DangerouslyHis (6 page)

“Don’t freak out. I wasn’t going to stay here forever. I
told him I would wait until after your bonding ceremony.”

Jess pouted and her eyes misted over. “But I was hoping
you’d get along with everyone here and want to stay. Are you going back to
running hauls with Ryan again? Come on, think about it. You can build a home
here, have some stability.”

“The mundane has never been my cup of tea.”

“Mundane? This is an alien planet. There’s nothing mundane
about living here.”

“What would I even do here? There’s no way I could bulk up
and become one of those warriors. What kind of protein shake would I have to be
on to gain two hundred pounds anyway?”

She snorted.” You? A warrior?”

“Exactly.” He waved his hand dismissively. “It wouldn’t work
out.”

“You could be my administrative assistant or gopher or
something.”

He grabbed a pencil and tossed it at her. She swatted it
away and chuckled. “I’m not giving you a reason to boss me around.”

“But we could think of a job for you to do. Think of this as
an up-and-coming company. There are plenty of open positions.”

JB shook his head. “Taio doesn’t like me. I’m pretty sure he
wants me gone.”

“Just give him a chance. I’m sure you’ll grow on him. But
you’ll have to stop fucking everything that moves.”

“And what would be the fun in that?”

“Keeping your life.”

Saia didn’t try to join in the conversation her mother held
with Taio and Eva. Both females had an arm looped through Taio’s. The trio
walked in front her, Milin and Aria walked by her side.

While her mother talked about how much Josanis had grown
since the last time she’d seen him and how he resembled Taio when he was that
age, Saia tried not to think about her own life, and the changes that would
happen sooner rather than later.

Would Ranuit Pi treat her better than her father did?

The information she’d found on the Zumagala had been very
limited. Their wars had been outlined in great details, but everyday life was
not discussed in the research files. The current war had been going on for so
long, the Zumagala had turned into very secretive beings.

Who was she to judge? Under their warring nature could be a
species of fun-loving farmers or artisans.

She groaned.

Wishful thinking, since all their pictures showed imposing
males garbed in thick clothing laden with various weapons.

“Is something the matter?” Milin asked.

Saia smiled. “No, no, Milin. Everything is as it should be.”

Milin lowered her head. “I want you to know that as your
aide, I am available to talk whenever you need me. You can trust me.”

“I know.”

She and Milin had not been together long. Milin became her
personal aide, as customary, with the announcement of her bonding contract.
From that moment on, she and Milin were supposed to be inseparable, like Aria
and her mother.

There was nothing lacking in her aide’s company. That was,
when Milin wasn’t whimpering about Saia’s upcoming bonding ceremony.
Unfortunately for Milin she had accepted the position of personal aide without
getting the full details on
who
Saia was bonding with, and where they
would live.

Olo hadn’t been forthcoming with the information before
posting the position and interviewing the candidates. Milin didn’t want to go
anywhere near Ranuit Pi or the other Zumagala. Saia didn’t blame her. Milin had
expected to go somewhere more befitting a daughter of an important king.

If there had been a way to leave her new aide on Drazlan and
terminate her employment, Saia would have. To do so now would only disgrace
Milin and her family. So, teary-eyed, Milin tried to be brave and continued to
do her duties, even though Saia knew she wanted to run and hide at the first
opportunity.

As they entered the bustling dining hall, Saia followed Taio
to the private raised tables intended for the royal family, advisors and
guests. Aria and Milin veered away and continued to the regular seating.

Saia sighed. Just once she would like to sit somewhere other
than the royal tables. Then she would be able to hear the conversations of the
commoners. Maybe they would talk of their travels to different worlds and
different galaxies. She would revel in each word, try to imagine every small
detail they described.

What was the use of being surrounded by species from
different worlds without being able to learn about where they came from, their
planets, cultures and species? They would be able to give her information about
the universe that couldn’t be found in the research files.

As they approached the tables, she looked longingly at
Lo’Ren, Eva’s pink friend, who sat at a table in front of the performance
arena. Lo’Ren was from a mining colony on Briel, which captivated Saia because
it was on an asteroid belt. Lo’Ren had explained Briel to her in complete
detail, but Saia longed to hear more. As she watched her mother ascend the two
steps, she knew speaking with Lo’Ren would have to wait until another time. Her
mother would never let her sit anywhere else but the royal tables.

Upon seeing them approach, Rasha stood and came forward.
“Queen Xochis, you are as lovely as ever.” He kissed both of her cheeks. Rasha
approached her next. “Beautiful Saia.”

She returned his strong embrace. Rasha was Taio’s best friend
and Saia trusted him with her life. “It’s nice to see you again.”

A tall human female approached his side. He pulled away and
held an arm out to the female. “Saia, Queen Xochis, this is Jessica, my mate.”

Jessica stepped forward and held out her hand. Both Saia and
her mother looked at it. It seemed to be a normal-sized hand, free of jewelry.
“You have a very nice hand,” Saia said.

Jessica blushed and looked at Rasha.

“Mother, the humans clasp hands together in greeting,” Taio
said.

“Really?” her mother remarked.

Saia looked at Jessica’s hand again and shrugged. Then she
extended hers. Jessica smiled and stepped forward to grab it. Once in her palm,
she pumped it up and down.

“Nice to meet you. You can call me Jess,” she said.

“Likewise,” Saia replied. “Here, Mother, you try.”

Her mother held out her hand and let Jess shake it. “What an
odd little practice.”

“We are learning more about the humans every day.” Taio
pulled out a chair and indicated for his mother to sit, while Rasha pulled out
Saia’s chair.

“This is nice,” her mother said as Taio pushed her closer to
the table.

As Taio and Rasha did the same for Eva and Jess, Saia let
her eyes wander around the room. She recognized many of the different species,
some she had met and a few she had read about. She really wanted to meet
someone new. Someone who could tell her something about the universe she didn’t
already know.

There has to be someone interesting here.

JB looked toward the door as everyone else did. Taio stood
at the entrance, with Eva on one arm and a taller female who looked just like
him on the other. He waited as everyone rose to their feet.

“That’s his mother, Queen Fainia Xochis of Drazlan,” Lo’Ren
said from the seat next to him. “It’s customary for you to stand when she
enters the room.”

“I’ve already pissed him off today, no need to do it again
if it’s not totally necessary.” JB stood.

Taio proceeded through the door, followed by three other
females. JB immediately found himself staring at one in particular.

Her head was cast down slightly, her face obscured by waves
and waves of jet-black hair that brushed the swell of her round butt. She wore
a pale-purple formfitting dress. The floor-length gown had designs made of
colored crystals. Her skin was the same color as Taio’s, but different. It
seemed to glow. Her build was tall and slender with a hint of curves where they
were needed most.

She turned her head.

He caught his breath.

Beautiful.

As her lavender eyes locked on Lo’Ren, he willed her to look
his way. Her features were sharp and foreign, but beautiful in every way. Her
cheekbones were high and defined. Her lips were full and pink. She had a look
of longing in her eyes and he wanted to know why.

No, he
needed
to know why.

Was she upset?

Who had taken the joy away from such a perfect female?

Look at me. I want to know you.

“Uh, unless you’re inviting Taio to kill you, I would sit
down,” Lo’Ren said, tugging on his sleeve.

He glanced around to find he was the only one still
standing. JB sat but kept his eyes on the female across the room. “Why would he
kill me? She’s not human.”

“She’s his younger sister, Princess Saia.” Lo’Ren popped a
piece of meat in her mouth and chewed. “Look the other way, human.”

That information alone should have been enough to make him
turn his head and focus his attention on something else, but he couldn’t.

Princess Saia.

Rasha grabbed Saia in a bear hug and lifted her from her
feet. JB watched, waiting for her to turn his way. His heart thumped. He wanted
to go to her, meet her.

She was
his
.

He shook his head, trying to dislodge the misplaced thought.

Where the hell did that come from?

Then she turned toward him. Their eyes met.

And there it was.

His heart felt as though it were seized in a tight fist then
dropped to the pit of his stomach.

“This is where you take my advice before you get into
trouble.”

“She’s looking at me,” he whispered.

Every nerve in his body sprang to life. Her eyes were framed
in the heaviest lashes he’d ever seen. And when she blinked, they looked like
wings of butterflies.

He sighed and felt as if his body had melted into the chair.

Lo’Ren groaned. “Taio will kill you.”

“I don’t care.” He couldn’t drag his gaze away. A small
smile graced beautiful full lips. Lips he wanted to claim for his own. From the
side, her face had appeared long, but no, it was round and soft. Her nose was
perky and petite. “Princess Saia,” JB said breathlessly.

Lo’Ren shook her head. “I shouldn’t have told you her name.
I don’t want any part of this.”

“I would have found out anyway.” Nothing could have stopped him
from knowing her name.

Lo’Ren blew out a heavy breath. “Did I mention that she’s
Taio’s
only sister
?”

“How old is she?”

“Nineteen birth cycles.” She frowned. “I think.”

JB whistled low. “She’s practically jailbait.”

“What’s jailbait?”

He shook his head and groaned. “Something bad.” He
straightened and snapped his fingers. “Wait, Eva claims she’s twenty-two. She
said something about how slow Sonis rotates. Does that count for Drazlan too?”

Lo’Ren shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never lived on
Drazlan.”

“It doesn’t matter. She’s legal in my mind.”

Lo’Ren held up a hand. She pointed to a finger and said,
“She’s Taio’s little sister.” Then she pointed to another. “You said she’s
jailbait—which according to you is bad.” And she wiggled the third finger.
“She’s also contracted to bond with Lord Ranuit Pi of the Zumagala Nation.”

“She’s getting married?” His heart seemed to twist,
screaming its displeasure.

“She’s contracted, yes. That’s what all the planning is for,
or have you been too buried between female legs to even notice that the palace
is readying for an engagement party?”

He slumped back in his chair. Eva had told him about the
engagement party for Taio’s younger sister. But he hadn’t really cared—not
then
,
anyway.

“So you see? There are a number of reasons why you should
stay as far away from her as possible.”

But she’s so beautiful.

She didn’t turn away. She appeared to be just as enthralled
with him as he was with her. He wouldn’t be the first to break their eye
contact. She tilted her head in thought.

“Look away now, JB. I’m warning you. It won’t end in your
favor.”

I can’t.

“Oh Jesus.”

If it weren’t for the tone in Jess’ voice, Saia wouldn’t
have been pulled from watching the human male across the room.

Jess placed a hand across her eyes and shook her head slowly.

“Pardon me?”

Jess groaned. “Please,
please
look at something
else.”

Saia let her gaze go back to the male. His black hair was
cut short. His blue eyes were framed with an abundance of dark lashes. Light
seemed to dance in his eyes as he smiled in her direction.

Is he smiling at me?

She took a quick peek left, then right

He’s smiling at me!

Her heart leapt for joy. His graceful smile was only for
her. She giggled and placed a hand over her mouth.

“He won’t be satisfied until he’s dead,” Jess muttered.

She turned to Jess. “What are you talking about?”

Jess watched the male across the room as well. But instead
of smiling, she made a slow motion across her neck with a finger. “I’m
referring to the slow death he’s sure to get if he keeps flirting with you.”

Flirting?

She turned back to the male. No one had ever flirted with
her. She smiled again.

“Good gracious, don’t encourage him!”

“Do you know him?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Jess rolled her eyes. “Maybe I should
start saying that I
knew
him.”

The lights turned low, signaling the beginning of the dinner
entertainment. The voices in the dining hall became hushed. Saia strained her
eyes to make out the silhouette of the human.

Slow, rhythmic drums began to beat. Light shone from the
stage door. One torch, then two, then three, until finally there were six. In
the darkness, the torches zipped through the air, swung in circles, tossed and
caught.

Every now and again, she could catch a glimpse of him and
found that he still watched her as well.

Her heart seemed to thump in time with the drums. His smile
had dropped but his stare was intent just the same. His gaze seemed to bore
through her. Right to her soul. And she found she enjoyed it.

She leaned over to whisper, “Tell me his name.”

Jess shook her head. “Ignore him like I do most days and
watch the show.”

Ignore him?
She couldn’t. “But I want to know his
name.”

Jess looked at her. “Listen, Princess Saia, this can’t
happen.”

“What can’t happen?”

“You and JB. Taio would never allow it. You’re getting
married and JB’s going back to Laconia. I’m trying to keep him alive at least
until then.”

Jaybee.
She turned to look at him again.

Jaybee. What a wonderful name.

“Argh, can you at least get that dreamy look off your face?”

“Is he a slave?”

“No.”

“Is he bonded?”

“No.”

“Can you introduce me to him?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

Jess raised a brow. “Have you
seen
the size of your
brother?”

Jess was right. Taio was extremely protective of her. That
was the very reason why she could never tell him their father had long been striking
her and her mother. And she couldn’t forget that she was contracted to bond
with Ranuit Pi.