Pet's Pleasure (21 page)

For a few minutes, she tried to figure out where to start. How did she explain to her parents that aliens had kidnapped her? Would they believe her? Even if they didn’t, she couldn’t bring herself to tell them a believable lie.

She wrote the facts as they had happened to her in five simple paragraphs, nothing too in-depth or too long in case the letter went astray. While less than a page, it took over an hour to write. Starling wanted to include so much more, pages upon pages more. She held herself back. For now, this was enough.

After reading the letter through five or six times and nearly making herself cry, she folded the letter, put it in an addressed envelope and placed a stamp on it. Now she had to deliver it to Bekion so he could give it to the scientists. She wanted to hand it to him, no middlemen.

She rushed out of Bekion’s chambers, headed for the throne room. Dinner started in a few minutes but she couldn’t wait that long. The sooner she gave him the letter, the better she would feel.

Someone grabbed her from behind and hoisted her in the air. She beat against the arms around her waist and tried to squirm free. “Webber, stop it,” she snapped.

Warm breath heated her neck and something wet slid along her skin. She opened her eyes wide in surprise. What was Webber playing at?

“Purdy.”

The shock of that one word made Starling seize up. It couldn’t be. Bekion would have told her if Lady Idruc had returned to the palace.

But what if he didn’t know?

“Sex with purdy.” Ladrow groped at her clumsily as he tried to bend her over.

Starling kicked at the man. “Help! Get him off me,” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

For the first time in as long as she could remember, no one walked the halls. No one heard her screams. She did the next best thing. She slammed her wrists together over and over.

The second the bell cacophony started, Ladrow dropped her with a pained cry. He grabbed his ears and whined, glaring at her.

She started running but didn’t get far. Ladrow tackled her. She had to throw her hands up to keep her head from bouncing off the floor.

“Loud purdy. Bad purdy. Hurt Ladrow. Bad.” He grabbed at the back of her head, trying to fist his fingers into her braided hair and digging into her scalp in the process.

Starling reached back and clawed at his hand. She screamed.

Pounding footsteps sounded around her.

“Starling!” Webber and Nausic yelled in unison.

Something hard hit Ladrow and sent him flying off Starling. She scrambled to her feet. Someone yanked her from behind, pulling her to safety.

Nausic lifted her against his side.

She clutched at his shirt and hid her face. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she whispered over and over.

“Good God, what is that?” Webber asked.

“Ladrow.”

“What’s a Ladrow and why is it coming this way?”

Starling didn’t bother looking to confirm Ladrow’s advance. The man didn’t know how to take a hint. She said, “Ladrow is a human, a
jattikan
-inbred human. His little pea brain thinks I’m here for him to mate with.”

Ladrow neared them. “Purdy. Want purdy. Give.”

Webber said, “Not going to happen, fugly.”

She said to Nausic, “Help Webber.”

When Ladrow got close, Webber leg-swept him, knocking him to the ground.

Nausic shook his head. “He doesn’t need it.”

Webber said to Ladrow, “If you understand my words then stay down. I don’t want to hurt you but I will to keep you away from my woman.”

Starling asked, **Your woman?**

**Don’t quibble over semantics. We’re dealing with a dumb animal.** Webber never took his gaze off Ladrow as the man got to his feet. **Now I see why
jattikans
think of mating with humans as bestiality. That thing is hideous.**

Ladrow surged forward in a clumsy attack. Webber used the momentum of Ladrow’s attack and tossed the man over his shoulder. Ladrow went flying and landed at the feet of some onlookers who arrived after Starling sounded her alarm.

They clapped.

Webber said, “Idiots think this is a show.”

Starling said, “I don’t care. Just keep that thing away from me.”

“That’s what I’m doing, aren’t I?”

Ladrow gave an angry yell before charging. He got within arm’s reach when Webber dodged to the side and brought his elbow down on the back of Ladrow’s neck. The man yelped and hit the ground again. He curled into fetal position, clutching his neck and whimpering.

Webber said, “I’m going easy on him but if he keeps it up, I’ll kick his ass for real.”

Lady Idruc yelled, “Stop this.”

Bekion pushed his way through the crowd, which parted for him after one person gasped loudly in surprise and jumped out of his way. “I agree. Lady Idruc, control your pet. I have warned you already of letting him run loose in my palace while you visit.”

Lady Idruc snapped her fingers. “Ladrow, come to me.”

The man huddled in on himself more, not obeying her.

Webber barked, “Get!”

Ladrow yelped again and scrambled away. He almost resembled a dog with its tail tucked behind and scraping the ground as he ran away.

Webber said, “Guess we know where we rank on the totem pole.”

“Starling,” Bekion said as he started moving toward her and Nausic.

Lady Aurelan grabbed his arm, pulling him up short. “Your humans are as splendid as ever, Your Majesty. Their talents never end. Who knew this one could fight so well. His elegance is unparalleled.”

Lady Idruc nodded. “I much agree. I remain impressed by Your Majesty’s humans. This male is magnificent. Would you be interested in selling him?”

Starling blanched and clutched at Nausic. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Bekion to refuse Lady Idruc’s offer.

Bekion said, “Webber is not for sale.” He pulled on his arm but Lady Aurelan didn’t release him. Likewise, Lady Idruc stayed in his path.

More women crowded around Bekion, each one adding their words of praise for Webber. Starling met his gaze. He looked annoyed and that annoyance was changing to anger.

Bekion yelled, “Enough!”

The women all startled into silence.

He turned on Aurelan. “Release me.”

Aurelan gave him a coy smile. “King Bekion, I—”

“Rois.”

The man stepped forward and pried Aurelan’s hands loose.

Bekion straightened his clothes with an annoyed sound. “Lady Aurelan, I may be looking for a bride but you will
never
be it. No matter what you do or what you offer, you are nowhere near my ideal. Stop embarrassing yourself. You have nothing I want.” He turned to Lady Idruc. “You have been warned, Lady Idruc. You and your pet are no longer welcome in my palace. Take your leave. Now.”

He scanned over the rest of the women. “I remain unimpressed with the lot of you.”

The women took one large collective step back with synchronized gasps of dismay. When he stepped forward, they cleared a path for him. He walked over to Nausic and held open his arms.

Starling went to him, barely keeping herself from crying. This should be a happy time. It was her birthday. She had finally convinced Bekion to let her write her parents.

Her letter.

She pulled away from Bekion and looked around.

“Starling?” He rubbed her back. “What is it?”

“My letter. Where’s my letter?” She twisted one way and then the other. Her hand went to her throat to make sure she still had her amber-emerald pendant. Ladrow had snatched it off her the last time they met. Thankfully, he hadn’t done it again.

Webber held out her letter. “Is this it?”

It was crumpled and torn in a few places. She took it, holding it to her chest. “I can’t send it like this. I have to rewrite it,” she said in a soft voice.

“Come then.” Bekion started walking then tapped his cuff. “Vieve, I will take dinner in my chambers this evening. The dining hall is closed.”

Vieve said, “As you wish.”

Starling said, “You shouldn’t do that.”

“No woman interests me more in this moment than you, Starling.” He touched her head, which made her wince. “You’re bleeding.”

“The nanites will stop it soon.”

Bekion clenched his hands. “You won’t see him again. In fact, all humans who visit my palace must stay leashed and in the company of their masters lest they be heavily fined, if not jailed.” He cursed under his breath and tossed his head in an angry manner.

When he stopped and turned suddenly, Starling gripped him to keep from falling.

He confronted Nausic. “Where were you?”

“Guarding Webber, My King. I was unaware Lady Starling had left your chambers. She didn’t call for me.”

“You—”

Starling covered Bekion’s mouth with her hand. He looked at her. The anger shining there made her shiver.

She said, “Bekion, it’s not his fault. I should have called him. I was impatient. He did nothing different from what he’s done every day since Webber’s arrival. You can’t find fault with it now.”

Bekion closed his eyes as he ground his teeth. After kissing her palm, he pulled her hand gently away and said in a calm voice, “Nausic, your priority is Starling. We have all seen Webber can take care of himself.”

Webber said, “No arguments there. Anyone tries something with me and I’ll mess them up.”

Nausic bowed. “I will not fail my duties again, Your Majesty.”

“Good.” Bekion nodded and then said in a soft voice, “Good.” He continued to his chambers.

Vieve awaited them there with Furielle. Both women looked frantic. They swarmed Starling as soon as Bekion set her down.

Webber joined the examination. He tsked and shook his head. “Look what he did to your hair.” He patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. The damage is almost fixed. You’ll be fine. These nanites are a wonder. I don’t know how we survived without them.”

Starling nodded.

The fussing and mothering didn’t end until Starling bathed, ate, had her hair redone and then went to bed. Bekion had to remain awake to handle more court matters, so she muffled her cuffs.

Sleep didn’t come to her though. The attack had her too keyed up. She thought rewriting her letter might calm her nerves but staring at the crumpled remains of the first draft reminded her of the attack. Once finished, she slipped out of the closet to the outer chamber.

Bekion sat at the table with his head down on his folded arms. He slept. She smiled to herself at the sight. He had never fallen asleep while working before. All the stress of dealing with Webber must be getting to him.

The servants tiptoed around, careful not to wake him. Starling did notice none tried to put him to bed. She guessed they wouldn’t touch him without permission.

She went to the door. As she thought, Rois stood guard. He turned and looked down at her. She put her finger to her lips, exited the room and closed the door softly.

He asked, “What are you doing, Lady Starling?”

“Bekion is sleeping at his table.” She smiled at Rois’ look of surprise. “I can’t sleep. I want to talk to Nausic.”

“You have but to call him.”

She shook her head. “No. He doesn’t need to come here. I can go to him.”

“You could use your cuff.”

“I need to talk to him in person so he doesn’t misinterpret my meaning.” She wouldn’t say more than that.

Rois regarded her for a moment before he nodded. He signaled to one of the guards, who stepped forward. “Escort Lady Starling to Nausic’s room and then wait to bring her back.”

“Sir,” the man said as his acknowledgment. He gestured before him.

Starling said, “Thank you, Rois.”

“I will only accept that thanks if you return before Bekion wakes and realizes you are missing.”

She nodded and hurried off.

The guard didn’t speak or offer to carry her. He didn’t even slow his pace so she didn’t have to run. Starling didn’t mind. She wanted her errand to be quick. Like Rois, she wanted to be back before Bekion realized she had gone.

The guards had rooms at the entrance of the royal wing. Her escort pointed out Nausic’s room at the end of a long hall.

She said, “Thank you. You can stay here.”

The man nodded.

She rushed to Nausic’s room, opened the door and entered. That was a mistake. Past experiences should have taught her to respect a closed door whether locked or not. She shielded her eyes, turned her back and rushed out an apology that sounded more like a shocked squeak.

Webber asked, “Damn, girl, don’t you knock?”

Nausic said in a hurried rush, “This isn’t what it looks like, my lady.”

Starling said, “It looks like you had your finger in Webber’s ass and his dick in your mouth.”

Webber said, “Sounds about right.”

Nausic yelled, “Webber!”

“Relax, Nausic. She knows all about the different copulation techniques of humanoid beings. Besides, after what I walked in on my first day here, she can’t say a damn thing to us for having a little fun.”