Page 8 of Red King
It must.
I nod. “I am duly impressed. You’ve outdone yourself, Smoke. To erect a building of this quality in such a short time is nothing short of a miracle.”
He beams, a smile growing on his face. “Thank you, Sire.”
I note for the first time that he has bloodshot eyes. That there are dark smudges beneath them.
“You should take some time for yourself. A week or two, once this task is complete. You could do with a break. Discuss it with Sally.”
Sally is my personal assistant. She has been for years. I’m not sure what I would do without her.
“That would be great.” He huffs out a breath. “I feel like I could sleep for a week. Also, I wouldn’t mind having extra time to spend with the Tributes.”
“I’m sure you would,” I tell him, wishing I felt the same.
We watch as males carry furniture into the building through large double doors. I hope that all the human Tributes will feel welcome here. That they will end up wanting to stay and to mate with our males, even though we are a different species.
My gut churns. A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead just thinking about it. We are very much like fish out of water when it comes to the humans. I don’t like the feeling.
“Would you like a tour of the facilities?” Smoke asks.
I look at my watch. “I would like that, but I have only five minutes, so it will need to be quick.”
“No, problem. Follow me, Your Majesty.” He inclines his head, showing me the way by outstretching his arm.
My hovering guards immediately follow, two walking ahead to ensure that all is clear.
Smoke leads me through the entrance of the building, which has a clean, modern design to match the exterior. There are several spaces for relaxing, including spacious living rooms and a library.
“The books still need to be put on the shelves,” Smoke tells me. “We still have time.”
Next, we enter a kitchen. It’s massive, filled with all the latest culinary gadgets and appliances.
“This is where our chefs will work their magic, providing delicious meals for the Tributes,” he explains. “We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that their every need will be met.”
I nod in approval, impressed by the attention to detail and thoughtfulness put into every aspect of the building. As we continue our tour, we pass by a training room equipped with the latest exercise equipment. There’s also a large hall for hosting functions. My team has done an excellent job.
At the far end of the building, there is a clinic with a state-of-the-art medical facility. The room is pristine, with rows of beds lined up neatly and medical equipment gleaming under the bright lights.
We’ve hired a doctor and a nurse, for now. I am sure that we will need many more in the future. If all goes according to plan, we’ll have to erect a hospital.
It won’t be long before all kinds of staff will be needed. Before the number of humans on the island grows. But first, this pilot project needs to be a success.
Smoke leads me to the last stop on our tour – a courtyard at the center of the building. It’s a tranquil space with greenery and newly planted flower beds. There is a large oak tree in the center. We built around its solid branches. This space should offer the ladies a much-needed sanctuary.
“Yes.” I smile at Smoke. “This will do nicely. It’s exactly as we envisioned it would be. Now to see if the human females agree.”
“I’m sure they will, Sire.”
I look at my watch. “I need to get going, Smoke. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you for allowing me to be part of the group of males who will be meeting with the humans.” He grins.
“Don’t thank me. I had nothing to do with it. It was the Council who carefully selected the males using an extensive list of criteria. Congratulations! You obviously deserve it. The standards were set very high.”
“You, too, Sire.” He looks down at the ground before meeting my gaze. “I mean, of course you meet the criteria; you’re the king. I’m sure you will have the pick of the females. Who wouldn’t want to be paired with the king? Is it true that there are fifty of us to thirty of them?”
I nod. “Yes, that is true. Know that being the king comes with its challenges. Being a royal isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.” I wouldn’t be taking part in the pilot Tribute program if I wasn’t the king. If I didn’t need an heir. “I have to leave. Speak to Sally about taking some time off. I agree; taking it while the Tributes are here might work out in your favor.” I lift my brows for a second.
