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“A MATCH WITH PRINCESS Lu would be beneficial. Her family has many valuable allies with the major shipping companies. That could net us a discount on goods we hope to export off-world.” Imgin tapped his fingers on the conference table to the beat of a familiar musical composition. “Yes, we could benefit greatly with an alliance with her.”
Melis held in his surprise. When he’d first told Imgin of his plan to take an off-worlder as a mate, he’d objected—loudly. He believed in the old ways of doing things and hadn’t wanted to bring an outsider to such a high position in the royal court. While there were off-worlders who lived on Ipakethe within the bu Kumkani Kingdom borders, Imgin didn’t trust them to have Ipakethe as a priority.
If he could convince Imgin of the benefits of an off-world alliance, Melis might have a chance convincing the Kgosis from the other kingdoms.
“Hm,” Hamend studied the holo-pictures projected above the conference table. “I like Bienke for the position of Queen. She’s poised, knowledgeable and her family has wealth—enough to buy their seat on the governing body of the AC-141 XM3 sector. They own the only pleasure planet worth mentioning in this sector.”
Mxolisi chuckled. “Chikondi and I are on the waitlist for a visit. It’s a year-long wait. Maybe if Melis takes her as a mate we can get bumped up.”
“All the females invited have wealth, influence and proper allies. The Kgosi will need to pick someone he’s most compatible with, and who he doesn’t mind spending the rest of his life and having children with.” Themba turned to Melis. “You should have some idea by now, who you wouldn’t mind by your side?”
Melis did have an idea. In fact, he’d had it since first laying eyes on her.
“Kgosi?” Themba asked, when he didn’t respond.
With all eyes on him, Melis cleared his throat and peered at the holo-pictures. Themba was right. He’d chosen each and every one of the females because they could bring to Ipakethe something his planet lacked. He hadn’t chosen any of them for their appearance. Some of them were beautiful and some were plain. Some he found the conversation easy going and invigorating and others he would rather stick swords in his ears than talk to.
“Kgosi?” Themba asked again.
“I haven’t made a final decision yet. I’ll have to cull the group and focus on the candidates I’m leaning towards.” Something he should’ve done well before now, but he’d been procrastinating. Melis reached up and touched Sira’s holo-picture, and as he did a checkmark appeared across her face. “She can stay.”
He repeated the same with Bienke, and Lu. He then looked at Una’s picture. Hers didn’t have a checkmark. She was the reason why he hadn’t done this sooner. When she left Ipakethe, so would Lanta.
While Una was beautiful in her own right, he couldn’t bear to think of spending any more time than necessary with her. She was childish, immature and selfish to the point where it was embarrassing. Her family had powerful allies, but it wasn’t worth the headache bonding with her would bring. She wasn’t going to be his queen.
“The decision has been made,” Themba announced to the small table of advisors. “We can send the others home. We’ll have to do it tactfully though. We want to capitalize on the alliances, albeit fragile as they are, we’ve made so far.”
“How should we break the news to them?” Mxolisi asked.
“Delicately,” Themba said. “In the meantime, I’ll contact security and have their accesses revoked to certain parts of the palace.” Themba pushed his comlink. “Enne?”
The best thing Melis could do for Ipakethe was send Una home and Lanta with her. At least then he might forget about Lanta and focus on what was best for his kingdom and planet.
She’s my true lifemate.
And she was beautiful. Smart. Easy to talk to. With her he wasn’t just a Kgosi, he was himself.
Every molecule in his body screamed for her.
“Wait.”
Being around her was wreaking havoc on his life. His body. His soul.
Themba turned to look at him. Melis took a deep breath.
Let Lanta go.
Instead he reached up and tapped Princess Una’s picture and a checkmark appeared.
Never.
* * *
ATLANTA: YOU’RE SENDING some of the guests home.
Melisizwe: As you advised.
Atlanta: It was a suggestion, but also a conclusion that you had come to as well. Why is Una not on the list to leave?
No answer.
Atlanta: Melis?
No answer.
* * *
ATLANTA: I’VE BEEN thinking. You’ve introduced your guests to the merchants and business owners, but they were too enthralled by you to actually pay attention to anyone else. Also, there was the matter of someone waving a blaster around, so they might have forgotten about the merchants and business owners altogether.
Melisizwe: Enthralled? Really? I’m enthralling?
Atlanta: Stay on topic, please. I’m trying to help you.
Melisizwe: Go on.
Atlanta: You should organize another outing, before the other females leave. This time instead of the business owners coming to the palace, you should take your guests to their factories. It would be less distraction and the merchants can show your guests firsthand the services and goods they offer.
Melisizwe: I like that idea. It was a good decision to keep you around.
Atlanta: Wait. Did you keep Una because you wanted my advice?
Melisizwe: Do I have to answer that?
* * *
THIS MORNING MELIS had invited his guests on a tour through some of the factories and manufacturing facilities within the boundaries of his kingdom. He was happy the guests had recognized some of the business owners as those from the dinner party. The merchants had rushed forward and greeted them, eager to make their acquaintances once again. He thought the tours were going well and his goal was being accomplished. Even though five of the females would be leaving that afternoon, some of these merchants might find their goods exported to some of their homeworlds.
“You and Themba still don’t think she’s a security risk, do you?”
Melis hadn’t heard Payton’s approach. He’d been too engrossed in watching Lanta. In his defense, he thought he was hidden well. When the group had progressed from one section of the fabric factory they toured to another, he’d slipped into a back corner.
He hadn’t planned to hide for long. He only needed a break from his guests. Sadly, he assumed that with half of them leaving he would have more breathing room. He’d been mistaken. The guests slated to remain redoubled their efforts to monopolize him and his time.
Melis pulled his gaze from Lanta and searched out the gaggle of females clustered around one of the demonstrations. The only reason he’d been able to sneak away was because the guests had found the process of weaving gold into the fabrics more interesting than him. “Who?”
He’d gotten rid of the Nisroc and, as far as he knew, there wasn’t any other guests whose security clearance had been questionable.
“Lanta. You’re over here huddled in a corner, spying on her.”
Melis straightened. “Huddled? I am not huddled. I was trying to get a break from my guests.”
Payton opened her mouth in an “O”. “I get it. It’s hard to talk or even get close to you when they’re around. I guess you should be happy they’re interested though. That’s a good thing. You wouldn’t want to spend the rest of your life with someone who couldn’t stand to be in the same room with you. That would suck, since you guys don’t believe in divorces.”
“I appreciate they’re interested. But there’s a point when an interest becomes overwhelming.”
“I know, but it’s what you signed up for, buttercup. Take a deep breath and head back out to the wolves.”
Melis sighed, mainly because he didn’t understand half of what Payton said most of the time, and usually he didn’t have the energy to ask her to explain herself. That only ended up with him having a headache.
“You’re right. I have to get back out there. I can rest and find reprieve in my quarters after the day is done.” And he could message Lanta and have her tell him how the day went. He gave Payton his arm. “Ready to go back?”
Payton looped her arm in his but held back when he took a step forward. “You didn’t answer my question about Lanta. Were you watching her because you think she’s a security threat? I don’t know her all that well, but I’ve talked to her and I don’t think she has any ill intent toward you or anyone else here. She’s a little lost if you ask me. She’s confused on what being human means, but she doesn’t strike me as a security risk.” Payton turned to look at Lanta. “She’s been living with the Oncuns for so long that she’s lost herself in their culture. I feel so sorry for her. She doesn’t know how to process her emotions or feelings, Melis.”
He looked at Lanta too. She was stone-faced, which was normal when she was on duty, but he knew from experience there was fire behind those eyes and passion in her touch. Their kiss had been almost been his undoing. “What do you mean?”
“She likes someone and she thought that meeting me had somehow unlocked her feelings. She didn’t understand that when she’s around a love interest, her stomach would twist, her heart would skip a beat, or her breathing would get affected. These are all signs that humans are attracted to someone. She didn’t know that. I had to explain it to her.”
Melis’s ears perked up. Had Lanta told Payton about her feelings toward him? Because she did have feelings. There was no denying that. She wouldn’t have responded as intensely as she had to their kiss if it weren’t true. She’d been just as aggressive as he had. He still remembered her hands fisting in his hair and her tongue caressing his. And the way her body had melted under his touch...
“She told you that?”
He had many of the same feelings as she did. They didn’t have to act on them, but at least addressing their feelings would help to work through what was happening between them. He would love to be able to talk to her. Really talk to her, for once.
“She did, but she didn’t tell me who her feelings were for.”
Of course, she wouldn’t. Her job meant too much to her.
“I’m going to find out though.”
“Leave it alone, sister. She has her reasons for wanting it to stay a secret.”
Payton waved a hand in the air. “I get it that she’s on duty a lot, but she does have some free time on her hands. As soon as I find out who she likes I’m going to hook her up.”
Although he didn’t want the headache his question would lead to, he couldn’t stop from asking. “What does, ‘hook her up’ mean?”
“When I find out who she likes, I’m going to arrange like a secret date or something. She deserves it.”
“Payton...”
“Don’t you start too, Melis. She’s a guard, not a priestess. If she’s interested in a waiter, she should get a chance to act on and explore those feelings.”
“Did you say she’s interested in a waiter?”
Payton nodded. “She told me that she doesn’t want me involved, but I think that’s her shyness talking. She should go for it and have some fun.”
Melis’s vision clouded.
“Um...okay...I should take my arm back before you rip it out of the socket.” Payton pulled her arm free. “So, don’t get mad at me. I told her it was fine to pursue the waiter. Is there a rule that staff can’t engage....?”
“They can do whatever they want,” Melis said through clenched teeth.
The vessels behind his eye pulsated. His other eye twitched, as he stared at Lanta, wondering which one of his subjects he now had to murder.
“So...I...um...think I’ll rejoin the group.” Payton backed away from him slowly. “Are you sure everything is fine?”
Melis growled, looking past Payton. How could Lanta have feelings for someone else when she was all he thought about? Did she not know how she affected him? It physically hurt to be in the same room as her and keep his composure intact. She deserved the stars and he wanted to give each and every one to her as a sign of his love and devotion.
“Wow. So your behavior is totally normal. Not.”
“I have some things to think about,” he ground out.
“Fine. But I don’t care what rule you have about staff not engaging guests, Lanta gets a pass. She deserves it.” Payton turned on her heel and headed back to the group.