Page 94 of Stripped By the Alien

The Inquisitor turns to face me with a smile. “Yes, exactly! But everything depends on her beginning. And you know the most important factor for the earliest years of her reign, of course?”

“The Royal Mate,” I state between clenched jaws. “A good First Royal Mate is vital for the continued reign.”

“Indeed. And of course he can become legendary as well. Oh, remember the tales of Trak’roz the Glorious, Chief Harrower? He was the first Royal Mate of Queen Xen’trac, and he conquered nearly every other Brood. The Harvests during his lifetime are even now whispered about. He wielded power over many planets and took our Brood from the smallest to the greatest in a very short time, while his Queen was still finding her footing. Or Gepr’ent the Grand! Cas'cas the High! Ma'pret the Splendid! All the first Royal Mate of a new Queen. All legendary. All with power over billions and billions!”

“And who does the Queen favor for this honor?” I ask, playing along.

“She hasn’t made her choice yet, but she has a couple of names in mind. You must have understood that you are one of them, Chief Harrower. But this business with the alien female almost certainly being your Marankz could ruin everything. The time is approaching fast when you have to get rid of all such obstacles. The sooner, the better.” The Inquisitor straightens the sash that shows his exalted position. “I can see we’re going towards the galactic center. Does this mean you already know the location of the Gzet homeworld?”

“I’m still finalizing the details,” I admit. “And the Beast always needs some time to adjust to fast space travel after visiting the Nest.”

“I can only hope it won’t be long before we’re there,” Brax’tok sighs. “Deeg easily gets impatient, and then I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do to hold him back.” He turns and walks out of the cupola, down the ramp to the inner parts of the Beast.

I look out at the stars. They could all be mine.

For a moment I can see it: The throne. The Harvests. Entire worlds trembling at my command. The old courtiers replaced with new and better males, the Harrowers told to take more risks and expand our reach, the Brood stronger than ever under my reign. Oh, it could be marvelous.

The vision follows me all the way back to my chamber.

Nora rolls off the resting platform and comes towards me, the new clothing clinging to her scandalously female shape. “Everything all right, Krix’vorr?”

I reach out and run one knuckle gently down her soft cheek. “The Inquisitor wanted to talk. He would have needed some longcycles as a Harrower in space to understand how the galaxy really works.”

She leans her face into my hand. “What did he say?”

I lean in and smell her exotic hair. “Just court business, my love.”

“What court business?” Her eyes are impossibly clear.

I let my hands run down her sides, to the swelling of her hips. The pressure in my loins increases. “Oh, don’t make me go through it again. This garment suits you well. But I wonder if you don’t look better without it. May I see?”

“You know what I look like under it.”

I kiss her alien lips. “Yes, but what if I forget? Perhaps I need to be reminded.”

She smiles against my mouth, and her hands rise to the fastening at her shoulder.

The wrap loosens, slips, and pools around her waist.

I trace the line of her collarbone with one claw, careful as always, marveling as always at how something so unshielded can make me feel so thoroughly disarmed.

She shivers under my touch, and the shiver travels through my own body like a current finding ground.

I gather her up and carry her to the resting platform, and when the Beast dims the lights without being asked, I decide that the old creature is learning after all.

28

- Nora -

I trace a pattern on his carapace with my finger. “What were you like before you became Chief Harrower?”

He stretches and puts one arm behind his head. “Oh, much the same as any young Harrower. Daring and ruthless. Perhaps I was more daring than most. That means you either succeed or you die. Mostly the latter. Space is dangerous, and my ship at the time was nothing like the Beast. I had many fights with Harrowers from other Broods. And I usually won. Not always.”

“But you survived.” His carapace slowly changes color. Maybe if I could read the pattern, I could find out how he feels, like Lucius's lights. But it's not like Krix'vorr isn't always clear about his feelings.

He chuckles, making me tremble. “I ran before they could kill me. I was strange like that. Most would prefer to be killed after a defeat. I never saw the point.”

“I'm glad you didn't,” I purr.