Pet's Pleasure (19 page)

“That is such a long story, I don’t even want to get into it. Let’s just go to bed.”

Webber walked with her back to the closet. Once they were in bed again with Starling spooning him, he said, “I know you said it was bad but I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“And then I got a gay man as my quote-unquote mate. Yeah, it’s that bad.” She gave him a squeeze and heaved a heavy sigh. “Go back to sleep.”

Bekion appeared in the closet doorway, looking more annoyed than before. “Unacceptable.” He stalked into the closet. “Off the bed.”

Starling and Webber looked at him and asked in unison, “What?”

“You will not sleep with Starling.” Bekion grabbed Webber’s arm and pulled him off the bed.

Starling sat up. “What are you doing, Bekion? Webber has no other place to sleep.”

“He won’t sleep with you.” Bekion stabbed at his arm cuff and barked, “Nausic, to me, now.”

Nausic arrived a few seconds later, breathing hard and looking around for a threat.

Bekion pointed at Webber. “Take him. He’s yours now.”

“What?” This time Starling, Webber and Nausic all asked the question in synchronized surprise.

Bekion said, “I’m giving Webber to you. I have no need for two pets. Take him back to your room.”

“I…” Nausic’s confused expression swung from Webber to Bekion. “I do not know what to do with a pet, My King.”

“You will learn as I did,” Bekion snapped, shoving Webber toward Nausic. “Take him.”

Nausic bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

Webber said, **You know, the big guy’s not so bad after all.** He let his gaze roam over Nausic and nodded. **Not bad at all.**

Starling recognized the look of a man appreciating a meal to come. **Remember what I told you about same-sex and human-
jattikan
relations.**

**I’m sure I can change his mind.** Webber walked over to Nausic and said, “Let’s get out of here. I know when I’m not wanted.” He winked over his shoulder at Starling as he and Nausic left the closet.

The outer chamber door closed before Starling said to Bekion, “Are you proud of yourself? What was that?”

Bekion stalked out of the closet and slammed the door behind him. The sound made Starling flinch.

She found herself getting angry at the chain of events. What the hell was his problem?

Scratch that. She didn’t care. She did know he wouldn’t keep her and Webber apart. She finally had someone in the palace who understood her. And while she’d had every intention of setting Bekion straight about Webber, Starling decided to let Bekion suffer with his jealousy. He deserved it.

Chapter Fourteen

Bekion didn’t feel like hearing the grievances of his people. Webber and Starling, wandering around the throne room, had his full attention. Whatever they spoke about had them distracted to the point where they saw only each other.

Webber wrapped his arm around Starling’s shoulders and pulled her close. Bekion wanted nothing more than to break the man’s arm.

Behind Bekion, Rois cleared his throat.

Bekion turned his attention back to the woman before him. He recalled half her complaint. The rest eluded him. Vieve held out a tablet to him. Bekion took it and skimmed a summary of what the woman had said.

He would thank Vieve later for keeping such meticulous notes. It helped Bekion save face. He shouldn’t need it. Bekion had always prided himself on being an attentive ruler.

He said, “Mistress, your application of inter-kingdom trade needs further investigation. You will have my decision tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for hearing my humble plea. Thank you.” The woman curtsied and then walked away.

Bekion handed the tablet back to Vieve. His attention wandered to Starling and Webber once more. They returned to the throne. Good. If they stayed close to where Bekion could hear them, he might be able to concentrate on the cases set before him.

Starling sat on the stairs while Webber stayed standing over her. She asked, “What’s not to understand?”

Webber gestured at her. “You. Why do you have to be the ambassador of Earth? And that stupid translation project. What’s the point? Are you getting paid?”

“No. Just because you find it annoying, doesn’t make it stupid.”

“It is stupid because they don’t need to understand us. I don’t want them to understand us. Why do you think I said I wouldn’t do it?”

“You’re a brat.”

“What about you? What’s with the shining example of a perfect human act? You’re stressing yourself out.”

“I’m not stressed. All I do is laze around.”

“You’re strung so tight you’re ready to pop. Stop trying to educate these idiots. You said yourself, they don’t care. This is a proverbial brick wall and you are beating your brains out.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

Webber grabbed Starling’s shoulders and gave her a little shake. “You are a pet. Start acting like it, woman. They don’t expect anything of you or from you. It’s time to start living up to their lowest expectation. Have fun. Be a pampered pet.”

“I am.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Then what do you suggest I do?”

“I’ve been saying it over and over. Have fun. You’re so hell-bent on being proper. Stop it.”

“We belong to a king.”

Bekion almost nodded in agreement with Starling’s words. She exhibited proper behavior for the pet of a king.

Webber said, “And your point is what? That just means our toys are more expensive and shinier than the other pets’.”

Starling stood, confronting Webber. “Fine. What do
you
want me to do?”

He grinned at her. “For starters…” He drew back his hand and then slapped Starling’s arm. The resounding clap sent a hush over the room.

Everyone stared at Starling and Webber.

Starling clutched her wounded arm with her mouth hanging open, pained shock evident on her face.

Bekion half rose out of his seat. How dare Webber hit Starling? Bekion would crush the man’s head in his hands.

Webber said with a grin, “Tag. You’re it.” He ran away with a loud laugh.

Starling stared after him. Her hurt expression turned to one of anger. “You’re dead meat,” she yelled and then ran after him.

Webber dodged and wove through the crowd, laughing the whole while. Starling soon started laughing as well. Their game of chase amused all inhabitants of the throne room except Bekion.

He resumed his seat but couldn’t relax. They had met the day before and yet Webber shared a closeness with Starling that Bekion couldn’t hope to match. She had never laughed like this with him. She had never looked so happy either.

A loud gasp went up through the crowd when Starling tackled Webber. She straddled his waist, raised her fist and punched him in the back of his arm, near his shoulder. The crowd groaned and then laughed more.

Webber yelped and clutched his arm, much the same way Starling had earlier. “Ow. You don’t hit like a girl.”

“I have three older brothers back on Earth. They didn’t teach me to hit like a girl.” She pushed off of him and started back toward the throne.

Bekion hadn’t known Starling had siblings, he never asked. He sighed.

Rois said, “They are getting along very well.”

Vieve nodded. “I like Webber.”

Bekion grunted.

If he thought their childish antics would end there, he was sorely mistaken. The next day Webber amused himself and the crowd by running up to Starling at different points, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her around the throne room. She exhausted herself screaming at him to put her down.

Each day heralded a new game that disrupted court proceedings. Bekion seemed to be the only one put out by the interruptions.

Bekion greeted day seven with a sense of dread. He sat on his throne, hearing cases while Starling sat on the stairs doing her translation project. He noted the absence of his other pet. Bekion almost wanted to ask the whereabouts of Webber, except he kept his question to himself lest he somehow make the man materialize.

The throne room was quiet and orderly. Bekion wanted it to stay that way.

Starling set aside her tablet, stood and stretched with her arms over her head. She said over her shoulder, “I’m going to walk around.”

Bekion held up his hand to the man speaking and said to Starling, “Stay in sight.”

She nodded and walked away.

Bekion waved the man before him to continue. He started to give the man his full attention when the doors opened and Nausic and Webber entered. Murmuring erupted over the crowd.

Webber had become notorious in the short time he had resided at the palace. Most patrons of the throne room hadn’t come to the palace with a problem. They wanted to see what Webber would do next. The added crowd served to annoy Bekion even more.

Webber yelled, “Heads-up.” He threw a large round object into the air.

Bekion rose from his seat when he saw the object’s target. “Starling!”

She stopped and looked around, putting herself in the path of the object. It hit her and exploded in a shower of water. She screamed and stood with her arms out from her sides as the water drenched her clothing.

She yelled, “Webber! I’m going to kick your ass.” She looked around for the man.

Webber stuck his tongue out at her.

Starling slid a little but regained her footing and started chasing him. He dodged around people and threw taunts over his shoulder.

Starling stopped chasing him and headed for the throne. Bekion thought she came to him for help. She grabbed one of the decorative balls that surrounded the chair instead. Jumping to the bottom of the stairs, she stood straight, drew her arm back and launched the ball at Webber’s back with impressive speed.

It hit him in the back of his head. He fell to the ground and clutched his head as he curled into fetal position. “Son of a bitch.” A litany of curses dropped from Webber’s lips as he rocked from side to side.

Starling stalked over to him. “Oh, quit whining, you big baby. I picked a light one.”

“You didn’t have to throw it so damn hard.”

She kicked Webber’s backside. “You didn’t have to hit me with ice-cold water. That’s what you get.” She kicked him again.

Webber whipped around and grabbed her legs, tripping her so she sat hard. He crawled over her and started tickling her. Starling laughed even as she tried to push him away.

“Stop. Stop.” She hit Webber’s arms and shoulder but the man didn’t relent.

Bekion had had more than enough. “Webber! Starling!”

They both stopped their movements and looked at him.

He pointed to the doorway behind his throne that led to his audience chamber.

Webber backed away from Starling. “Uh-oh. I think we’re in trouble.”

“It’s your fault,” Starling said, smacking his arm.

Bekion barked, “Now.”

He waited for them to precede him into the room and then shut the door behind them.

Starling stood, hugging her arms and shivering. Webber rubbed the back of his head with one hand and his behind with the other.

Bekion said in a harsh voice, “I’ve had more than enough of both of you. The throne room is not a playground. You are disrupting the court proceedings.”

Starling pointed at Webber and said, “It’s his fault.”

At the same time, Webber said, “She started it.”

“I did not,” Starling yelled.

“You did and you know it.”

Bekion made a frustrated noise that interrupted their next words. “Enough. Both of you, enough.” He sighed and pulled his hand down his face. After a moment to compose himself, he faced Starling. “This is unlike you, pretty pet. You never acted like this before. Why now?”

Webber said, “You gotta admit she looks better.”

Bekion frowned. “What?”

Webber gestured to Starling and said, “Look at her. Have you really looked at her these past few days? She’s happy. Pets lead happier, healthier lives when you play with them.” Webber crossed his arms. “You obviously aren’t doing it, so I stepped up.”

Bekion didn’t like the hidden meaning in Webber’s words but wouldn’t rise to Webber’s taunting.

Starling said, “We might be taking it too far.” She shot a glare at Webber. “I’ll admit that.”

Webber shrugged but didn’t offer a word of apology or explanation.

Bekion said, “I have something that may distract you.” He tapped his cuff. “Vieve, is my request ready?”

Vieve said, “Waiting in your outer chamber.”

“Good. Send me Nausic. He can escort Starling and Webber.” Bekion tapped the cuff again, ending the communication, and then turned his attention to his pets. “Retire to my chambers for now.”

Webber said in a singsong, “Boring.”

Nausic entered the room. Starling walked toward him without a word. Webber and Bekion had a short staring match before Webber shrugged and walked away.

Bekion recognized a challenge when he saw one. Webber didn’t respect Bekion in the least. What’s more, the man blatantly flaunted the fact.

With Starling as the prize, Bekion refused to back down from the fight. His latest offering would give Bekion an advantage over Webber in Starling’s eyes. Bekion knew that for sure.

* * * * *

Starling shook her head as she, Nausic and Webber walked down the hall. “You took things too far, Webber. Where the hell did you get a water balloon?”

Webber tapped Nausic’s side with the back of his hand and said, “I told him what I wanted.”

Nausic said, “He neglected to mention how he would use it. Forgive me, Lady Starling.”

Starling snorted. “Don’t apologize for him, Nausic. If you start, you’ll never stop. He’s incorrigible. It’s that simple.”

Webber bumped against her side, earning him a glare from Starling. He said with a childish grin, “You still think I’m cute and loveable though.”

“Whatever.” She did think he was cute and loveable but would never tell him. He already had a swelled head.

They entered the outer chamber and found Furielle standing near a neat pile of boxes.

Starling assumed they were Bekion’s gift. “What is all of this?”

Furielle said, “Things taken from the humans the poachers kidnapped. The humans’ owners didn’t want it or the poachers didn’t offer it—I can’t be sure. Or they thought to sell it for even more money.”

Starling stared in shock. There had to be thirty large boxes. So many people’s lives had been ruined. This proof made that realization hit home. A shiver that had nothing to do with cold shook her body.

She rushed to the closet and changed out of her wet clothes. When she came back, Webber stood over an open box, laughing at something he’d found.

Starling snapped, “What’s so damn funny?” She didn’t appreciate his humor.

“This.” He held up a laptop box. “Brand new, high-end laptop still in the box. The receipt is taped to it. Looks like,” he glanced at the receipt, “the guy had just bought it. On credit too.” He chuckled. “His creditors will be pissed. This is a three-thousand-dollar machine.”

“Why is that funny?”

“Oh come on, Star. See the humor in it. Whoever this person was spent a huge wad on a brand-new, shiny computer. I bet he was thinking of all the things he would do with it and then poof.” He snapped his fingers. “Gone. Just like that.”

“That’s not funny.”

Webber took a breath, probably to explain more in-depth. His smile faded and he looked at the laptop again. “You’re right. It’s not funny.”