“Both Princess Ushyaz and Prince Idris have put all of their focus on the two war fronts. They’ve avoided returning home anytime soon, in hopes of postponing their duty to preserve the bloodline.” Raizxl’s body tensed as he turned his attention to the stars. “Both have received many offers to bond. Rumor has it that some females begged to provide Prince Idris with offspring, even without a bonding in place.”
“If Prince Idris is considered so desirable at home, why haven’t any of the females here bugged him?”
Why am I asking if he’s single? It doesn’t matter; it’s not like I have a chance in this universe to be with him.
“Almost all of the females stationed here are already bonded to another male; they follow their warriors wherever they go. Most are warriors themselves,” he sighed, voice turning melancholy. “In times of war, it is better to spend every waking moment with your starmate, knowing that the next battle may be their last. The overseers and civilians planetside focus on repopulating, while we protect our territory.”
“Do female warriors ever become pregnant on duty?” she asked softly.
Raizxl shook his head. “Their eggs are stored, and the females are placed on suppressant drugs that are refreshed once every ten years. Some make the choice to become sterile, not wanting to risk being captured and used.”
“Used?”
Raizxl glared at her. “Humans are lucky we are the first aliens you came across. There are other species in this galaxy that will do anything to invade a habitable planet, especially if they found one with less advanced technology and bodies capable of brooding their young.”
“Wait, you are saying—”
“Correct,” Raizxl hissed. “Our warrior females would rather become sterile than take the chance of being captured while fertile, to be raped and forced to incubate for a deranged species that values no one but their own.”
Jaiya was going to be sick.
While most of the CTA believed that the Daextru were villainous, from what she had seen so far, they were everything but. They may have had strange and unfamiliar traditions like sleeping in a large sandbox for a bed, but it wasn’t like humans didn’t have their own quirks.
She didn’t want to think about what would happen if a species like the Vresqoxk invaded the CTA.
Twenty-five years of war with a species that wanted nothing but sand. It was moronic, even if theywerelying about the destroyed representatives’ vessel.
“Is there a sparring ring on the base? A gymnasium? Or perhaps a large room where I can run laps?” Jaiya asked, having a sudden urge to dosomethingother than returning to her cabin to lie in the sand that had fueled a war. “I have a sudden burst of energy I need to burn if I want any chance at sleep tonight.”
“The diplomat has a sudden need to fight with something other than words?” Raizxl smirked.
“I wasn’t the one who was afraid of a fragile little diplomat stabbing the prince,” she teased.
Raizxl narrowed his eyes. “You could have been an assassin on a suicidal mission.”
“I believe some would consider my coming here by myself a death wish.” Jaiya turned away from the window and crossed her arms. “But yes, if you can guide me someplace I can stretch my legs, I would appreciate it.”
“I know just the place.”
