“I’m good with fingers too, or tentacles or dicks, whatever he wants to put on orinme.” I shrug casually to show that I am far from picky and have an appetite for anything.
“How do you know about that?” Tinker Bell asks, and I’m momentarily confused, but before I can work out what she’s referring to, the Milobar comes at me again. I think he’s fed up with this entire conversation, but I could keep going back and forth for days if it continues to piss off Xavier’s harem.
With Steve the stingray coming in hot, however, I have no choice but to shut my mouth and prepare for the showdown.
I brace myself. He gets close enough to grab me, and two things happen at once. First, Xavier’s mist solidifies behind the Milobar, and second, I jam my knee into his still erect dicks. Like any male, the Milobar goes down like a sack of shit, groaning loudly, but his tail whips out in response, its frightening barb coming directly for my chest. I close my eyes, accepting my fate will be just like that Aussie dude’s, as slight disappointment that I won’t be able to see what Xavier has to offer echoes in my mind. But instead of the poisonous weapon burying deeply into my chest, it slams into an invisible barrier and snaps in half, and the Milobar screams in pain. Huh, guess he didn’t see that one coming.
There’s an aura of fury in the atmosphere, and the two women are now cowering together as the Milobar’s body lifts off the ground and begins to hover in the air. Xavier’s mist surrounds his form, and the Milobar starts to thrash his arms around. “No, please, wait! I was just protecting you,” he pleads, trying to breathe between his shouts of pain. This time, Xavier’s voice has lost the soft, caressing tones he used with me, and there is no mistaking his rage. My nerves are a little frayed at the end, and I can feel my pulse thumping in my ears as I watch what’s happening to Steve.
“Do you think I need protecting? Am I not one of the most powerful people in the galaxy, or have you forgotten, Mithus?” Oh, okay, not Steve then.
“I just thought—” Mithus argues, but Xavier cuts him off.
“You are not here to think, you are here to be my food. You are nothing more than a meal and occasional cum receptacle. Do not mistake my previous use of your body as affection. You are not powerful enough to be my intimate. None of you are.”
He aims that last statement at the two women who are now sobbing, their hair rising with the sheer power Xavier is pushing out. Cuts appear across their bodies as his power pulses all around us. Their faces twist in pain, which is weird because it feels like a tickle of pleasure to me, and I almost giggle.
“I’m sorry. Will you please forgive me?” Mithus begs the still shrouded Xavier.
Xavier says nothing, but Mithus’s back arches in agony. “Please don’t drain me,please.” I watch as Mithus starts to shrivel in front of me, kind of like a time lapse of a dead body turning into a mummy. It’s agonizingly slow, and I cringe away from the squealing sounds he’s making. It’s too much, so I shove my hands over my ears and close my eyes against the gruesome sight. I try to think of something else that will distract me until the torture is finished, but all I can see is Mithus’s body withering away.
There is no mistake about it. Xavier is fucking powerful.
It abruptly cuts off, and a hand lands on one of my arms, causing me to pull my fingers away from my ears. I peek open an eye and find Mithus on the floor in a fetal position, but he still looks to be alive, barely, but he’s breathing.
“Get him out of my sight,” Xavier says to someone, his hand still on mine.
A group of people have appeared out of a side door and are gathered around, watching the show. A bipedal grasshopper man leaves the group, comes over, and picks Mithus up. Two other women, who give me death glares as they walk past, gather up the two who have been battered by Xavier’s powers. Before they can all leave, Xavier speaks again.
“Hear this and tell everyone. Lila is off limits. She may come and go as she pleases. She is my guest, and as such, you should treat her well. If I find out anyone is mistreating her, what I did to Mithus will be like a space walk.” His tone is deadly, and despite not being able to see him, they all cower and nod before hurrying out of the room.
Silence descends, leaving only the sound of my rapid breathing between us as I try to figure out what to say. It doesn’t take me long before my curiosity gets the better of me.
“What did you do to him?” I ask as Xavier guides me toward the sunken lounge, but I balk, knowing what had just been going on in there. A burst of power floats through the room and the cushions are replaced with new ones. A table is now in the middle of the cushions, set with an exotic-looking pot and two cups. There’s what looks like a hookah bubbling and smoking next to it.
He still hasn’t answered me as he helps me take a seat at the low table. Once I’m comfortable, he chooses a seat next to me, still shrouded.
“I punished him, as is my right, Lila. He insulted me by attacking you.” There is no remorse in his voice as he waves a mist-covered limb and the teapot floats over to pour liquid into each of the cups.
“Will he survive?” I ask him, not really caring either way, but I am curious. Xavier snorts, sounding disgusted.
“Yes, unfortunately. I didn’t think it would be a good start to our courtship if you saw me kill one of my harem members despite the insults he flung at you,” he grumbles, sounding quite put out, and I try to smother a smile. I have come to realize that the alien species I have encountered are quite primal in their ways. It’s fascinating seeing him temper his base instinct so as not to frighten me, and I can’t say I don’t internally squeal that he cares enough to do it.
“Our courtship?” I prompt, wanting to know more about what he thinks is between us.
“Of course!” He sounds surprised that I questioned him. “I assumed that with my mark on your shoulder and yours on mine, you would be amenable to such a thing.”
“I’m not saying I’m not, I’m just surprised that you return the interest, especially with a harem.” I’m feeling awkward again because it really is disconcerting sitting here looking at mist. “And they were not wrong about my power level, it is nonexistent.”
Xavier shuffles closer to me and leans in so that his mist drapes across my neck and shoulder, and a shiver flows through me at the feel of it. “Oh, butphoeall, it isn’t your power that is delicious, it’s your raw emotions—your desire, your fear, your fascination, and your wide-eyed exuberance. I haven’t ever tasted anything like it, and I only got a small bite of it the other day. No, you are a smorgasbord for someone like me, and I wish to devour you.” His mist dissolves, and I’m left looking at a deliciously sexy man who is staring at me like he’s starving. His purplish-blue eyes twinkle with amusement as he calls me that word I still don’t understand and my chip doesn’t translate.
Xavier is not wearing his armor like he was the first time I saw him. Instead, he has on a flowing pair of black, wide-legged pants and a tank top which lets me see all his lovely lavender skin and silver markings. His indigo hair is down around his shoulders, and the jewelry in his ears, nose, and eyebrows all have turquoise accents today.
“What you did to Mithus, is that what you want to do to me?” I ask as he strokes a finger over my hand before taking it in his. My body shivers with need, but I try to tamp that shit down hard.
“No. I absorbed Mithus’s power, which is why he shriveled up like a husk. He will regenerate, but the process is painful. He was punished.” He drops my hand and passes one of the full teacups to me. “Drink this, it will help me assess your power levels.” He leans back on his pillow, indolent and sensual, and waits as I blow to cool it down and take a small sip of the startling green liquid. It has a fresh minty taste, so I take a larger sip. He smiles, pleased. “No, drinking emotions does not have the same effect as divesting someone of their power. I can assure you I can make it very pleasurable for you and you will enjoy it.” It’s a threat and a promise all in one.
“You know that I’m mated to Caspian now, right?” I ask, and he smirks.
