Imma nodded, sighing as she stood. “Very well, since I know my dear sister won’t talk, we will punish her servant. Sira, I sentence you to death,” she said, turning to the female in question, pulling a wicked curved knife from the sash around her waist.
Sira squawked as she backed up against the wall, her face paling until she looked almost blue. Her eyes found her daughters as they clutched each other off to the side, tears falling down their gaunt faces.
“Please, no, Great Matriarch. I did nothing wrong, I swear it,” she said, when she returned her attention back to the approaching Queen. She held all four of her hands up, palms out. “Please, I’m telling the truth!
Imma stopped in front of her, the knife raising with dramatic slowness.
Sira’s eyes were wild, darting around the room until they landed on Sythia. She pointed a claw at her. “It was her! It was her! She did it. I swear, I’ll tell you everything. Please, don’t hurt me.”
Imma stopped, her smile cruel as she crouched down in front of Sira, caressing the knife's blade with her fingers. “I know you will, Sira. Thank you.” She stood, sweeping her dress to the side to stalk back to us. “Take them all away.”
Male Neldres wearing thick leather armor moved into the room, most holding short rifles in their primary hands, but some were carrying metal four handed cuffs. Sira collapsed onto the floor, sobbing as her daughters rushed to her.
It would be sad if they weren’t such assholes.
When the males approached Sythia, she tried to scramble away, her angry shouts filling the small room, but four of the males swarmed her, subduing her in the cuffs and dragging herass right out of the room. Sira and her daughters were escorted out as well.
I slow clapped once they were all gone. “It’s like a telenovela on this planet. All drama, no chill.”
The aliens looked at me, their faces puzzled so I shrugged. “It's a human thing.”
Imma slid her dagger back into her sash and then brushed her hands together. “Your arrival on my planet has prompted quite the incentive for a change. I have found several members of my court openly challenging my decisions, my sister is most likely responsible for an assassination attempt on all of us, and Rema’s family is finally getting their due. Now, with all of these things coming out into the light, I can start correcting them. Prison sentences, and legislation for change. With my more outspoken opposition out of the way, perhaps my people can start to grow, instead of stagnating as we have been for the last thousand years.”
I tapped Rema on the forearm to let me down, smiling as he grumbled about it.
Once on my own two feet, I hugged his side, sighing when his two arms wrapped around me to pull me more snugly into him. “Glad I could help. A single measly attempted murder is a lot more low key than the shit I’ve been dealing with on Korsal. It’s been a nice change of pace.”
Imma wrapped her arms around Dhenea, pulling the female back against her front, her red wings closing around them slightly. “Ah, but you still have the rest of your mating ceremony to go. And then we all have to prepare for our own parts of the war. Go get some rest you two. Tomorrow will be Heat.” She gave Rema a sly look. “That should take your mind off your anger.”
Rema blushed, giving her a wry smile. “I’m sure it will help. But don’t forget, I too will be performing, so save a few of your leers for Patty as well.
I snorted, smacking his stomach with the back of my hand lightly. “Don’t get too cocky, Rema.”
Imma bit her lip hard enough I worried she’d draw blood, and looked like she was on the verge of telling a joke.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Go ahead and spit it out.”
Dhenea snickered, and Imma had to close her eyes for a second. When she opened them again, they were watery with repressed laughter.
“From what I heard, that’s what his problem is.”
Did— did this alien nightmare lady just make a ‘that’s what she said’ joke?
“Oh, like you’re one to talk. I believe you said ‘proportionate’,” I said, waving my hand at her body in an up and down gesture.
Imma laughed, her wings vibrating with emotion as she ushered Dhenea forward with her primary hands on her shoulders. As they passed us out the door she leaned down to bring her head close to Rema’s. “Don’t fret Rema, not all of us can be as blessed as I.”
I watched them turn the corner, still cackling at Imma’s jokes.
“I think I liked her better when she was just the Queen to me,” I told Rema with a shake of my head.
He chuckled, guiding me down the maze of hallways to the balcony that opened above the courtyard.
“They have always been like this. When I was younger, they would tease me relentlessly about anything. They did the same with their own children and with each other. Their personal quarters were always filled with laughter. I will have to introduce you to their children someday. Though it will have to wait until after our mating, as we would have to travel to Tuaniv, where Imma always sends the younger children to stay with their eldestdaughter when there are political dealings at hand. They are an interesting bunch,” he said, picking me up in his arms and flaring his wings wide before stepping off the balcony.
My stomach dropped before his wings caught the wind and we glided in lazy circles towards the ground. The ringed planet was bright at night, the pale peach giving the sky an almost sunset glow, making it difficult to see any stars.
“How many kids do they have?” I asked, curious to know how many kids someone could have after a thousand years together.
