Chapter 18 - Kiahn
I’ve been pacing in the ship’s writing chambers for what seems like hours on end when the doors whoosh open to reveal Vel.
I stand straight, my hands that had been clasped behind my back fall to my sides.
She doesn’t say anything, though her eyes widen to find me here, before her features morph into a shit-eating smirk.
“Is it done?” I ask, my fingers flexing of their own volition.
Vel walks into the rooms - in all honesty, although not officially stated, these writing chambers could be considered her rooms, since she is the one who uses them most. “I don’t know what you mean,” she quips, tossing her hair and placing her tablet down on one of the nutwood work desks.
I eye the thing.
That tablet contains my contract with Niska.
Vel hasn’t synced her signed copy up with mine yet - I would know if she had, I’ve been checking on my wrist comm every five minutes or so.
“You know what I speak of.” I can feel my jaw clenching, not in the mood to be teased at present.
Vel quirks her head at me and seats herself primly on the desk chair. I swear, it’s like everyone around me knows exactly how to get under my skin.
Including that little human female.
“Well?!”
She reaches for a pitcher of refreshment that I think had been set out for me a few hours ago and had remained untouched. Pouring herself a glass of sweetberry juice, Vel takes a sip before steepling her fingers in front of her. “She signed your contract, Kiahn.”
It’s like something loosens inside me - like a rope that had been pulled taut is suddenly lax. “She did?” I ask, breathing a sigh of relief, and ruffling my hand through my hair. I sit down without looking - miraculously, my ass lands in a chair that I had not checked for. “So we’re really doing this?”
“Congratulations,” Vel grins. “You have yourself a breeding bride.”
* * *
As much as I would have liked to cast aside my duties, and spend the rest of the day’s travel by Niska’s side, as a Prince returning to my people, I cannot. I already had petitions to read over, agendas to review, and a further, longer list of things to get done provided to me by my dear Aunt Zalora.
I did, however, take a peek at the signed bridal contract once Vel finally synced Niska’s copy up to the system. They hadchanged the active breeding period - I knew they would. No one signs up for more than six fertility cycles at the most. But it was worth a shot. Everything else was pretty standard from the quick scan I’d taken. I tried not to get too excited at the fact that right at the end of the contract, she’s agreed to give me her full permission.
I eye the door to my onboard simulator in the corner of my room. I have her permission now. I could just-
No. Nope. I won’t.
I’ve used other female’s permissions before, but Niska? After what we’d done last night? How close she allowed us to be while we-
Using her permission in my simulator now would feel… cheap, somehow.
I forced my focus back upon the list of royally sponsored conservation projects where I’m meant to be choosing a handful that my principality will award extra funding for the next quarter.
But the whole reason that it’s standard for breeding brides to grant their permission is so that participating males canusesaid permission to touch and… do other things with the perfect likeness of their bride. To desensitize them from the act, help them get used to it, and lower the risk of getting overexcited and issuing a bonding bite.
I find myself staring at the door that leads to my simulator in the corner of my room, thinking about how Niska gave me her full permission -full.
She’s basically given her blessing for me to do anything I want to a perfect, holographic replica of her perfect, real body.
My fangs suddenly jut from my gums, making me hiss out a curse and throw my tablet down on my bed.
I’ll look at my princely duties later.
I need a drink.
