His Highness the Duke Page 13

  Aeron swallowed nervously, trying to process all she was told. “I can’t shift. I can’t really do anything special.”

  Mede chuckled. “That is not true. You can love your husband and honor him. There is much to be said about that. All the grand schemes in the universe pale in comparison to love and family. All jobs mean nothing when put up against being a mother and wife and partner. That is not to say you cannot work if you so choose, but there is something very noble to also walking a simple path. I am queen. I rule half a planet. I have power and respect. I negotiate and entertain alien races, and yet if you ask me, do you know what I’d tell you my most important roles are?”

  “Wife and mother,” Aeron supplied.

  The queen nodded. “Yes, family.”

  “Is it too late to stop the process? Can I find Bron another crystal?” Aeron knew Bron had explained some of this to her, but the queen had a way of explaining it that Bron did not. Her husband made it sound like a command that she stay with him, all dependent on duty and honor and tradition and fate.

  “I have seen the way he looks at you. It is far too late for him. Whether he realizes the full connection or not, he has given you his life. He has shortened his days to extend yours so your fates could remain entwined. If you were to choose to leave him, he would be alone for the rest of his life. If you die, he will be alone. Without the aid of our blue sun, your life would play out like normal, maybe extended a few more years than usual. When he took you to his tent, it was his choice. When you stayed, that was yours. You are all he will ever have. So, please, I beg you for the sake of my nephew and my family, consider your future very carefully. I see you thinking of going, of denying the marriage. I am sure Bron thinks you mean to stay. He could not, would not, have brought you back to the palace otherwise—not after the king ordered him to stay at the cabin until your marriage was made right.”

  Aeron couldn’t deny it. She did think of leaving, not because she didn’t care, but because she was scared of caring. The last home world she’d had exploded. Could she really accept a new one knowing what she did about the Tyoe? It seemed a choice destined for heartache and pain.

  “How is all this possible? It can’t just be the radiation,” Aeron tried to reason. If it was true, when she died Bron would be alone. Was giving his years to her enough to counteract her lineage? She was scarcely able to believe as much.

  “Why question it? You feel him, don’t you? You have started to feel what he is feeling. And he feels what you are feeling. If you are discontent, he will feel it. It will distract him. If you are happy, he will smile more and not know why.”

  “If not love, then he could have companionship, at least, couldn’t he?”

  The Queen merely laughed, not shying away from the revealing question. “You are curious, aren’t you? In the past, the boys have occasionally left our planet for ambassador duties. And, distasteful as it sounds, there are several roving bands of women with loose morals who make scheduled stops for the warriors. They are men after all. But that is all in the past. Such are the pursuits of unmarried men, a mere means to idle away the time until fate chooses their future. Once mated, they do not go back to such things. He couldn’t if he wanted to. You would know right away. Besides, if he wanted to, you would know that, too. He doesn’t desire anyone else, rest assured.”

  Aeron wasn’t sure how to respond. She hadn’t been asking about Bron’s sex life, but the idea gave her much pleasure.

  “I have given you much to think about. I love my family, but men are men and they sometimes forget that not everyone thinks as they do. I find it best to command information from them, if they are being evasive.” Mede laughed. “I can see by your expression that evasiveness has been an issue. Those men and their secrets. Do they really believe they can keep them from their wives?” The queen stood and crossed the distance to Aeron. She cupped her cheek gently. “You have so much power, little niece, as do all women. Your husband will act like he is in charge, like he is protecting you and your honor. Let him think that, for in truth, you hold all the power in your marriage. If you accept him, he will give everything he is and everything he has to please you. Use that power well…”

  Aeron nodded.

  “…or I will have to hunt you down.”

  Aeron nodded again, looking for a sign the woman was joking. She wasn’t.

  “Good.” The queen removed her hand and turned toward the bathroom. “I will leave you to bathe. We are about the same size, I think, so I will have some of my gowns brought to you.”

  “I can’t possibly accept—” Aeron stood in protest.

  “You cannot possibly walk around the palace dressed as you are,” the queen corrected. “It is understandable after a journey, but not after you have been given our hospitality.”

  Aeron nodded. “I don’t wish to embarrass anyone.”

  Let alone myself, she added silently.

  “Then it is settled. You should find everything you need in these chambers.” Mede gestured toward the bathroom. “Bron will join you when he’s finished his business with the king.”

  “Do you trust your wife?” King Llyr watched his nephew from behind his desk in the royal offices.

  “Yes,” Bron said without hesitation. He glanced from the fireplace to look over his shoulder at the king. “I would stake my word to hers.”

  “Then that is all I need to know.” The king nodded, taking Bron at his word without hesitation.

  Bron moved from where he had been staring into the fire. He walked with a natural grace to take his place before the king’s desk. There were several documents in front of the man, including a very large stack of parchment contracts.

  “This is not the most welcome news,” the king said wearily, watching Bron with shaded eyes. “I have my hands full with the Var threat. They grow overbold as of late. This last batch of brides seems intent on being obstinate. None of the royal marriages are settled. I would cancel next year’s shipment of potential brides until we can look into why this many are unsettled, but then I would have a riot on my hands with the men. Several of the soldiers will be ready to join the bachelors, and we will have a record number of men in attendance within the next five years. It would seem on the surface the royal and noble marriages have given the men hope. We have looked for years for another way to bring brides to our planet. Short of finding the legendary portals our ancestors were said to have buried beneath the earth, so that we may once again kidnap brides like savages, I have no alternative to Galaxy Brides.”

  Bron didn’t answer. What could he say?

  The king sighed. “All this and now I have to worry about a potential space attack by a race of aliens I have never heard of.”

  “Mirek will look into it and we will submit a report with our findings.” Bron thought of his wife and wondered what she and the queen were discussing. He knew his aunt could be possessive of family and hoped Aeron didn’t express any discontentment to the woman. The queen wouldn’t hurt Aeron, but she wouldn’t hesitate to put her into punishment.

  “I will speak to Zoran and have him pick up the men’s training. They will be sharp and ready. For now, we will tell them that it is because of the Var threat, which is not a lie. I do not want the men distracted by looking up to the skies for a possible threat when the Var are a very real one on this planet.” The king glanced at the ceiling, as if he could see through the stone to the universe beyond.

  “Let them try to take our mines,” Bron said. “My brothers and I will be ready.”

  The king gave a small laugh, as if part of him welcomed the space battle. “I trust that you will. I will leave this matter to you. Speak to command in the communications tower, but no one else. Jorne is posted there. He’s discreet. If an unauthorized ship comes close, we will be ready.”

  “I will before we leave.”

  “Your brothers should be home by now.”

  “All but Alek. I left him at the cabin.”

  “Of course.” The king nodde
d. “Your rescue. It was very lucky your bride had the presence of mind to come toward the palace.”

  “Yes. It was.” Bron didn’t mention the fact his bride had probably done so out of fear rather than planning, but the bravest acts were those done in spite of fear. For that, he took much pride in his wife’s actions.

  “Your capture, though uncertain of origin, is very suspect. It does not sound like the Var to leave you in a pit to rot, but we cannot rule them out. I don’t expect a cat-shifter to fight with honor. As I said, they grow restless and bold. I fear King Attor will soon lead an attack on the palace. I’ve heard rumors he was at the bridal festival, though nothing substantiated by anything more than men too far into their cups to be sure.”

  “My soldiers are ready, and the miners will defend their homes,” Bron assured him. “I’ll ensure the unused shafts are hidden and will double the guards on the others.”

  “Send reports,” the king said. “And perhaps it is time we prepared the communication devices between the cabin and the palace. I’ll order a technician to see to it.”

  “We haven’t used them for nearly thirty years,” Bron said. “Can they even be repaired? I think we used some of the parts to repair the link between my home and the palace about ten years back.”

  “Has it been so long?” The king shook his head. “It is no surprise. Who wishes to be disturbed by duty when hunting? It will be a shame to lose the solitude, but I will repair them nonetheless. We cannot be out of communication should there be an attack. Let’s just hope the Var and these Tyoe don’t take it to mind to attack the same day.”

  “I will have the system at my home checked as well.” Bron had maintained the main communication line between his home and the palace, but the others had fallen to neglect from little use. Most news could be delivered in person and repairing the communication devices through the mountain ranges was no easy task. Satellite transmissions could be listened to, so they had to use ground methods.

  “If we are lucky, one of you will have married a communication expert.” The king smiled to himself, hopeful.

  “I will ask Aeron. Perhaps she knows something about it. She was a communication analyst for the Federation. It is how she came about this news of a threat.”

  “A communication expert? See, the gods have a plan.” The king grinned. “There is a reason Lady Aeron came to you.”

  At that Bron couldn’t help but smile.

  “If the attack proves true, we owe your wife a great deal. I will be sure to throw a banquet in her honor in a few years, once all these unruly marriages are settled and the princesses are well established.”

  In their world, a few years were nothing when compared to a lifetime of hundreds. Bron nodded. “My family would be honored by such generosity.”

  The king stood, wryly answering, “Generosity nothing. My wife enjoys entertaining and will love the excuse to get you boys here to the palace. Do not be surprised if she uses your brides to lure you here more often. We do not see enough of you.”

  “You have but to ask it and we will come,” Bron said.

  “Do not say as much to my wife. She will build you all wings and will never let you leave. She loves you like you are her own sons.”

  “If that is true,” Bron said as he followed his uncle to the royal office’s door, “then she will surely grow tired of all of us underfoot. I have heard her scold her own sons, threatening to move them out to the mountains with their cousins.”

  “That was before they gave her daughters,” the king corrected. “Now she is content. At least for the next twenty years. It is a small reprieve from her nagging, but I will take it.” The king might have sounded serious, but Bron knew well the man adored his wife. He would be lost without her, as they all would. Mede was Llyr’s universe, his very reason for being. There was no shame in it, only honor and love.

  “Speaking of wives, I must find mine. We will not overstay our welcome this time. I should find Mirek and make sure the necessary precautions are underway.”

  “Stay one night. Morning will come fast enough and your mounts will be rested by then. If you leave any faster, it will cause speculation amongst the servants. You are welcome to dine in the hall, though I imagine newly married couples have little use for hall dining.” The king held up his hand. “No. Before you refuse, I will simply decree that you dine in the guest chambers and work on producing some heirs the queen can spoil.”

  “Just the queen?” Bron quirked a brow.

  “Perhaps I may be moved by generosity if children were produced in the family line,” Llyr said, keeping his face blank. To a stranger the man would appear hard, but to family they all knew better.

  “Yes,” Bron mused. “Like the secret supply of miniature swords, shields, armor, and spears you ordered commissioned after last year’s ceremony when it was decided your sons would attend?”

  The king looked surprised.

  “The blacksmith you hired works near my home. The royal insignia gave you away.” Bron grinned. “Though ordering eighty-eight pairs? Do your sons know of your plans for a large family?”

  “I do not know what you’re talking about.” The king pretended to rearrange papers on his desk. “Besides, it is only twenty-two grandsons per son. Half that when you count you boys. Not so excessive especially when you take into account the hundreds of childbearing years.”

  “Your secret is safe with me, your majesty.” Bron laughed. “Though you must let me be there when you inform the new princesses they will be having twenty-two children… if only to help you escape the angry female mob that ensues.”

  11

  “Do you like children?”

  Aeron blinked her tired eyes open. She hadn’t heard Bron enter the bathing room. She followed her first instinct to cover her chest with her arms. Since he had already seen her without clothes, it seemed like a foolish gesture. Still, she didn’t move them to reveal her naked body in the bathwater.

  The room was crafted out of the red stone of the mountain. The large tub had been carved into the stone floor with steps that led down into its depths. Natural spring water bubbled up from below only to be circulated and filtered so that the bathwater was always hot and clean. The bubbling pressure against her lower back felt too nice and she’d been reluctant to get out, even as her cheeks had turned bright red and sweat adhered her bangs to her forehead. Servants had brought a tray of food and her full stomach combined with heat made her sleepy.

  There was the normal primitive toilet and sink, as was to be expected on such a simplistic world, and a vanity counter that curved around the circular walls with a long mirror over it. Beneath the countertop were numerous cabinets, some with drying linens and others with toiletries. With a turn of a knob, the outside light directed throughout holes in the ceiling would dim and brighten.

  “Do I like…?” she repeated slowly, trying to focus her thoughts. Bron looked handsome. His chest was naked and he was working on unfastening his pants. He appeared completely unconcerned by the fact she watched him undress.

  “Like children,” he said.

  “I don’t know any children.” Aeron’s hands relaxed some as her elbows slid back into the bathwater. She still hid herself from him. “What did the king say? Have the Tyoe made contact?”

  “The king has ordered me take care of the matter. No, the Tyoe have not made contact.” Bron moved to the bath. His eyes moved down to where her hands hid her breasts from view. “Do you want children?”

  “I never considered it.” It was the truth. Well, until the queen had mentioned family to her earlier, she hadn’t really stopped to consider it. With her condition, it was not like she would be around to watch those children grow into later adulthood. Could she really do something like that to a child? She remembered all too well being without her parents, her people. It hadn’t been a factor on her home world because parents would have children, who in turn would have children at the appropriate time and the cycle of life evened itself out. Now that s
he’d started her own biological clock, she didn’t know what to think. Would they inherit her traits, or Bron’s? Either way, she didn’t have hundreds of years to be there for them. Perhaps her family line should die with her and Riona. What did she know about motherhood? She could barely fathom staying on world as a wife. Regardless, she was too tired to think about it at the moment. There was a more pressing matter. “So the king, he is taking the threat seriously?”

  Bron stepped into the bath and slowly lowered his body in the center of the tub. She moved her legs to allow him access while staying next to the edge.

  “Of course he is taking the threat on our people serious,” Bron stated.

  “What will we do?” Aeron hurriedly continued the conversation before he could switch it again.

  “We?”

  “You said the king put us in charge of the matter. What are we going to do first?”

  “Us?” Bron shook his head. “No, he put me in charge of the matter. I will deal with it.”

  Aeron’s hands dropped completely as she forgot to hide herself. She frowned at him. Coldly, she answered, “I see.”

  “Good.” He began to reach for her. The man actually had the audacity to try and smile at her.

  Aeron pulled back. “There is only room for one in here.” Standing, she stepped out of the bath. “I’ll leave you alone.”

  “But…” He stood in the bath. She witnessed the full length of his erection.