Page 35 of May the Stars Have Mercy
“So, you’re joining us?” He flashed her a mischievous grin, tugging her close to his side. She glared. He snickered, nodding, “Yes, good, Kiefgr will be pleased.”
She was going to get him back for that.Not sure how yet, but oh it was coming.Leaning against him, she found any panic or worry before slipping away. She hated how fast he could adjust her mood without trying.Well, maybe not hated.Her scowl fell away as she stroked her hand against the small of his back. His satin fabric felt divine against her palms. Aphrodite studied the doors as the elevator stopped. They all collected themselves at the chime over their heads. The doors hissed open, and they were greeted by a small wave of people. The cheers hushed as they bowed to Xnasis and stayed bowed while the whole group passed through the hall. Long metal pillars with crystal holograms of events carved like glass statues. Aphrodite held onto Xexis to keep in pace with thegroup, but her attention was on the figures moving in opalescent light.
Vroz rescuing beings out of burning spaceships, Vroz hunting large beasts in a pack, a pair of Vroz fighting something evil looming over them. Then, the last one that snagged her attention was a Vroz stitching a being with an open wound, holding a rag to their forehead with a free hand. It rammed into her brain at that moment, that her mate wasn’t just a Kannatch. Vroz weren’t just the hunters of the universe. They were the emergency services of the stars. The calls, Kannatch’s duties; they received all the distress calls that went to the Council, and they answered those calls.
Oh. My. Stars. DUH! It was so obvious.Between Fqa, his little quips, and all she’d seen, it wasso obviousand yet the revelation slapped her upside the head like a wet fish.
Her heart clenched in her chest. Aphrodite turned her attention to Xexis and found him gazing at the statues as well. He smiled fondly, his pincers curled softly at the ends, and his chest puffed out proudly. Aphrodite squeezed his arm. Pushing up on her toes swiftly as the party stopped at a door, she kissed his cheeks. Xexis glanced down at her with confusion. She kissed one of his decorated biceps next. “Just really impressed with all your people do for everyone else.”
Xexis swept her up in his arms in front of the whole court and brought their foreheads together. “My mate.”
It took Reevar patting Xexis on the back to break him from his hold of her. As the doors opened to a massive mess hall of opulence and glittering light, Xexis purred in her ears. “The moment dinner is over, I am hunting my mate through the halls to our room…”
Her face flushed as he tugged her closer, voice dropping low and husky. “Aphrodite,I will claim you against the bed. My mate will need to strengthen her shaking legs as I toss her dress over her head and make her scream into the mattress.”
Reevar cleared his throat, putting two hands on each of their shoulders and shoved the couple inside the room. “Please, some of us are actually hungry.”
Aphrodite sputtered, fanning her face as the blush burned her flesh to a crisp. But the look in Xexis’ eyes said he meant every word.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Xexis
Odd,itwouldseem.Xexis sat at the royal table, washing his fingers in the bowl when he felt the strange déjà vu washing over him. A delightful, nostalgic tingle that ran down his spine. Not but a few cycles ago, he sat here with Xnasis, discussing his first trip to the Council. Xnasis and Xreck were distressed about the humans as they hadn’t been supplying their quota aid to the Council. The Xinti were not happy, as their store cupboards were not full enough. Some planets would not survive another rotation without the Council’s intervention. Xnasis was worried the humans were confused and needed another ally. He wanted to reach out personally and speak with their Council woman. Xreck advised against it, saying the humans were still mistrusting. Evident by their refusal to supply Sentinels to the Council, their excuses weak even to the ever understanding Loa.
His youngest brother was in charge of diplomacy with others. While Xnasis was to become their ruler, guiding the Vroz through the cycles and the Council, Xreck was set up to charm and mend relationships with other peoples. Xexis and Xreck spent many nights discussing his plans to get hard to ally planets to join the Council of Beings. However, his youngest brother was smooth and charming, a wickedly intelligent person hardly without something funny to say.
Then, as fate would have it, Xexis came home to the court to announce he’d found his mate in a human. Xrecklaughed so hard he fell to the ground. His tears soaked the floor and made a sea at Xexis’ feet.
“You are not serious, Xexis.” Xnasis looked ready to berate both brothers in the belly of the library. He snapped a heavy tome shut and glared at Xexis directly. “This would not be a funny jest, brother. Are you saying you recognized your mate?”
“Yes.” He rushed to pull out his data pad. Xexis fumbled for the first time in his life as he scrambled to show his brothers her holograms. His suit had recorded her from his visor. Her beautiful face and lovely voice crackled to life before him. Xnasis and Xreck both stared with open mouths and astonishment. The middle brother was breathless as he swiped to the image he’d pulled from the database. “Her name is Aphrodite Kerso, she’s a technician—an engineer, I believe they call it. She’s glorious, is she not?”
Xreck shook his head with a loud gasp, “I can’t believe the Kannatch has found diplomacy with the humans before I did? Before you, Xnasis!”
The eldest brother glared at Xreck and motioned for them to go, “If we’re going to discuss the Kannatch filing for mating status, I need watzer.”
And they sat at the table again, a jug of liquor between them with three frosty glasses and heavy bread. Xnasis helped Xexis file his mated status and sent it to their records.
Hewasrippedfromhis memory as Aphrodite offered him a slice of steaming meat. Xexis smiled down at her, taking the treat from her. She leaned against him. He’d come to understand she snuggled closer when she was overwhelmed. The surge of pride at knowing he was her safe point was astronomical.
“So, Mphronatch, tell us…how did your mating hunt go?” Xnasis cocked his head.
Xexis froze, staring down at Aphrodite. She picked her head up from his bicep and smiled. “Fantastic, I almost won but Xexis’ rather strong, I was unable to land my finishing blow.”
“That’s my brother, like punching a spaceship, that one!” Xreck giggled wickedly, tossing back another shot.
“At least I didn’t break the crystal vase in the throne room with my head,” Xexis retorted, shooting his youngest brother a wink.
The brothers raised glasses to each other and clinked them. As the stories began to flow, Aphrodite leaned into the table, always a hand on Xexis in some way. However, the sweet smile on her lips as she laughed with the brothers, spoke with Kiefgr, shared knowing looks with Grooug and Reevar, it…it eased something in his chest.
Chapter Twenty-Three:
Aphroditesatatthelarge crystal table with Xexis and his siblings for an eternity. Droids of varying shapes and sizes came to dish out food to each person. A circular roomba was also put on the table after every course to suck up the plates and crumbs. It was cute to find it had a tiny tiara attached to the top of it. Xnasis and Xreck dominated the conversation. Bringing the pack up to speed with life at the capital, the crown prince broke down what social scandals happened, who flubbed what task, and who was sent back to the planet side for this, that, and the other. Aphrodite was enraptured with everything from harvesting scandals of goods from the planet to high level scandals of researchers stealing other people’s work. Unfortunately, just like any other civilization, not everyone was a hero in a fairytale. She enjoyed the stories more to see the scope of how alike Humans and Vroz were.
“And Quagmor is set to be here soon, he is to go with me to the Council later, so that will be nice.” Xnasis talked with his food in his fingers.
“Fantastic! I’d love to meet him,” Aphrodite gasped.
