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Planet Etteria
The Royal City of Issneen
Later than preferred.
Citus ported onto the docking bay, sighing at the first sight of his home. Weeks had passed since he’d left the Kushin, en route to Etteria. So much had required his attention, from one ambassador to the conflict at the Fuyra mines. Now he was home. The sky was perfect today. The scent of the ocean carried on a delightful breeze.
He strode toward the hover, eager to see his brother. Eager to impart all he’d experienced and the cost to Etteria. The expense was a necessity, the negotiations a success. But Citus longed for the GC to hold the Yithians accountable for kidnapping, slavery, and violations of their global laws. Something he would reiterate when he saw Xeus.
“Drop me off at the garden entrance, Pilot,” he said.
“Yes, my prince,” the pilot said, and the craft rose in a swift yet graceful elevation.
Within minutes, Citus found himself disembarking. He leaped down to the soft ground covered in blue grass. Drawing a deep breath, he strolled along various paths, stopping to pick a white hahyt blossom before bringing it to his nose to inhale.
Maker. How I’ve missed Etteria.
Like the expansive sky with dark clouds roiling in the distance and the magnus and minus suns painting green across the red sea. Maloid’s dark gray skies, with constant electrical storms, were mesmerizing to behold, but the wide-open expanses of Etteria’s pink sky was far more beautiful to him. There was a sense of freedom to it.
He meandered his way to the court and upon discovering it vacant, strode to Xeus’s office, bursting in without requesting access. Xeus sat at his desk, Cales on a nearby comfy. It seemed as if time made no impact on their lives. His brother’s head shot up at the intrusion, his eyes widened, and he bounded up to grasp Citus on his forearm. The small smile that played across his lips was all he expressed.
Citus frowned and sliced a glance at Cales, who nodded. Alodon’s hell. The void couldn’t and wouldn’t claim his blood-bond. But when it came time, there was nothing Citus could say or do that would stop it.
“Citus, at last.” Xeus gestured to a comfy.
“How is Lady Ava?” Citus sat close to Cales, the male he needed to speak to the most.
“She is well, as are all the Dar Eths under our protection.” Xeus slumped into a comfy, as well.
The excitement that had added a bounce to his step and allowed him to wake rejuvenated faded. Citus gritted his teeth. If Xeus wanted to discuss the Dar Eths, then he would...for now. “How many?”
“Four so far. We have placed a perimeter of battleships around Earth to thwart Yithia. I have tasked Malo to act as ambassador.”
“Malo? Do you not trust these humans?” Citus hadn’t noticed any dishonorable traits when he’d spoken to the females.
“It is at my daughter’s suggestion.” Xeus rubbed his chin. “She advised Etteria not to trust them.”
“Daughter? Yes, Ulriq mentioned Enyl has a Dar Eth.”
“Have you met a human woman, my prince?” Cales asked him, drawing Citus’s gaze from Xeus’s face, the dark circles under his eyes alarming.
“Yes, I met Ladies Ava, Jack, and Tory during the rescue. It is the reason for my delay. I attended to what we owed Ambassador Barro, and even though I added our navigation charts to the Scimitar as agreed, I had the forethought to remove Earth’s location.”
“Wise indeed. Our attempts to prevent Yithians from stealing our females would be further compounded by Maloid’s involvement.” Xeus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And your thoughts on the human women you met?”
Ah, so this interests my brother? “Their scents are intoxicating, fertile, and their variety of features are incredible, so appealing. Not once had I considered the possibility of choice. To prefer yellow hair to red or brown?” Citus grinned. “And they’re not weak, able to endure much without breaking. Ava enthralled Barro, and had he not been so greedy, he might have kept her.”
“As was King Urio impressed,” Xeus said. “He stated in a written missive that she was a delight, beautiful, and it was understandable why we kept our females hidden.”
“He still believes she is Etterian?” Citus chuckled.
“Yes, he sold her since she was too honest for his court. He was not apologetic that his males had kidnapped her nor that they had violated GC laws. I have long suspected that many GC ministers are bribed to remain silent in the face of these injustices.” Anger blazed in his dark blue eyes, and for a moment, they paled, alarming Citus who shot another glance at Cales.
“We need a non-Etterian to infiltrate the council,” Cales said.
“Yes, one acceptable to the members with our interests at heart.” Xeus rubbed a hand over his face. “Remain for a while, brother. I might need you to assist in the negotiations with Earth. Malo is not as patient as you.”
“He should be more so as our head assassin,” Citus said, even though the idea of staying on Etteria for a while did appeal to him.
“Ulriq is en route to Earth to deliver Lady Tory and Medic Teric then will return to Etteria with the two Dar Eths.”
“I am excited to see how Kanzo is treating Lady Ava,’ Citus said, unable to curtail an eager smile.
“As if an Eth would mistreat his Dar Eth?” Cales chuckled.
Citus agreed. The concept of such occurring was absurd. “As my first human female, she made an impression on me.”
“Without a doubt. Oriana is as memorable.” Xeus scowled.
Citus stiffened. Why does Xeus’s expression not match his words? “Where are Enyl and his princess?”
“En route to Earth, which was a wise decision considering her knowledge of her home world.” Cales sipped his giyua juice before placing the cup on the table. “Not to mention she scented so good, it was a true test of our self-control.”
“Truth?” Arching his eyebrow, Citus glanced from Cales to Xeus, who bounded up and headed for the door.
“I will see you at the evening meal.” He left his office post-haste.
Citus stared out the transparent walls watching Xeus stride across his court. “How close is it?”
“It is not, but he believes it is.”
“Alodon’s balls.” Citus jumped up to pace. “Perhaps a trip to Gikaet? I am here. I could attend to any issues that arise.”
Cales’s smile broke forth, proving the offer a propitious one. “Yes, such a venture would be of value.”
Citus ran a hand over his face. Thank the Maker he’d returned when he had. He punched into his O.D.I. informing Remi of his concerns. If anyone could assist Xeus, it would be the Base Commander.
“I will arrange our immediate departure.” Cales was out the door, taking the same path Xeus had.
Citus frowned, praying to the Maker that a killing spree on Gikaet would aid both males. For if Xeus succumbed to the void, his closest battle-bond Cales would follow him.
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