Ah, Gra’eth.You might say he’s the closest thing I have to a best friend. He was one of the few younglings allowed around me as I grew up. Seeing as he’s always been a bit of a buzzkill, royal attorney is the perfect position for him. Even though he loves nothing more than to give me a hard time, I know that he’ll always find a way to help me if I truly need him.
“Good to see you too Gra’eth!” I smile broadly and hug him with one arm as is customary with our people. I point one of my four fingers toward the human transport unit. “We’re going to grease whatever wheels are needed so that I can bring Opal back to the palace with me.”
“What in goddesses' names is an Opal?” He taps his translator chip as if he misunderstood the translation, and his brow knit in confusion. “If you want precious stones you have plenty at home Ke’ain.”
“Opal is a human woman. She’s coming back with us tonight, no exceptions.” I keep my smile up as her face flashes across my mind.
Gra’eth’s lively gray color drains from his face as he blanches to a sickly white. “A human? F’tee Ke’ain! Those things are riddled with diseases. Where the f’tee did you even meet a human woman?”
My poor flustered friend has well… issues with germs, to say the least.
“Gra’eth, you know as well as I do that if she’s come off Earth there’s been a lengthy decontamination process. I assure you she’s clean,” I say, clamping my hand onto his shoulder as I lead him toward her transport unit. “As far as where I met her, well that would be in the traffic jam right before my driver called you.” I wink at him.
Gra’eth rolls his eyes, “Oh, so you lost all sense of reason because the blood drained to your other head?” He sighs. “I’ve got some satellite transmissions I can lend you if you’ve just got a human scratch you need to itch.”
I try not to let the comment bother me, but my hand pinches a bit tighter on his shoulder.
“You misunderstand Gra’eth,she is mine,” I growl.
His eyes widen in shock. “A human entertainer is your mate?”
Mate.The word holds meaning for my people. Is Opal my mate? I’ve never felt a tug as strong as this before. Not for the glorified dolls that are brought before me, not for the flings with palace staff my parents try their best to keep under wraps.
“I’m…not sure,” I say, “but I know I’m not leaving here without her.” I release my grip as we get close enough to the transport unit to see the human women begin to disembark. My friends' eyes go thoughtful for a moment, and then I see the determination behind them.
“Well, until you’re sure I guess we can’t let this Opal out of our sight can we?” He resigns himself to help me.
“No, I can't, can I?”
We both watch as human women from shades of rich browns to the palest ivory disembark their vehicle. Each woman steps from the transport unit into a clear security pod. For humans to be as rare as they are, the entertainment company surely wants to make sure they stay safe. The pods float in a line toward the side entrance of The Gem as they queue up for the performance. Human dancing is supposed to be some of the most erotic in the universe, at least if you believe the slogan plastered on the side of their transport.
After my experience with Opal, I just might believe it.
“F’tee… is that her?”
Gra’eth’s breath catches, and I’m about to knock into the side of his jaw with my fist.Did I not just say she was mine?But as I see the flash of red hair climb into her security pod, I calm my boiling blood.
“No, my Opal is one thousand times more beautiful than that silly human.”
“You must be mistaken friend,” he says, dazed.
I ignore his comment, because that’s when I see her. Opal’s curved body, her thermal bandages still wet from our earlier experience. Right before she steps into the security pod, I can even smell her. She smells sweeter than any ambrosia I’ve ever encountered. My palms begin to sweat and my cock to twitch as I’m finally reunited with Opal. I begin to walk her direction when I feel Gra’eth’s hand on my chest.
“Patience Ke’ain. They’re late for their performance. Now might not be the best time to broach the subject. Let’s wait until after, and we can bring the Deenz and Opal into a private room for an agreement to be made. Even if she does want to come with you, I’m sure her contract with the company will need to be bought out,” he says tactfully.
I watch as Opal taps on the plastic of her security pod. Her face seems… worried.
“Private room now. I’ll pay for whatever the fee is. She can perform for me alone.” My tone lets Gra’eth know it’s a royal order, not a request. He sighs and makes his way over to the Deenz, already transferring credits with his data pad.
* * *
The club owner, a fellow Fil’en, quickly leads me through the frustrating clicks of tourist photos to a back room. He pushes aside a heavy curtain, and we enter the room. The space is draped in swaths of dark green velvet, and a large ottoman sits in the middle of the room. A fully stocked bar with an android attendant is ready to make me whatever cocktail I desire.
“Your Highness, if you would have told us of your visit sooner, I would have been able to avoid all the photos. I am so sorry we were not properly prepared for your visit.” The owner bows deeply. “I hope our service can make up for that fact going forward. Please let me know if there’s anything you require”.
He keeps the deep bow until I wave him off impatiently. How long does it take a damn security pod to get from the door to this room? I tap my feet, agitated.
“Welcome, Your Highness.” The android’s digital voice fills the space. “Might I offer you our finest thr’uik cocktail to start your evening?” He cocks his head, miming genuine emotions.
