, and he leans down to flick his tongue at my lips. “You were very clear. I love that about you.” I smile wide as well so he can see my teeth, and he leans even closer.
“It’s time.” Halas whispers with his hand cupped near his mouth, which does nothing to amplify or suppress his voice, so I don’t see the point. “Keep it in your pouch until later there big guy.” Izule chuckles and scents my cheek.
“The Royal family normally form a line and look over the rest of the hall for the King’s address. Would you like to join me?” He offers me his hand, and I take it with both of mine. He holds me steady and slides his tail away from the bean bag. He keeps me on his right and slowly guides me towards the edge. I keep his hand in both of mine and peer around him to see a sea of colours. Feathers and gems of every colour, with scales with even more hues, are moving like ripples of joy below us. I could stand here for hours watching this. “How are you doing? Bumblebee?” I smile. He’s using my pet name. I gave him permission to do so, but it’s the first time he has. I like how it sounds when he says it. It’s rumbly and makes me blush. I turn to press my cheek to his arm, careful of my ear defenders and my glasses, and hug his hand to my chest.
“I am happy.” I look up at him and look him right in his yellow eyes. “Because of you.” His chest puffs out and he grins even wider. “Are you?”
“I am happy because of you as well.” He dips his head down to rest his chin on my head and I tense…but it’s okay. I’m okay with this. It’s Izule. I like his touches. He’s warm and I always feel so safe with him. I giggle when he flicks his forked tongue down to catch the tip of my nose. It tickled.
“Honoured guests.” King Xulei addresses the hall. I take the moment to bask in the sea of moving colours below. “I welcome you all to Orna’s Golden Palace for this most fortuitous Gcorket. Not only is my only daughter Jajana finally ready to choose a worthy mate to become their Queen—” A loud pulse of hissing makes me tense, and Izule loosely coils his tail around me to rest his tail tip over my right foot. “—but it would seem my youngest son will soon have a mate of his own as well.” Izule tensed and looked over at the King suddenly. “A most welcome and advantageous addition to our—” Youngest son? That’s Izule. What is he saying about Izule? “I see.” King Xulei huffed. I peered up to my left and saw Xulei giving Izule a puzzled look. “And here I thought it was already done?” He turned to look at Vrujac in the same way. “Well, he had better get on with it.”
“Get on with what?” I whisper up at Izule, who’s throat scales are dark again. “Izule? What do you need to get on with?”
“I…will show you later.” He swallowed thickly and I wanted to ask what he meant, but the King continued to gruffly talk to the guests.
Chapter 22
Presenting...
Izule
“Yes, a most wonderful occasion indeed. People of Orna, please welcome our most honoured guests, as they come to put on a grand display for our Royal princess Jajana of Orna.” My Father rumbles to the hall, and I can tell he is frustrated that he doesn’t get the privilege of announcing mine and Billie’s union. Not yet. Not until she has claimed me completely. She clearly intends to, and I am so tempted to scoop her up and abandon the entire festival to let her do just that. If it wasn’t for the fact she is looking out over the hall with fascination, I would suggest it. It took a lot for her to stand here right now, so I will not take this moment from her. There would be plenty of time to lay belly up at her feet and worship her later. I still can’t believe it. She sang my praises and made her claim over me as clear as day. To my family, no less. The fact my father wanted to tell the gathered guests this good news meant he approved. Likely for the same reasons as Vrujac. Billie is an important member of Allico Inc, and therefore our union is advantageous to the throne.
“Presenting!” An announcer below calls out with pride. “The Royal party from the Naltik Coast.” I wish I could take Billie back to my nest, but since I’m here and she’s comfortably watching the event, I look at the would-be suitors for my sister. If she scents someone who I feel is beneath her, then either I’ll challenge or Uczaz will. If she still chooses them after one of us has slammed them to the shucking floor, then so be it. At least Jajana would have a second chance to review her options. I wasn’t impressed with any of the foreign Royals. A long time ago the Naltiks tried to seize power in Orna, wanting to lead it when our people came out of the thick of the Jungle to form a glorious city. They were not worthy, and they failed. Yet they liked to carry on like their hoods were lined with gold. Like they didn’t flee with their fangs on the ground to huddle together on the coast. Many generations have passed and they have a city of their own now, of course. Still…no Naltik will ever be worthy of my sister. “Next, the Royal party from Erya.” They were more promising. Vrujac ventured to the Eryan Royals when he sought out a mate. Saxci has the same dark brown colourings as the males that have come to present themselves to Jajana. I like Vrujac’s mate. She’s very maternal and became fast friends with Jajana. She lacked genteel company, and they both had a lot in common. Saxci’s mother died young as well. She was gravid and kept close to her mate on father’s left side. I spot her stroking her stomach and the egg she will soon lay. I smile, imagining Billie, and not for the first time, caring for my younglings. One step at a time. She needs to claim me as hers first, before we start thinking of younglings. She’ll never carry my egg due to being human. Royals were precious, so there aren’t any that are orphaned…but I am not against having a youngling who is not a Royal. We Royals, and all our variants, have wide hoods. For Billie, I would have a hoodless youngling. Maybe a rattler? Their colours are similar to mine. “Presenting…” The hesitance of the presenter took my attention from my domestic daydream. I did not like the nervous edge to his tone. “…the Royal party…of the Rapali Tribe.”
What are those savages doing here?! Instinctively I puff out my chest, widen my hood, and use the hand Billie is holding to coax her behind me. Unlike the rest of civilised Ucfeni society, the Rapali refused to leave the thick of the Jungle. They are Royals, but barely. I consider myself a hunter, and I wouldn’t want to test my skills against one. Nor would I go into their tribal territory. They mark the trees surrounding their land with Laxren dye, and if you’re foolish or unfortunate to cross that threshold, then your life is forfeit if you’re caught. Even their appearance is intimidating. Most are as big as me, if not bigger, with darker colours to hide in the dark shadows of the canopy above, or the undergrowth below. If you’re close enough to so their vibrant underbellies and inside of their hoods, you’re seconds away from death anyway. The Rapali are known for being deadly and without mercy. Ucfeni were fair game if they entered their hunting grounds. I resist the urge to shudder at the scaly tendrils framing their hoods. Like many tailtips and each is capable of gripping a dart or whipping your eye out.
I knew with every fibre of my being I wanted none of them to be anywhere near Billie. Let alone my sister. I was just about to demand to know why they are here, when the Rapali leader moved to the front of the pack and addressed my father.
“I am Broak. Chieftain of the Rapali.” The Chieftain had the colours of death. His hood had a blood-red set of tendrils framing his face, and the same coloured scales covered down his neck, torso, and under-tail. The red ones were always highly venomous. Another reason I didn’t want them near my Billie. “It has been many cycles since my people have come to visit yours on Gcorket, King Xulei.”
“Yes, many. The last time the Rapali entered my palace was over a decade ago, and back then the proper protocols for announcing your intention to visitwasobservedcorrectly.” I smirk. My Father isn’t going to let their intrusion slide. I hope he intends to order them away, but part of me knows he can’t. One doesn't shuck off a hunting party of Rapali at the best of times. Especially not when they are surrounded by civilians.
“If I announced my intention to visit, you would have denied my request, and then I would have been insulted and forced to retaliate.” Broak chuckled, and I scowled. He’s damn right we would have refused. Surely this is a waste of their time. Jajana will never choose one of them, no matter how good they smelt. She would not choose to go into the jungle to live with savages. “I have saved us the trouble, and demonstrated that we come in peace.”
“Whatisyour purpose for being here?” Father presses.
“What’s happening?” Billie whispers up at me and I bring her to my back to hide her front view. “Izule?”
“I am here. They are uninvited, and father is handling it.” He better. I will not allow danger to slither up here with my family and my soon-to-be mate.
“The same as the Naltik and Eryan parties, of course.”
