“They’ve allied with some of the Arietan clans.”
“Not Ramses?”
“No. Thank goodness. The Ogneb family is still on our side.”
“Good. Most of the clans are far too weak, disorganized, more interested in slave trade than anything.”
“That’s the problem. The confederates have promised them a supply of human slaves. The planet has over seven billion. There’s more than enough for them to choose from.”
“The Prince won’t let this happen,” I said, reassuring myself as much as anything.
“You’re right, he won’t. But he’ll need good men at his side. Good men who are willing to fight.”
“Are we getting to the part that Thalassa didn’t wish to tell me about?”
Morpheus nodded.
“Rumor has it the Prince will promote you to general, you’d get a boost in rank but you’d be right at the front lines.”
“I’ve only just mated.”
“Exactly. If that human woman is with child, it will be safer for her to be close to you. The changes documented in interspecies mating require close medical observation. She will have to grow accustomed to the telepathic connection.”
“I understand.”
“Now do you see why Thalassa wished to keep this away from you?”
Unfortunately, I did. There was much to worry about. If my Prince called on me to serve Devor, I would, without any hesitation. Yet, I couldn’t leave Jessica. I refused to leave her. I’d promised her that I wouldn’t.
We finished eating together. I returned to my quarters to find Jessica sleeping, bundled in the bed like a tiny seaweed wrap. I climbed into bed next to her but she didn’t awaken. She shifted her hips back and nuzzled into the crook of my body. Human beings. We’d first become aware of them after the Prince took his wife from earth, in accordance with the prophecy laid forth by our people.
When this human woman, the first to arrive on Devor, interlinked with our temple, she sent a shockwave through our society. Over two years had passed since that happened. We’d considered the problem of this species since then, and since then, we’d come to view them almost like small children. They needed guidance in their awareness of alien life.
If war were to come to their planet, they’d be powerless. I couldn’t allow this to happen to Jessica, or her people. I stroked her head and despite much trouble, I did eventually fall asleep. She woke me in the middle of the night by shaking my arm.
“Kronos,” she hissed, “Kronos!”
“Yes, what is it my dear?” I mumbled.
“Your dreams. They woke me.”
“My dreams? How did you know they were mine?”
“There was a boy. I think it was you as a boy. He was speaking to me in a language that I didn’t understand. I could see his face.”
I chuckled, running my hands through her long black hair.
“The dream wasn’t mine, sweetling.”
“I’ve never seen a blue-skinned child. He’s one of your people.”
“No. He’s one of ours.”
“Ours… Do you mean that…”
“You may be pregnant.”
“How?” She gasped.
