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Ardol groaned. The tea pastries were journeying back up his throat. I’m just not going to enjoy dining on my own planet. That tells you something is really messed up.
“No matter. Your brothers will be in for dinner soon, and you will want to see them I’m sure. We need to strategize before next week’s announcement. I’m glad that these fools who think we should dilute our blood with other species are intrigued with the idea of your human Queen. But, I’ve been thinking about the more traditional members of our district, and of the Leopardine System as a whole. We must appeal to both factions.”
“Yes?”
“Yes. So, obviously, you will need a second wife before the election, a Felid wife, a Leopardine Queen. That’s not until the next galactic year, so you and your human Queen will have time to produce an heir first.”
Ardol stomped to the sideboard and poured his own glass of wine, slopping it over the side in his haste. He was so angered by his father’s willingness to shove Jade aside or use her as an incubator that he didn’t trust himself to address that issue. Instead, he turned to the ludicrous idea that any Leopardine would be lucky enough to have two Queens, let alone one in these times. “A Leopardine Queen? Where do you propose to pull one from? You already said Craddix would outbid you for any Queen. Aren’t you afraid people will think your appointed heir is selfish?”
“Ah, again, my son, you impress me! You have learned to think before blindly agreeing. It’s an excellent thing—except when talking to me. I always know what’s best for this family and this district. I won’t put up with questions from you, Ardol. I have other sons who will be more obedient.”
“I’m merely asking because I thought it was so difficult to obtain one.”
“A fertile one, yes, but you no longer need an intact female. You will take Tasha as your Queen early next year.”
“Tasha? My cousin?”
“Your half-cousin, who is very attractive and only just turning seventeen. She’ll be of age next year, and no one else will want her thanks to that fool operation.”
“The operation that saved her life!” Ardol snapped the stem of his wine glass, and red wine that smelled like plumcotta and berries flowed over his paw.
“Oh, Ardol, really. This rug is four hundred years old!” His father tsked.
“Father, marrying one’s cousin is not legal!”
“It will be legal in our district because I’m going to make it a law that half-cousins incapable of reproducing can wed. Then you and Tasha can raise your cubs properly, with Leopardine parents. Jade will be... what’s that term? A wet nurse?”
Red flashed before Ardol’s eyes, and it wasn’t the wine.
“Ardol!” Khadin bounded into the room. “Greetings, Father! Ardol, I beat your Queen at skipping stones in the reflective pool. She says I can come see the shuttle after dinner! Can I, Father?”
“Can all of us see the shuttle?” Baz piped up, racing into the room with Rayk and Amar behind him.
“Your Queen played a game with four boys, one of whom is almost a Knight! You see? You need a Leopardine Queen if you wish to be District Lord. That human will only cause confusion and chaos.” Arcai turned from his son and sailed out of the room. “I’ll dress for dinner and see you when I return.”
Chapter Eighteen
“It’s the most beautiful, peaceful place I’ve ever seen. Even better than Lynx-Nineteen,” Jade sighed as she strolled through the gardens in the silvery moonlight, holding onto Ardol’s arm.
“You like it here?”
“I love your brothers. They’re so funny and sweet. Not to mention cute. Lena is sweet, too. The gardens... It’s like a tropical paradise. Lynx-Nineteen is so dusty and dry.”
“Hm.”
“What’s going on in your head? You barely ate at dinner.”
“I’m having a bad day with digestion. My father almost made me throw up that interminable tea I had to sit through.”
“Sorry. Hey, we have all night alone. Wine? Candles? Enormous bed?” Jade hinted.
“Of course.”
“Ardol.” Jade swallowed. She knew she shouldn’t speak. She was the weakling here, the outsider with no friends and no knowledge of the system, staying with a powerful ruler who didn’t seem to like her. If she made Ardol mad—it could be disastrous. “I have to trust you. I love you.” Her throat was dry, and the words were mere wisps in the dark.
“You can trust me, always.”
“I feel like I can’t, Ardol. I know you’re not telling me something.”
