"Expertise? Enjoy his company?"
Alpha sounded beyond exasperated. Dargon bit back a chuckle.
By the time Zeus finished all the necessary tasks, dusk had painted the horizon, closing out another day. Thankfully, Alpha had slept for a few hours while Zeus went about business. Dargon stayed close, grabbing Zeus’s elbow when he stumbled with exhaustion. He did not know how Zeus could still be on his feet. By the time they entered the pavilion bearing the Vondorian emblem, Zeus had delayed resting for too long. Dargon mirrored Alpha as they struggled not to give into a fit of temper over Zeus’s recklessness. Sohm'lan dismissed the guards and lieutenants in the antechamber, leaving only the two who guarded the entrance to the interior room.
"Eat first, and then we will leave you to rest." Sohm'lan indicated a table laden with steaming food. Dargon's stomach growled at the delicious aromas filling the space.
Zeus beckoned Dargon to the corner where a beautiful, shell-encrusted tub sat. Inside, a male was floating.
"This is my brother, Canry." Zeus’s voice was infused with warmth. "I will introduce you properly when he wakes."
"After you have food and rest." He nudged Zeus toward the table, hoping his stubborn lover would finally take the unsubtle hint.
Zeus huffed, but said nothing as he allowed Dargon to push him down into a chair next to Sohm'lan. He watched with approval as Zeus filled his plate, and they ate in companionable silence. Halfway through the meal, Dargon froze at a scratching sound at the back of the tent.
"My Lord," came a soft whisper.
Alarmed, Dargon glanced at Zeus. When both Sohm'lan and Zeus silently drew their swords, he looked around for some sort of weapon.
"My Lord Striker, I come with a message from my master."
He did not know how the guards knew something was wrong. Maybe the unnatural quiet? Or perhaps they heard the scratching. Whatever it happened to be, Monticore guards filled the tent with deadly stealth, their faces stone masks, promising retribution. Dargon relaxed a little. The warriors would not let anything happen to his Marked.
Over the last few weeks, Zeus had taught Dargon their military's hand signals. He could not understand all of Zeus and Sohm'lan's conversation, but he did see Sohm'lan order the guards to 'hold'.
"What is this subterfuge for?" Sohm'lan responded. His voice sounded forced, guttural, in what Dargon thought was an attempt to disguise his voice.
"Most honored Striker, my master bid me speak to you in confidence. He is worried about the future of Atlainticia. House Vondorian has been harboring the mongrel human."
Anger flared in Dargon and he lifted his lip to snarl. Zeus clamped a hand over his mouth, motioning for him to keep quiet. He subsided, reluctantly.
"You have met the Humans in battle, know what their intentions are: to worm their way into conquering us. The Elite Monticore Guard speak highly of you and your exploits. The Atlainticia throne needs to be one of strength and my master believes you are the strength our people need."
Signaling for some of the guards to follow the male back to his 'master', Sohm'lan gave a noncommittal grunt. The whisperer seemed to take the noise as an agreement and said, "I will notify my master. He will be pleased." A slight noise from the back of the tent indicated the male's departure, a guard returning shortly after to confirm it.
"As soon as we know the identity of the traitor, I will send a message to your father." Sohm'lan handed Zeus a glass. "We will need to wait here in case this 'master' has someone watching." Dargon was surprised how quickly Zeus upended the cup and emptied it.
"I need to get to my father's side. Whoever the conspirator is, they are using this upheaval to attempt to unseat my family." Zeus blinked slowly.
"All in good time," Sohm'lan counseled.
Even though Dargon remained quiet when the whisperer had spoken, his blood boiled at Zeus being called a 'mongrel human'. "Is it so normal for you to be disrespected by your people that neither one of you are upset over what he called Zeus? What is wrong with you two that you did not object? Is that how you are seen by your people, Zeus? What will happen with our kits? Will they be safe on Atlainticia? Will they be treated as the Mar'Sani royals they are?"
Zeus made soft, shushing noises, rubbing Dargon's arms. He did not want to be soothed. He wanted to challenge those who would speak of Zeus with such disrespect, and to claim reassurances on the behalf of their children.
"You—"
Dargon cut Sohm'lan off. "I know when I first met Zeus, I said things because of the horrors I had seen while rescuing the Fal'Amoric. But, it only took a couple of hours of interaction with him for me to realize he was not like the Humans. I ..." Zeus listed to the side, almost toppling, and Dargon grabbed him to prevent his fall.
"Zeus!" Dargon watched as Zeus’s eyes fluttered closed. What happened? One moment, Zeus was wide awake and the next, he leaned heavily against Dargon.
Sohm'lan went quietly to the guards at the entrance. Dargon hoped he called for a medic, but within moments males began carrying in large items. With each piece brought into the tent, Dargon's temper flared.
Sohm'lan turned from the now-finished sleeping platform, his blue reptilian gaze focused on Dargon. "There is nothing wrong with Zeus that rest will not cure."
"He was fine moments ago and now he is unconscious," Dargon snapped. Zeus remained a heavy weight against his side.
"No, he was not. He was exhausted before he took the booster. Now, with one or more noble houses attempting to unseat the Emperor, he would find another excuse to put off the rest his body desperately needs. He would run himself into the ground to protect his family."
Dargon narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You gave him something."
Sohm'lan simply stared back at Dargon, no trace of apology in either his expression or stance.
"Dargon, stop."
With his ire peaked, he had not noticed Alpha roused from sleep.
"You did not see him and Canry. Zeus has been running on false fuel for longer than is healthy. You and I have both seen how Sohm'lan cares for Zeus. I would have done the same thing myself, if I could have arranged it. Be thankful that Zeus is well-loved."
"My duty is to protect the prince, even from himself." Sohm'lan would not know Alpha argued on his behalf.
All the anger seeped out of him when Alpha again shared a piece of his memories, showing Dargon how Zeus’s body had been heavy with fatigue, but he continued to push himself long before the booster had been administered. "I see." Even to his ears, the words sounded forced.
Thanking Sohm'lan, but refusing his help, Dargon undressed Zeus and tucked him under the covers. He was unsure who he was more upset with: Sohm'lan, for slipping something to Zeus to make him rest, or Zeus, for pushing Sohm'lan to make the call. He still could not believe he had heard Zeus referred to as nothing but a useless animal without anyone—not even Zeus—batting an eye. Dargon shook himself when he realized he was growling. He would make inquiries before they moved the kits to Atlainticia. He would not remain silent, nor stay his hand if anyone dared to disrespect his Marked in his presence again.
Ashari quickened her pace, her bodyguards easily keeping stride with her as she followed the path leading up to the landing pad. She could have taken a skimmer, but there were already too many vehicles waiting on the road to pick up the soldiers coming in with Zeus. She would not be forced to to wait any longer to see her son. She could have commanded all to move from her path, but that was not how she or her mate, Valdor, led their people.
Her beloved Valdor, along with Azaes and Mestor, had been stuck meeting with the Council of Neighn and the Galactic Emperors for the last several days. The space over Valespia was secure for the moment. Galactic Patrol had boarded dozens of Terren battleships. The V'Saar attempted to flee, but they could not escape capture. And somehow it seemed all of her young had become embroiled in the conflict. This new information they brought with them regarding the Terrens and V'Saar would be invaluable, allowing the Galactic Emperors to move quickly and decisively in the coming months.
The incline grew steeper and she slowed her steps, placing a hand on the hilt of her sword to stop it from slapping against her leg. While she had travelled to Valespia, her attendants tailored several uniforms for her. She would not stand by and watch her family go to war without her, but could not fight in her usual clothing. Gone were the flowing red and gold royal robes, the baubles and bracelets. Her scales were polished until they gleamed a darker black than the armored uniform she wore. The red tips of her barbs licked like flames along her spinal column, and a bulbous, spiked mace-head had been fitted to the tip of her tail. Ashari would be ready to stand tall with her family when the time came. The fight was not over yet. They still had traitors to ferret out.
Reached the top of the ramp, she stepped on to the landing pad. Four ships sat upon the blacktop, ramps lowered, allowing people to disembark. She sensed him, as any Mar'Sani mother could. He was close, so close, and yet she could not see him. Ashari searched the crowd, looking for a familiar face or form. The majority were Monticore, but she noticed the robotic forms she had come to know as the Feteine, and others who were not Mar'Sani. They must be crew from Zeus’s ship. Strangely, no one made their way to the waiting vehicles, but seemed content to wait instead.
From the closest vessel, a group of Monticore bristling with weapons strode menacingly down the ramp, fanning out at the bottom in a semicircle. Their posturing caused her own Basilisc guards to go on alert, closing in tighter around her. She watched their hand signals, looking for an indication that they guarded her son. A noise at the top of the ramp drew her attention.
Warlord Sohm'lan strode down the ramp, followed by six males shouldering long poles, bearing an oblong capsule made of mother-of-pearl and encrusted with barnacles and shell fish. Behind them came another six males, bearing Zeus aloft on a stretcher. Worried, Ashari's breath caught and hesitantly she moved forward, then with determination she quickened her stride.
Two. Two sons so close together that her ties to them blended, hiding the presence of one. Ashari blinked rapidly at the sudden burn behind her eyes. That they were being carried out did not bode well. Her mind supplied dozens of scenarios of what could be wrong with her young before she had taken two steps. Ashari did not care how many turned to stare at her and her bristling Basilisc guard. Sohm'lan called a halt to the procession, meeting her at the edge of the Monticore guard.
"Your Highness, it is a pleasure to see you again." Sohm'lan bowed deeply. He appeared haggard, but whole.
"My sons?"
"Are tired, but unharmed."
Ashari slipped through the line of guardsmen and stopped next to the capsule to place a trembling hand against the smooth, cool side. She had never dared to hope to see him again in her lifetime. She had resigned herself to be content knowing Canry was alive. Would he remember her? Did he want to see her? Was he angry because she had not found him? Ashari pushed the tumble of questions away and pressed her trembling lips together.
"Warlord, how is Canry?" She hated that someone else knew her son's wellbeing better than she did.
"He is whole in mind and body, and he has grown to become a unique treasure to our people," Sohm'lan replied. When she gave him a questioning glance he said, "It is his and Zeus’s story to tell, although I believe their exploits have already made it to the capital."
Ashari nodded. Overhearing whispers from among the guards, she hoped the more outrageous exploits—at least half of them—were untrue. She strode towards Zeus’s litter and came face-to-face with a fierce male with flashing, green eyes and golden, feline features. A single line of copper hair stood up straight—like a bristle brush—and he had dark stripes on either side of the line of hair. His teardrop-shaped ears were lined with golden hoops and dangling gemstones. Most interesting of all, about his collarbone rested a symbiote of dark green, the color almost as dark as the robes the male wore.
"Empress Ashari, I would like to introduce you to Prince Zeus’s Udens Mahte'lan, Captain Dargon Kal-Turak from the Dar Massaga planet of Hedisa, and his symbiote Alpha."
Valdor had told her of Zeus’s mating, but excluded the males' identity for the safety of the younglings they carried. Dargon's wary expression told her he was unsure of the reception he would receive. Ashari would discover why later, but for now she held her hands out. "Dargon, I have heard much about you already. I would like to welcome you and Alpha into the family."
He grasped her hands lightly in his. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Empress. Zeus will be overjoyed to see you when he awakens. He has been worried for your safety, and even though he received word you had reached Haven unharmed, he will not believe it until he sees you with his own eyes."
She matched Dargon's polite smile. He seemed to be having an internal discussion with himself and when he met her gaze next, she knew he had made some sort of decision. Retaining the grasp on one of her hands he led her to the head of the litter. The guardsmen gently lowered Zeus so she could see him.
"Zeus overtaxed his body. He simply rests now," Dargon said as she cupped her son's pale face.
His hair had been shorn short, his thick dark lashes rested against his cheeks. Ashari could make out the dots from the warrior's dye still faintly staining his skin. Tenderly, she pressed her forehead to his. She had missed him terribly; a part of her heart had been set adrift in space when he left. Hopefully, he had found what he had been searching for. Glancing back at Dargon, she noticed the loving way he gazed at her son, and thought Zeus may have found more than he bargained for.
Stepping away from the litter, Ashari took Dargon's arm. "Thank you both for taking such good care of my son."
To his credit, Dargon accepted her proprietary hold without a second glance. "It is he who has taken care of us, Your Highness. Our mission would have failed without his assistance."