“No.” I interrupted. Neither one of us needed to think about Nexus 5 right now. “He was perfect. You’re perfect.” I leaned forward and kissed his chest. God, he tasted good. Smelled good. Everything about him made me want him more. “I love you. I can’t believe you found me, but I’m glad you did.”
“As am I, mate.” He shifted his hips, made us both moan. “You came for the beast, female.”
“Twice.” I grinned.
“Then you shall come three times for me.”
I gasped as he lifted me away from the wall. He carried me to our bedroom and proceeded to make sure I obeyed his command.
Epilogue
Warlord Kai, Atlan Capital City, Six Weeks Later…
* * *
“I look ridiculous.” I stood patiently as my beautiful, perfect female fussed over the traditional tunic and pants I wore. A nearly microscopic weave of precious metals in gold, copper and silver created a replica of ancient Atlan battle armor. Thousands of years old, the style was reserved for sacred ceremonies and only worn by those of us who served the Fleet. My family’s traditional crest covered the chest and back, the intricate points and swirls an exact match for the design on Larkspur’s mating cuffs.
Her soft brown hair was piled on top of her head in a way that made her neck and jaw look delicate and feminine. The theater specialists had applied dramatic make-up they assured us both would accentuate my mate’s beauty under the lights. She looked vibrant and powerful. She looked ethereal, too beautiful to be real.
But she was real. Very real. And she was mine. That reality settled into my heart, body and soul over the last few weeks and calmed my beast in a way I’d never dreamed possible.
“You look gorgeous, mate.” She stepped in close and tugged on the crease in the sleeve, making sure my mating cuffs were clearly on display. She need not have worried. I asked the tailor to shorten the sleeves for exactly the same reason. When a kind, compassionate, loving female deemed a male worthy, fucking right I was going to make sure everyone, on every planet, knew Larkspur had chosen me. Claimed me. Blessed me. “How many people are going to be watching you again?”
I chuckled. My mate seemed more nervous than I. “I do not know. The few who still sing the old songs have not been performing much, and none of them travel to the battlegroups since my parents’ deaths.”
“That’s sad.” She held my hands in hers and looked up at me with love shining in her eyes. “I’m glad we’re going to fix that. Your voice is too beautiful not to share.”
“You honor me, mate.”
“Besides, I really want to see a spaceship.”
“Your courage and heart never fail to humble me, mate.”
She blushed, the pink in her cheeks making me want to kiss her. However, if I started now, I wouldn’t want to stop. “I can’t believe you’re really mine. This seems like a dream.” She held our joined hands out to the sides and looked down at her own shimmering, metallic, traditional gown. “I feel like a princess in this dress.”
“You are a queen, my love. My queen.” I gave in and kissed her, lightly, because I could not resist. “Later, I will get on my knees and worship you properly.” I would devour her, feast on her wet heat until she begged me to stop, until she lost count of the number of orgasms I’d given her. Only then would I fill her with my cock, make her mine again. And again.
Mine. The beast shoved an image of our mate with her back against the wall as he fucked her, her soft cries of pleasure driving him to the brink of control.
Yes. You will have your turn pleasuring our female. Behave. I do not want to perform with a hard cock aching in these fucking pants.
The beast chuckled inside my mind, completely lacking in guilt or remorse.
Larkspur’s pink cheeks brightened to rosy red, as if she could read my mind. “Behave! People can hear you.” She glanced around at the stage hands and others scuttling around checking the broadcast, audio and whatever else they had to do in this massive theater. “How many? You didn’t answer my question.”
“Fewer than we will see on Battleship Zakar next month.” In truth, I had no idea how many people might hear, or see, this live performance. I could, however, guess based on what I’d been told in rehearsal yesterday.
“Kai.”
“I am not sure. I was told my family’s return to the stage has created a buzz. Our name is well known throughout the Coalition of Planets. I was also told there is much nostalgia to see the son rise to take his father’s place, especially after the tragic way my parents died.”
“Kai. How many?” She squeezed my hands and looked over her shoulder, past the curtains and onto the stage, where a cushioned seat that looked like a throne had been placed for her. A warlord always sang to his mate, if he could. As I was newly mated, her presence on stage was anticipated and expected. I could not wait to show her off to the entire galaxy, to sing to her, to follow the path my father, and grandfather before him, both walked proudly.
Mine!
My smile was instant and so full of joy I didn’t know how to contain it. Yes, beast. She is ours.
“Warlord Kai. My lady. This way, please. It is time.” A young male bowed at the waist before leading the way onto the stage where I gently settled my mate on her throne a few steps away from the marker they’d placed on the floor where they wished me to stand.
