Page 29 of Surrender
Thankfully, the topic soon changed to reconstruction efforts, and each woman chimed in with how well the post-war recovery was going in their part of the world. It thrilled Fiona to learn some of the refugee camps were being emptied, with displaced citizens being set up in newly constructed houses and apartment buildings. She fought back a shudder at thoughts of Camp Syracuse and all the other places like it.
When the dinner party finally came to an end, Fiona was exhausted, but she also felt slightly exhilarated. After Merokk showed the last guests out, he turned to her and gave her a warm smile that melted her heart. He looked pleased. She’d very much enjoyed watching him interact with his friends, even if she hadn’t been able to understand what they were talking about. Seeing him converse animatedly with a group of his fellow Kall ambassadors—all of whom she suspected were former warriors—humanized him in a way. Made him seem less forbidding, too.
Merokk cupped her face and leaned closer. “Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“For being so welcoming to our guests, especially to the Kall females. Even though most of the females in attendance tonight were human, I noticed you went out of your way to include the Kall women in your conversations. That was most kind of you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I was proud to have you by my side tonight, Betsy.”
“I am always happy to have your friends over,” she said, “as well as their wives, whether they be Kall or human.” The nervousness she’d felt over the impending visit had faded and to her surprise, she realized she actually meant what she said. She wasn’t simply falling into her usual routine of pleasing Merokk, where she would say whatever she believed he wished to hear.
“I am glad to hear it,” he said, then lifted her hand to his mouth. His lips seared the back of her hand, causing a pleasurable shiver to race down her back. “But I am glad we’re finally alone.”
A flush overcame her and breathing suddenly became difficult. “Oh? And why is that?” She arched an eyebrow at him in a playful manner, still swept up in the energy of the evening.
“Because what I’m about to do to you is not suitable for polite company.” Without warning, he lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the entryway.
Before she could reply, he emitted a deep growl and began climbing the stairs, taking the steps three at a time. Her heart raced and warmth pulsed between her thighs, knowing how eager he was to claim her.
Once he got her in the bedroom, he set about stripping off her silver dress. He circled her a few times, inspecting her, occasionally running a hand over her skin, before he divested himself of his own clothing.
Then he took her to bed and claimed her in a manner that was, true to his word, entirely unsuitable for polite company. It was downright savage.
Chapter 17
Merokk clearedhis throat and waited for the communicator to establish a stable connection with planet Kall. Once the connection was made, he typed in the sequence of numbers that would allow him access to today’s High Council meeting.
The conversation he’d had with Betsy several weeks ago concerning the Kall practice ofushrinahad weighed heavily on his mind as of late, which had prompted him to submit a new proposed law to the leaders of his homeworld. While many of the older members of the High Council were resistant to change, he hoped he could at least amend the laws pertaining toushrina.
The Great Hall of Kallvonna came into view on the screen, and Merokk gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to the dozens of High Council members who were staring at him. He’d visited the building once and knew he was appearing on a large screen at the front of the hall.
He straightened in his chair and summoned his confidence, reminding himself that he was a decorated Kall warrior and a respected ambassador. Though he didn’t hold as much power as the leaders in the Great Hall of Kallvonna, he still had a voice, a voice they couldn’t ignore. He spotted his brother, Acerkk, seated in the third row and the look of pride and approval on his brother’s face helped Merokk relax. Acerkk held the same beliefs as Merokk when it came to the practice ofushrina.
“Greetings, Councilors,” Merokk said with another nod at the screen. “Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today about my proposed changes to the laws pertaining toushrina.”
High Councilor Revva rose from his place in the first row. “We welcome you to our meeting, Ambassador Merokk. Please, you have the floor right now. We invite you to issue your statement of beliefs, and then once you are finished, we will vote on your new proposal.”
“Thank you, Councilor Revva.” Merokk peered at the dozens of faces on the screen and drew in a deep breath. “As you are all aware, I condemn the custom known asushrina. It is archaic and cruel. An honorable Kall male ought to protect and cherish his female. Most Kall husbands treat their wives fairly, but some do not, and it is an abomination that a law as old as our first known ancestor is still on our books. I realize a recent vote was taken pertaining to this custom on planet Kall and the result of that vote disappointed me. I wished to see the practice outlawed. In time, as those of you who hold fast to such archaic laws leave this hall,” he said, unapologetically alluding to the deaths of the oldest members of the High Council, “I am confident the practice ofushrinawill be outlawed.”
A noise near the door of his study caused Merokk to pause, and he glanced to his right and stared at the door, listening for any further sounds. When he didn’t hear anything else, he returned his focus to the screen and prepared to finish delivering his statement of beliefs.
“As you all know, the Kall-Earth treaty listed over three thousand Kall-human marriages that would take place, the human females being Earth leaders or daughters of Earth leaders. Can you imagine what might happen if a Kall male in one of these arranged marriages were to kill his human wife? Can you imagine the outrage? The uprisings on Earth?
“The war is supposed to be over, but it could begin anew. The trade agreement with Earth also benefits our planet greatly, and if a single Kall-human arranged marriage ends inushrina, this peace which we have attempted to cultivate with the humans will all be for naught.
“I have come before you today to ask you to amend the laws pertaining toushrina,to make it illegal for a male in an arranged Kall-human marriage to take his human bride’s life.” He paused for a moment and glared hard at the screen. “Illegal and punishable by death.”
As Merokk expected, the Great Hall erupted into chaos. Most of the councilors jumped to their feet. Some lifted their fists in support of Merokk’s proposal, while others slammed hammers on the tables, indicating they didn’t agree. In the midst of the disorderly scene, Acerkk remained seated with his arms crossed over his chest, looking calm as could be, though the hint of a smug grin pulled at his lips. Merokk resisted the urge to laugh at Acerkk and thanked the stars he had his brother’s support.
When the noise in the Great Hall settled and the councilors finally returned to their seats, Revva called for a vote. Merokk tried not to allow his nervousness to show as he watched the votes appear on a screen at the back of the hall. Some councilors abstained from participating, but most cast a vote.
In the end, Merokk’s proposal was accepted by a slim three-vote margin. But it was enough to force the change he was seeking. None of the human females who’d wed a Kall warrior as part of the Kall-Earth treaty would sufferushrina.
He thought of Betsy and warmth filled him. The hour was late, but he hoped to find her still awake. He longed to take her in his arms and kiss her.
* * *
It was nearly midnight,and Fiona was seated in a plush, oversized chair in the library, a book in her hand. She stretched and covered a yawn, then she closed the book at the sound of approaching footsteps, wondering if Merokk was looking for her.
