CHAPTER THREE

Stepping outside her quarters the next day, Ginny accepted sharp salutes from the two sentries standing on either side of her portal. Sometime in the night, someone must have given the order for guards to be placed by her door. She wasn’t altogether comfortable with that but had no doubt Tigh’s rash actions in the Council chamber had something to do with the stepped-up security.

Ginny was completely shocked, however, when she stepped out into the public hallway and was immediately surrounded by newsbots and even a few live reporters. Never in her career, even after some of her major victories in battle, had she been so hounded by the media. Luckily for her, the sentries made themselves useful as she ran the gamut from the hallway to her office in the secure military wing on the other side of Atlantia Station.

“You have a tough decision to make.” Commandant Michael Amber entered her office unannounced about midway through the morning. Ginny looked up at him in surprise, rushing to stand, but he waved her formality aside. He motioned for her to remain seated as he pulled up a chair in front of her desk.

“Sir?”

“I can’t order you to accept or decline the emperor’s proposal, Captain, but I wanted to let you know that, either way, I will hold no prejudice against you. If you refuse him, your place is assured here, regardless of what the news media tries to say about you. And, you should know, they’re already talking.”

Ginny felt her stomach sink. She’d purposely avoided watching the news out of fear that she’d be the center of speculation.

“I was afraid of that.”

“I can understand your reluctance to feed the media frenzy, Captain. Which is why I advise you to make your decision quickly. The longer this drags out, the worse the media will become. We’ve already had three attempted breaches of security by stealth model newsbots. One was found hiding in a corner of the Officer’s Mess just half a standard ago.”

Ginny was appalled. “I’m sorry, sir. I had no idea—”

He waved her apology aside. “I know you couldn’t have expected such a rabid reaction to this situation, and the situation itself is not of your making. Just keep in mind that more than an impulsive emperor is awaiting your answer.” Michael stood and headed for the door. “If you need time off to think or consult with your family and friends, just say the word. The sooner his proposal is answered, the sooner we can get back to normal around here.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”

Michael gave her one of his rare smiles. “You always do, Captain. That’s just one of the reasons I’ll regret losing you if you agree to the emperor’s plan. But, for the sake of peace, it might just be worth it. Think carefully before you decide, but do it quickly.”

He left her office, leaving Ginny in even more turmoil than before. She’d expected it would be bad, but she hadn’t realized just how bad. She needed to make her decision and let the emperor know. He deserved to know her answer first, before anyone else.

That thought in mind, she pulled out a rarely used pen and paper. Some things had to be done according to tradition. She didn’t know if she’d be able to face Tigh in person, and a digital transmission was out of the question, due to the possibility of media infiltration. She’d have to write him a good old-fashioned letter.

It took most of the rest of the day, but in writing the letter, Ginny had a chance to organize her thoughts. By the time she finished, she knew her answer. Folding and sealing the envelope, she directed a sub officer to deliver it by hand.

Tigh would have it within minutes, and there was nothing left to do but make her way back to her quarters. Ginny ducked the newsbots in the open areas of the station and sealed herself in for the night.

*

The jit’suku emperor stormed Ginny’s private compartment in the BOQ, bypassing her security measures as if they didn’t exist. Anger shown in every line of his long, hard body.

“How dare you?” Ginny was stunned and angered by his abrupt intrusion into her domain.

He shook the paper of her letter in front of her nose. “What is this?”

Suddenly, she was on the defensive. She knew it had been cowardly to send him a letter rather then tell him in person, but she’d been afraid of his reaction—and her own reaction to his stirring presence. The truth was, she couldn’t trust herself to turn him down if she had to look into his eyes.

“It should be quite obvious.”

“You refuse my offer?” His voice modulated as he dropped down on the couch next to her, but with some space between them. “Don’t you want peace?”

“I want peace more than anyone, but you should have asked a different woman. Not me.”

“But why?” The gentle pleading in his voice started tears behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“I have my reasons.”

Anger flared again, in his haunting eyes. “Fine. I’ll not have you come like some virgin sacrifice, cringing all the way to my bed.”

“I’m not a virgin.” Defiance laced her tone.

But her words didn’t have the desired chilling effect on him. Rather, his volatile temper erupted into sarcasm laced with amusement. “Good, then. We at least have that in common.”

“I thought you were celibate.”

“I have been. But, before I declined the throne in favor of my brother and sought sanctuary with the priests, things were different.” The spark in his eye told her just what things he meant. His anger dissipated, and his face softened somewhat, making her uncomfortable with his continued scrutiny. “Who was he?”

She sighed and sank back on the couch, thinking for a long moment. She didn’t want to share any of her painful past with this disturbing man, but he deserved a better answer to his proposal of marriage. Perhaps if she told him the truth, he’d leave her be.

So deciding, she rose to get the holo off her bedside table and brought it back to him. She sat at his side, closer than before, so he could see the small image as she switched on the viewer. It played for a while before she spoke.

“His name was Paul.”

 

Emperor Tigh watched the man’s image with mixed emotions. The holo showed a young, pale human, with blond hair and dark eyes, handsome in a boyish way as he twirled a much younger version of Ginny in his arms.

“We were engaged to be married, but he died of the virus when it first hit our world.” Her voice was painfully wistful as she stared down at the young man’s image, and Tigh knew the boy would never age in her heart. How could he compete with a memory such as this?

How could he not at least try? Ginny was the woman he needed by his side. He needed her compassion, her strength and her courage if they were to make this peace plan work. He would have liked to also have her love, but he wasn’t sure if that could ever be. Still, his senses told him, this was his woman. He’d rather have her—even without her love—than any other woman in the universe. He needed her. It was that simple.

“You loved him very much.”

“I did.” Finally, her watery eyes rose to meet his. “Tigh, you have to know. There are other reasons a younger woman would be better suited. For one thing, I’m nearing the end of my fertile years. Even if I could somehow conceive, I couldn’t have very many children.” Her voice broke as she looked away again. “But the biggest problem is that I’m barren. I was infected with the virus and nearly died. It’s left me scarred on the inside, the doctors tell me. I’ve tried to get pregnant a number of times, but with no success.”

Anger flared in his veins. His woman had tried to mate with another! Tigh knew the primitive fury was unjustified, but he could barely stop himself from hunting down and killing each and every man who had dared touch his mate. They’d probably be Sons of Amber, he knew, since few other human males were left, and most were sterile.

“Who?” He couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Who did you want to father your child?” If it was a man he knew, Tigh wasn’t sure he could stop himself from trying to kill him the next time they met, but he needed to know.

“Ezekiel Amber,” she said sadly. Her tone didn’t sound lover-like, and it caused Tigh to stop and rethink. “Always Ezekiel.”

“But he’s mated, I heard.”

Ginny nodded, acceptingly. “Lucky man. Yes, he’s married, but he still makes deposits to the sperm banks. When I decided to try to have a baby, I looked through the holos to find the Son who looked most like Paul. I thought, if I could have a little boy that might have Paul’s blond hair, I could pretend it was his child. I could pretend he’d given me that at least. I was going to name him Seth, in honor of Paul’s father. It’s what we’d discussed before he… Before he died.”

Tigh’s anger defused in favor of heartbreaking sympathy for this poor girl. She’d lost so much. He could hardly blame her for wanting to ease her loneliness with a child.

“Love is the noblest reason of all to marry,” he said softly, taking the holo from her hands and switching it off, “but there are others.”

“To end the war, you mean?” She didn’t protest when he put the holo on the table in front of them.

“And for children.”

A tear leaked out of one eye to flow down her cheek. He caught it with his thumb and rested his palm against her soft skin. His fingers tunneled into her rich brown hair. She was the most beautiful creature in the universe.

“But I can’t have children.”

“Not with a human male, perhaps, but the scientists tell me jit’suku men and human women who’ve been damaged by the virus should be able to create female babies. I believe it has to do with the redundancy of your X chromosomes, though I am no genetics expert.”

“So you said when you came to the Council. It’s one of the reasons they’re considering this proposal. Many women who were sick with the virus might want the opportunity to try living with one of your men, if it meant having babies and establishing peace, even after all that’s gone on between our peoples. But as emperor, you’ll need a son to carry on your direct lineage.”

He moved closer, pulling her into his arms. “All I need, is you, Ginny. Any children we have will be a blessing, but whether male or female doesn’t matter to me in the slightest.”

“By your laws, a girl can’t rule the jit’suku.”

Tigh shrugged, pulling her closer. He saw the heat flare in her lovely eyes and smelled her arousal. She wasn’t indifferent to him. No, not at all.

“I never wanted to rule. If we have no boys, another will rise to be emperor. It matters not to me. The Goddess will decide our fate and that of our people.”

He kissed her then, silencing her words. He couldn’t help himself. She was in his arms, soft, feminine and so in need of the comfort he could offer, it nearly broke his heart. Why did she not see she needed him almost as badly as he needed her?

His tongue dueled with hers as if made to do so. Her flavor fired his senses, her scent invaded his very being, taking him over and making him harder than he’d ever been before. This was his woman. Of that there was no doubt.

Praying she’d come around to his way of thinking, he lifted his head, hoping to see agreement in her eyes. Or, if not agreement, then perhaps a softening toward him. He would take any little advantage at this point, but he would not leave this planet without his mate. That much was clear.

“Please, my heart, say you will marry me.”

The racing thoughts behind her beautiful eyes gave him hope. At least she wasn’t turning him down outright this time.

“On one condition.”

It took a moment for her words to sink in. She was agreeing, but what would be her condition? She could have anything, and she probably knew it. Now, he would learn her true measure. Would she want riches or grand concessions? Tigh almost dreaded hearing her demand. She could ask for the universe, and he would find a way to give it to her.

“What is it?”

“I won’t marry you unless we’re sure I can conceive. I want to be pregnant before we marry. I won’t saddle you, or your people, with a barren queen.”

Relief surged through him. His heart hadn’t led him astray. This woman was truly the one for him and his people. She would be a wise and caring empress and would serve their people well.

“Empress you shall be, my sweet Gineva. And fulfilling your request will be my pleasure.”

“Good.” She moved back from him and stood briskly, heading for the com. “Then, I’ll schedule an appointment for tomorrow at the insemination lab.”

Tigh was right behind her, snaring her waist and pulling her back against his hard chest, her back to his front. His hardness nestled into the soft flesh of her ass as if it’d found a home.

“You’ll do no such thing.”

“But we need to know exactly when I’m ovulating.” She sounded exasperated, but she wasn’t fighting against his hold. No, she seemed to snuggle her warm, feminine self against him without even being aware of it. He liked that. A lot. “I know it’s in the next day or so. We’re right around the time, but with the damage done to me by the virus, we need to time this exactly right. The clinic will be able to inseminate me with the highest probability for success. And they may be able to tell us if there’s anything we can do so you can have a male heir.”

“No.” He nipped the lobe of her ear as she wrapped her arms over his, around her waist. He felt the shiver run down her spine as he licked into the whorls of her delicate ear. She was so responsive to him, so perfect for him. How could she not know they were meant to be together? “You should know the jit’suku sense of smell is more highly developed than that of humans.” He inhaled her luscious scent, rubbing his nose along the sensitive cords of her neck. “You are nearing ripeness now, Ginny.”

“Oh, God. You can smell that?”

He chuckled at her outrage. “Mmm-hmm, and it smells divine.” He licked her neck, making her shiver. “Tastes divine too.”

“Tigh…”

He liked the sound of his name on her lips, especially in that soft, breathy whisper that went straight to his groin.

“Know this, my sweet Gineva—any children we have will be conceived in the time-honored way. Girls or boys, matters not to me. Whether one or an army, matters not. Science is what got us into this mess, and science will have no part in what happens between us from this day forward. We will have our babies—or not—according to the will of the Mother Goddess.”

She turned in his arms to face him. “Just so we’re clear. I won’t marry you if I can’t get pregnant, Tigh. You’ll need children to prove to your people that this peace is real and viable.”

“I trust in the Goddess. You were meant for me, Ginny.” He shrugged. “That fact is undeniable. All else will happen as She wills.”

Her head tilted as she gazed up at him. “You’ve said that before. You believe in a Goddess, not a male deity? I find that odd for such a male-dominated race. And why would a priest in a Goddess culture practice celibacy?”

Tigh pulled her in so that her soft thighs rested along his, the hard ridge of his erection nudging her slight tummy. She was so womanly, so beautiful, he never wanted to let her go. He knew she was stalling for time, but she also needed to learn about his culture, and this bit of curiosity was a good sign.

“When a Zenain priest takes his final vows, he is essentially marrying the Goddess. He pledges his life to her and all his strength. He vows to be faithful to her for the rest of his days. Luckily, I hadn’t yet taken my final vows.” He winked at her, and she blushed so prettily, he had to lean in and kiss her heated cheek, but she’d asked a question, and he wanted to answer so that she’d feel free to ask more in the future. He would never stifle her curiosity. He loved her quick mind and knew she’d need to learn a lot to assimilate into the life of the jit’suku empress.

“Our deity is female because there is no higher power in the universe than that of creation. It is you women who harbor that power within you. We men play our part too, but ultimately without the female, all life is lost.” He thought sadly of the tragedy that had called him from his mountain retreat. “We learned that the hard way when my brother’s asinine plan to destroy you destroyed us, instead. Men have flocked to the temples since, repenting and praying for guidance. I believe the Mother Goddess sent us to you—the people we’d tried for so long to destroy—to help us see the error of our ways and to restore balance among all Her children. For I’ve come to learn that you humans are Her children, as well. In my search of your histories, I’ve found many instances of Goddess worship, predating even your advancement to the stars.”

“The God of my childhood is male, Tigh.” Her voice was soft, tinged with a bit of apprehension.

“Don’t worry, my heart. I’ve looked into the teachings of your native religion since meeting you. There are female deities in your culture too, enough to calm the fears of my people and allow you to retain your own beliefs, albeit in private. In public, it may be a different matter, but I will handle the religious obligations of emperor, if you wish. There are very few, actually, so it shouldn’t be a hardship for you at all. We believe, as you do, in religious freedom, though the majority of our people worship the Mother Goddess in various forms.”

“I see you’ve thought this all out very thoroughly.”

He nodded. “It is my nature to plan for all contingencies.” Tigh pressed his hardness against her hips, unable to stop himself. Her proximity was firing his senses almost beyond control.

Tigh felt her shiver and sensed anxiety in her ripening body. She was afraid of him, and he didn’t like it at all.

“You, of all people, have no reason to fear me, sweet Gineva. I would never harm you.” He kissed her hair softly, backing off just a tiny bit though he couldn’t bring himself to let her go now that he had her finally in his arms, where she belonged.

“I didn’t think you would,” she admitted in a small voice. “It’s just that…I haven’t been with a man since Paul.” She fairly choked on her embarrassment, and he could feel the heat in her flaming cheeks as she pressed her face against his chest, hiding her eyes. “He was the only man I ever made love to. It’s been a long time, and you’re…very different, and a bit intimidating.”

Pulling her close, Tigh rocked her in his arms, seeking to comfort. “I’m dominant. It’s the way most jit’suku men are designed, especially the warrior class. I can’t help that, but I can promise that I will never, ever cause you harm in any way. Not intentionally. I may bumble and hurt your feelings because I don’t understand your culture, but I expect you to tell me when that happens, and I will listen. We need to talk freely between ourselves to make this work. I know that. But, when it comes to making love, you’ll follow my lead, and I can guarantee you’ll enjoy every moment. Trust me in this, at least, sweetheart. I’ll bring you pleasure and never let you doubt you made the right choice by joining with me.”

He shuffled her back toward her large bed as he spoke, tumbling down with her onto the soft mattress as he bent his head. Taking her lips firmly under his, he sought entrance with an unrelenting stab of his tongue and was granted access with an eagerness he hadn’t quite expected. She seemed to like it when he gave her no choice. He’d have to file that information away for later consideration. Could this strong woman harbor a secret submissive side?

Tigh nearly laughed at the thought. If it were true, she was the best possible mate for him—a lioness in public with a keen mind and a compassionate heart to rule their people at his side, and a bedmate willing to let his dominant side reign over their pleasure. The Goddess surely knew what She was doing when She created this beautiful woman to be his mate.

Through tragedy for both their peoples, they would triumph, and the first part of the plan was getting his mate pregnant. He had to prove to her, and to his people, that this union of jit’suku and human would save both races and finally bring peace. Everybody would win after the devastating losses of the past tragic years. Jit’suku males would be free to colonize in the human galaxy, as human females would be welcome in return. Eventually, there would no longer be two separate races. The genetics would blur, and all thoughts of war would be ended as the volatile jit’suku temperament was steadied by more stable human influences, and both races would prosper—as one. It was the only way.

Not that it would be an easy road.

But the first step would be a pleasure. Quite literally.

Tigh loomed over Ginny on the wide bed, kissing her deeply as his hands roamed over her body. He tried to be gentle but still managed to tear some of her garments in his haste to be rid of them. She, in turn, used her dainty fingers to unclasp his robes of state, baring him with much more ease and grace than he was managing.

With a grumble of annoyance, he eased up, releasing her from his kiss as he struggled with the fastening of her lounge pants. The string had knotted and would not come undone. He was ready to find a knife and cut the darn things off when he heard her giggle for the first time.

The ultra-feminine sound nearly stopped his heart. Such a light-hearted sound would enchant any hardened warrior, but coming from his destined mate, the tinkle of her laughter sent bubbles of happiness through his soul. His breath caught as he met her sparkling eyes. She was laughing at his eager fumbling, and he didn’t mind one bit. He would act the clown to see that innocent, carefree expression on her face. For just a moment, he glimpsed the girl she’d been before the virus, and knew the boy she’d loved then had been the luckiest man in the universe to have this magical creature all to himself.

Tigh wanted her love, almost desperately, but he counseled himself against being greedy. She would love him—or not—in the fullness of time. He’d read enough to know that humans didn’t always recognize their true mates. Often, they lived their entire lives without ever realizing the other half of their soul was out there, just waiting to be found, and most never found them at all. It was a sad state of affairs. But Tigh knew, without a shadow of a doubt, Ginny had been made for him. Hopefully, she would realize the reverse was also true at some point in their lifetime together. He would wait for that day, and pray for it. On the day she gave him her love freely, he would be complete.

“Help me?” Tigh smiled at her as their eyes met and held. She was so open to him in that moment, he felt his heart cracking, widening to admit her into it. He knew she would remain there always, deep within his soul.

With a shy but eager nod, Ginny moved her dainty fingers to work on the knot he’d made. Meanwhile, he threw off the rest of his heavy robes and tossed them to the floor. The robes of state were necessary while he roamed among the humans, but damned uncomfortable. Luckily, they’d been designed to be easily removed should the need for combat arise. Tigh was left in his supple leather leggings that had been specially designed to allow a full range of motion and the bands across his chest that held a few primitive, bladed weapons that were his specialty.

A Zenain priest novitiate never traveled without his weapons, if he could help it. True, the humans had confiscated all of the more advanced weaponry he and his men had brought, or made them leave it locked up on their impounded ship, but they seemed to think nothing of the primitive blades and fighting sticks he habitually carried.

He could have done without them, of course—a Zenain priest is taught to use his entire body as a weapon—but practicality demanded that weapons be carried when possible. Against a laser pistol, a throwing knife could be surprisingly efficient. Close range combat would bring his hand-to-hand skills into play, but Tigh knew he could never strike a woman except under the direst of circumstances. However, if one was shooting at him, a well-placed, disabling throw of one of his blades wouldn’t offend his warrior sensibilities.

As the robes dropped away, he settled back at her side on the large bed. She was concentrating so hard on the knot he’d made in her drawstring, she seemed almost surprised when he moved one hand up from the strip of bare skin at her waist to work on the little buttons of her shirt. She smiled nervously up at him as the knot came free, and they ceased to move for a timeless moment, just staring at each other like lovestruck children.

“I’m going to prove to you that we belong together, Ginny. How can you doubt it?”

She tilted her head, and the moment was broken. The fire in him rose, though, as her eyes dropped to his chest and widened. The lick of her lips told him she liked what she saw.