Star Kissed (28 page)

The message was not one Akkadi wanted to hear. He left the battle deck for the conference room where he’d made love to Mandy earlier. His gaze settled on the table, and he knew he’d never look at it the same way again.

He crossed to the communications station in the corner and clicked it on the sat. When the image of his father materialized, he straightened, uncertain which of the many issues his father was calling to address. His father’s blue eyes were so dark, they appeared to be brown. His hair was blond, like Akkadi’s and half his children’s. In place of Helen’s warmth and smile, Akkadi’s father was severe, cold, like a statue.

“Prince Akkadi, last of my heirs,” his father, Akkolon, gave the official greeting.

“My king,” Akkadi replied and bowed his head.

“Your battles have gone well,” Akkalon said.

“I am pleased you approve.”

“Your latest victories over the Ishta have not gone unnoticed throughout the empire. You are learning to trust your instincts.”

Akkadi said nothing. He bowed his head, not sure why the words disturbed him. It was true. He never lost a battle, but since he met Mandy, he began to
feel
the battles rather than regard them with the cold logic that turned them into four dimensional puzzles.

“Queen Helen has notified me of your betrothal to Naki princess Hichele.”

“Yes, my king,” he replied. “The ceremony is slated for three months. I understand you will be here tomorrow for the official betrothal announcement. I do not think you will find a reason to disapprove of Hichele.”

“She will fulfill her duty, and her planet’s energy stores are immense. I know her father well,” Akkalon agreed. “I understood from Akkasha that a purebred female was found. Was she defective?”

Defective
. Of all the things Mandy was, defective was not among them. Akkadi sought an explanation his father would understand, especially if his mother had already discussed her disappointment with him.

“She was not compatible with me,” he said.

His father was quiet in the only sign of his surprise. “You are normally more dutiful in your decisions.”

“Forgive me, my king,” Akkadi said. “I had hoped to be dutiful by choosing from the family of a strong ally with energy cells we desperately need. One of my cousins may yet find her compatible.”

“What is more dutiful than ensuring the purity of our bloodline?”

Akkadi had no answer. Hichele was the simple choice, the easiest way to obtain the energy cells they needed. She needed no training. She did not tempt him. She did not touch the human side of him, the side he wanted nothing to do with. He had not thought that Mandy scared him, until he saw how starkly illogical his choice was.

Akkadi never saw it any other way, until his father pointed out the first priority of their people: maintaining the bloodline. Akkadi didn’t need the blunt reminder; he felt it was a mistake not to be with Mandy, but he also felt he had to put the fate of her people first.

“The agreement is made,” his father continued. “Pending the Qiadi’s testing of the cells. It is your only display of poor judgment in my memory, and she will be mated off to one of your cousins immediately. The damage is minimal, for which we are fortunate. Your mother is handling the arrangements to wipe the systems of any record of a purebred being on board.”

“Yes, my king. My deepest apologies for displeasing you,” Akkadi said.

“I want heirs and dutiful children, not apologies.” It was the harshest his father had ever been towards him. The words jarred Akkadi out of the emotional turmoil in his head. He had never needed a reminder to perform his duty.

“Yes, my king. I will sire an heir before the ceremony.”

“How did the negotiations with the Kini go?”

Another issue where Akkadi had clearly failed. “Not well, Father. They are considering the proposal, but I am not certain they will agree.”

“What is their reasoning?”

That we’re not human enough.
Akkadi almost snorted at the thought. He sought a better explanation, one his Naki father would be less disapproving of.

“They are reluctant to negotiate with a race so unlike theirs,” he replied. “I expect a more definitive answer tomorrow.”

“I will be there to deal with them, if needed.”

“It won’t be necessary, father.”

“Very well. Send your mother my regards. I’ll arrive in the morning.”

“Safe return, Father.”

Akkalon gave a brisk nod.

His father’s image faded. At his father’s displeasure, Akkadi knew he could no longer avoid Hichele. He had to sire an heir, as much as he did not find his betrothed mate appealing. It was duty, not love or emotion, that enabled the survival of his people.

He made a mistake with Mandy, one it was too late to repair. He’d chosen a path he had to follow, and it lay with Hichele.

Mandy was better off with one of his cousins. He was better off with Hichele. Mandy would bear another Naki prince heirs. Perhaps five, as Akkadi’s mother had, once his cousins tasted her fire. It was not something a man walked away from; no, Vekko was going to spend every night for the rest of his life bedding her, because Akkadi chose energy cells over his bloodline.

Anger filled him. How did he live with knowing some other man was taking his Mandy to bed? How did he face Mandy every day, knowing he would never feel her body beneath his again? The mere thought of touching her, tasting her sweet nectar, smelling her skin set his body on fire and filled him with yearning Hichele would never be able to fill.

Akkadi drew a deep breath to calm himself. He had tonight with her. It might be the last, but he’d make it count.

Rattled by feelings he struggled to control, Akkadi left for his quarters, determined to take a few moments of personal time to straighten himself out. He couldn’t be seen in emotional turmoil among the Nakis.

“Your mother requests your presence.”

Akkadi altered his course without a second thought, heading instead towards his mother’s quarters.

“I am pleased to find you well, my son,” she said as he entered.

Akkadi heard the tension in her voice. Her personal chambers were sealed off from view by the metal curtain she used when conducting official business with others. The formal conference area was banked by the colorful display of her wealth, the dowry she had brought with her when she mated with his father. He recognized the two other men present: his father’s most trusted advisor, Dakin, and Hichele’s father, Vinid.

They rose and bowed to him. Akkadi acknowledged them then bowed to his mother. She motioned for him to sit. He did, not allowing himself to consider the reason he was summoned to the meeting.

“My deepest apologies, my prince,” Vinid started. “I understand your journey to the Kini was eventful. You must still need time to recover.”

“I am well, Vinid,” Akkadi replied. He had never paid much heed to this ally of his father’s. As he met the middle-aged Naki’s gaze, his instincts warned him. It was too mild to be an alarm, but they still bid him to trust carefully.

“We are grateful for your return,” Dakin, his mother’s chief advisor, echoed.

“It is my duty to serve my father and the Naki to the best of my ability,” he replied. There was likely to be another round of niceties and compliments, as was customary for official meetings. Akkadi relaxed, at ease with the formality.

“You do honor the Naki and your father,” his mother echoed. “You honor me by returning in safety with our dear Vekko.”

“I am humbled to please you, my queen.”

Vinid led off a second round. Akkadi offered polite, cool responses to each of the three then looked at his mother expectantly to see why he had been summoned in place of Akkasha, who would meet with high ranking officials such as these now that she was back aboard the station. His mother had her formal mask on, and his instincts alerted him to something unpleasant going on. The tightness around her mouth and the coldness in her gaze were uncharacteristic.

His mother was never cold. Formal but not cold. She nodded to Dakin to begin.

“It is customary in a mating agreement for a Naki prince to take his betrothed as consort, if it please him, before the ceremony,” Dakin started.

Akkadi listened.

“However, in the event an agreement is made after the intended is taken as consort, there must be a clear bloodline recorded. A Naki prince must declare himself the father, and a test must be administered to confirm.”

“I am aware of this,” Akkadi said. “Has one of my cousins broken the custom?”

“This will not be easy for you, my prince,” his mother said. “It has not been easy for any of us.”

Her game face. She smiled at Vinid, who looked at once grateful and confident. Akkadi leaned forward, interested for the first time since entering the meeting room.

“Hichele is with heir,” Dakin said

Akkadi froze. Of all the news he expected, this was not what he thought he’d ever hear.

“We must first ascertain the bloodline of the child,” his mother said.

“My daughter initially claimed the child was yours,” Vinid said.

Akkadi said nothing, unwilling to offend the ally of his father by flat-out refusing. He sensed they knew it was not his already, or his mother would not be wearing the look that Nakis took to be sympathy. Akkadi understood the depth of her expressions after a lifetime with her. She did not pity Vinid or Hichele at all.

This surprised Akkadi more than anything. His mother’s coldness was not addressed at the situation but those involved.

“When I confronted her, she admitted it was not true,” Vinid added. “She is nine weeks into her term. She was stationed in our home system at the time. She has only arrived here three weeks ago.” Vinid was nervous, his gaze going to the queen, who continued to smile gently at him.

“In accordance with the laws governing our royal bloodline, we must confirm the father of the heir as well as the purity of his blood,” Dakin stated. “Will you state officially whether or not the child is yours, Akkadi?”

“The child is not mine,” Akkadi replied calmly.

“Very well. The child will be tested for the plague, upon suitable age, in about three days. If she or he is not diseased, the law and contract binding the agreement between families allows you to adopt the heir as yours, if you wish.”

Akkadi’s heart was beating faster. He absorbed the information without showing the madness of his thought process. Traditionally, a Naki prince adopted an heir not is. But it was not always the case, and not when the heir’s blood was defective. He dwelled on the unasked question: did he break it off with Hichele when given the chance or did he continue down the path he resigned himself to, and agree to adopt a child not his, pending genetic testing?

He knew the right answer, the one that would provide them all with energy cells. He also knew it was not the answer he wanted to give.

“Perhaps you need time to think,” his mother said when he was silent.

“I beg your pardon, my queen,” he replied. “I will maintain the agreement, pending the results of genetic testing. If the heir is deemed to be free of the plague, I will adopt him or her, as is tradition.” He looked at Vinid, who had grown even paler than his naturally translucent skin.

Vinid sighed in relief. Akkadi’s anger bubbled. It was directed at himself, he knew. He couldn’t judge Hichele for cheating on him when he was doing the same with her. He had no desire to sleep with her; what bothered him was that she hadn’t revealed the truth until now.

“However, it is with a heavy heart and much surprise that this news was received,” he added. “It was not expected.”

It was the politest expression he could muster to voice his anger.

“I am certain Hichele’s heir is without disease,” his mother said as much to him as to Vinid. “When this is proven, we will gladly welcome the child to our family.”

“You are gracious and kind,” Vinid replied. “Your duty, my prince, is of the utmost importance. I understand and I am delighted by your eagerness to abide by our agreement.”

“You are a trusted ally of my father, and it would please him and me to welcome your daughter to our family,” Akkadi echoed his mother.

Vinid relaxed. His smile returned. “I am confident in my daughter and now, certain all will be well, once the test confirms the child’s genetics. I am also told that you have a purebred human female on board, one who might provide the solution needed for the plague.”

Akkadi did his best not to tense. He expected news of Mandy to spread quickly but not this fast.

“You are very fortunate,” Vinid said. He went on, heaping praise upon them.

Akkadi tuned him out. In truth, he didn’t want Hichele at all and was preoccupied with how many other people knew about the purebred.

He wanted Mandy. His father was right. He had failed in his duty the first time. This time, Akkadi would not. No matter what his feelings were, he had an obligation to Hichele. His gaze settled on his mother, who was humoring Vinid so convincingly, Akkadi almost smiled.

Akkadi caught the eye of Dakin and lifted his eyebrows in silent command. Dakin took the hint and ushered Vinid from the room. Expecting his mother to speak openly to him, Akkadi was unhappy when she rose and motioned away the curtain separating the sitting area from the rest of her chambers.

She said nothing to him, formally or informally. She went about her business, as if he did not exist at all.

She was furious at him. It was the only explanation.

“My queen,” he said at last.

“Are you still here, my son?”

The note in her voice angered him. Akkadi rose and strode to her.

“Mother, you know I am,” he said, his own tone flat and emotionless. “Father does not know, does he?”

“No, he does not.” She faced him. “I have asked that he not be told. I told Vinid it is out of respect for his family, that this might be hushed up.”

Her words left him amused. No one else lied to his father.

The tiny queen crossed her arms.

“Why are you angry, mother?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“It’s of no concern. I do not wish to keep you, son.”