Dec tenses. “They grabbed my ass.”
The alert that the engines of this ship have failed shows up as I narrow my focus on the tinkral with the audacity to touch what’s mine. “Humans are as varied as any species, but as a whole, they are cute, violent, emotional and dangerous, and this one is mine.You don’t touch my Dec without permission, and I’m never going to give you permission.”
“It’s my body,” Dec deadpans, and it’s a threat.
“It is your body, but until such time as you retract your consent, I get a say in who touches you, and the only people whose hands belong on your ass are yours and mine.”
Dec gives me a moment to stew in the possibility that he disagrees before he hums in agreement. “Yes, that works for me. Please keep the pervs at bay.”
The captain and the mission leader exchange a look before they both turn to us. “We now understand why your ambassador has failed to bring the humans in line with the galactic senate. We formally withdraw our intention to claim stewardship over Earth.”
“We appreciate that, but may I ask why?” Dec asks, back in stuffy butler mode. It’s impressive how quickly he can turn that persona on.
The mission leader replies, “The tears of humans seem to have a psychoactive effect on civilized species. We don’t think that an invasion force would be able to withstand human suffering based on your ability to call up tears when you’re separated from the people who are important to you. The plan for stewardship will have to be re-evaluated to take into account the bonding agent in your tears that triggers the need to comfort you and forces us to experience your sadness far too empathetically to succeed in gaining compliance to our stewardship.”
Is that the load of basalt they’re dumping on this invasion? Humans aren’t taking care of their planet, so they’ve decided to do it for them? They’re delusional if they believe their own rhetoric. Tinkral invasions of inhabited planets are brutal and devastating. They’re not the worst expansionist species, but targeting Earth is...
Honestly, it’s stupid. The senate won’t interfere in their invasion of worlds not part of the Alliance of Species except for the ones protected under the Abron accords. Any invasion of Sol would be considered an act of war against the Alliance of Species and would result in heavy fines against the tinkral. Their membership in the alliance might even be revoked.
Against my dire thoughts, Dec’s scent fills with the happiness I associate with amusement in humans. “I see. Unfortunately, you seem to have come to this conclusion too late. Like I said, it will be a month before anyone can come tow you out, but it looks like the little gargoyles have left your life support active, so it’s not a complete tragedy.”
A growl erupts from me. Dec might be amused, but something is happening with the tinkral if they thought invading Earth was their best strategy. “When the Alliance comes for you, make sure you never return to Sol. Do you remember what the Trustworthy did to the In’ai?”
Any civilized species would know what we did to that species a hundred years ago, and the tinkral captain’s scales shift to orange when he hears me and finally sees me for what I am. “Of course.”
“The Trustworthy protect humans and Earth, and we allow you to mine at the edge of Sol because you’ve never turned an eye to Earth before. Your welcome is rescinded. Henceforth any tinkral ship entering the orbital range of Sol will be destroyed without warning. We will assume the tinkral mean to invade Earth again and will act accordingly.”
As soon as the mission leader and captain both acknowledge that, I teleport my Dec back home. I don’t think the tinkral will return anytime soon, especially given their weakness to human tears and the reputation of the Trustworthy among the space-faring species who know of us, and I’m done with having Dec anywhere near them.
Chapter nineteen
Dec
(Possessive Thoren gets hugs)
Thoren takes a fewseconds longer than I expect to release me from the stone trap of his wings, and when he finally does, I turn back around to face him, resting my hands on his massive pecs as I crane my neck to look up at him. Not as much as I did with the tinkral, but still.
“So,” I start, going for a note of firm finality because I do not want him trying to negotiate what I’m about to say.
“So?” he asks as his brothers start popping into the command center one by one.
“I will not be part of any mission going forward even if your cards decide I’m the best person for the job. Literally the only thing I did was find out that the tinkral are as susceptible to human tears as humans are to baby animals. I guess that’s helpful information, but humans would have kicked their technologically superior asses in a few hours if we’d let them come, and if I hadn’t been there, you still could have sent in thelittle gargoyles to destroy their engines. I was a superfluous bodyandthe one who took all the risks! That is not happening again.
“I am a badassbutler. I do not go on missions; I keep the house running, make sure your living spaces are warm and welcoming, and ensure that you have all the comfort at home that you need in order to be well so that you can do your jobs at maximum efficiency. That is my calling. Do not even suggest I accompany you off world for any other reason than vacation or to go get our babies when they hatch.”
I wince at the words that leave my mouth like Thoren and I are already planning to raise children together. I mean, we are, because a butler is a part of the household and does serve a role in the care-taking of babies and young children, but that’s not what the “our” in that statement meant and everyone in this room knows that.
Maxime claps and coos in absolute delight. “Oh goodie! You are soul mates!”
Thoren and I look at each other with matching expressions of exasperation before we turn together to face Maxime. I don’t know what Thoren has to say, but I don’t wait for him to take the lead here. “Sir, I don’t think you can just go around declaring soul mate pairs because you want it to be true. That puts too much pressure on a situationship that doesn’t even have clear boundaries.”
Thoren’s rumble next to me is decidedly discontent. “I think we have a fairly firm idea about the boundaries of this relationship. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and everyone else can stay in their own lanes.”
I give that a second to sink in before I find myself nodding in agreement, sinking into a warm vat of emotional pleasure. He wants me. “Ok, sure. We’re in a possessive relationship and don’t need outside interference mucking it all up.” We’ll probably do that just fine on our own.
Possessive Thoren grumbles a bit as he reaches out and pulls me into his arms again. “Exactly.”
Maxime looks at us like we’re adorable. “Well, I’m disappointed, but convinced you are, in fact, a divine butler. I won’t complain about your suits anymore, and we will make other plans should the cards ever suggest we include you. Thank you for participating in the successful repelling of the tinkral invasion force. Do you mind if Reeves debriefs you before you two leave?”
