Page 34 of May the Stars Have Mercy
“Huh?” She blinked rapidly.
“The crowd, when we leave, will be loud, but that is a good thing. They have been awaiting my return with my mate.” He flashed her one of his warm smiles.
She nodded vigorously, trying not to let the pressure get to her.Right, he’s a prince, of course they’re waiting.She clutched his arm for dear life as they came upon the ramp. They were parked at a space station. She could pinpoint that steel gray floor anywhere. Rexna and the other crew that were in the command deck stood at thebottom of the ramp. The engineer beamed and waved two arms at her happily. As if summoning the crowd, the air filled with a roar.
They were cheering. The people called Kannatch and Mphronatch like it were a sports stadium. Aphrodite tried not to let her face pale and her feet stumble as they stepped down the ramp. A massive crowd, more so a sea of people, waited before the ship. And they kept screaming her title. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, but mostly Vroz huddled around hunters in heavy armor to keep them back. There was a black and opal velvet rope that cleared their path across the dock.
A mountain-sized docking station opened around her. Aphrodite gasped, absorbing it the best she could. There were several levels with different ships of varying size, all obsidian and flat like Xexis’ ship, spread through the vast room. It was dizzying to look up. People were on every platform, and they were all screaming her title. Even as she cleared into the station, and was visible from all levels, they screamed.They actually screamedlouder.Aphrodite spared Rexna a panicked smile as she passed the engineer. Rexna spared her a ‘you got this’ wince with all four thumbs up.
Aphrodite laughed nervously before returning her attention ahead. Head up, shoulders back, be a fucking princess. She could do this for Xexis. She couldfuckingdo this!She’d faced monsters and broken ships and certain death; a crowd of screaming people was nothing!
Aphrodite steeled her spine, reining in her emotions.I can’t control them, but I can fucking control myself.Xexis smiled, waving into the crowd. As they got to the first wave of people, silence fell over the whole hangar. The wall of people put their fists to their chests and bowed. It bottomed out her stomach as they passed. Wave after wave, people rose as they passed. Her back was covered in goose bumps and the hair at the nape of her neck stood on edge.Thankfully I raked my fingers through my hair earlier in the reflection.
They wound through the hangar till they reached a massive archway. Underneath it stood a Vroz in even more opulent attire than Xexis. A carbon copy of Xexis, but thinner. Their shoulders were slender and their waist a perfect hourglass. However, their faces were exactly the same. Same shade of teal with spots of white in the exact same place, large obsidian eyes, and proud pincers stood at attention. Dressed in plum purple with golden trim, the stranger put a fist to their chest and bowed. Aphrodite felt Xexis begin to bow and immediately followed his lead.
As they stood, another brother, she assumed brother due to the carbon copy effect, joined them in a muted green and silver garb, “Jrucvitz!”
Xexis slipped from Aphrodite to toss his arms around the green suited brother, then to the purple one.Yeah, pretty sure,siblings.
“Mphronatch.” The green suit bowed to her softly with a beaming look etched into their features.
“I—” She squeaked to answer. Thankfully, Reevar’s voice whispered in her right ear.Purple is Xnasis, crown prince; green is Xreck, younger brother.She smiled and made a mental note to thank Reevar later. “Xreck!”
Xreck illuminated even brighter, gasping with delight and pulling her in for a spine breaking hug. He swayed her back and forth in his embrace. “My brother’s mate knows my name! How he must have missed us in his travels!”
“Do not hog the Mphronatch, Xreck.” She was ripped from one bear hug to the next. Aphrodite wheezed for air as she tried her best to hug the crown prince.
She patted his back weakly. “An honor, Xnasis, to meet you.”
Returned, finally, safe and sound to her mate’s arm, she tried not to pass out from the air flooding back to her lungs.
“Mphronatch, you are more gorgeous than your stills.” Xnasis bowed his head to her softly. “Come, myJrucvitz, we have much to celebrate and too muchwatzerto drink.”
She didn’t need to know Vrozian to know watzer was probably alcohol. The group were whisked into an elevator the size of Xexis’ room. The pack bowed and joined in tight embraces with the princes. Aphrodite tried to calm the flush on her cheeks as she sat back and watched them box and play fight with each other. It was actually cute to see Grooug playfully punch at Xreck and Xnasis before happily ducking and tackling them into the wall. Xexis stayed by her side, seeming to love the view of the merriment.
“I have missed this,” he whispered.
“Your family?” She cocked her head up at him. The elevator began to ascend, but it was taking its time.
“I have been away for some time. As Kannatch, I have been bound by duty to my people. But, you do not join the court until you are Mated. I did my duties from my vessels, assigning hunts, checking in on my people from the stars. But now,” he glanced down at her, warmly, “my mate and I are home.”
“Home?” she croaked.
“Cyazkacop, our home is court. Where the Korzavic, and Kannatch, and all of the decisions are made. I have mated, I must now become true Kannatch in my seat. But…of course, that is after my last hunt.” he ended with a teasing wink at her. “My mate does not mind, correct?”
She snorted, “I would never get between you and the pack getting one last hunt together. It would be cruel.”
“Oh, my mate misunderstands.” He leaned in close and breathed in her ear, “My last hunt is with all my pack, including my mate. You will join us.”
Aphrodite laughed, “You’re joking.”
“I am funny, but I am not joking. Kiefgr would be sad if you did not join.” He smirked, proud pincers standing tall.
“Don’t use him against me!” she hissed under her breath.
“He would wallow in sadness at the missed opportunity,” Xexis shrugged nonchalantly, looking away.
Aphrodite scowled, “How dare you.”
