Noble (7 page)

“Because they are bearing the next generation. You can’t build a society where only half the population has a voice.”

“You are going to invite more assassination attempts.”

She linked arms with him, careful of the still-exposed blade. “Then, you are going to have to teach me to defend myself.”

“No Kameraet woman has been trained in anything since we began our history.”

“Well, good thing I am not pure Kameraet. I have heavy Terran instincts, and they are telling me that this is a dangerous place.”

He stopped just inside the open gateway and turned to face her. “You are serious?”

“Of course. My body knows it can defend me, it just isn’t sure how. You can show me.”

“No one can know you are learning.”

She chuckled and leaned in to kiss him carefully. “Oddly enough, I figured that out.”

He smiled against her lips. “For today, pretend I am your consort and guard. If females start being born again, you will have far more protection than enemies.”

She leaned back and frowned. “I have never had enemies before. Well, not since I was seven. Why are they trying to kill me?”

“Change is difficult, even change that will benefit our people. Many were addicted to the predictable rise to power that did not depend on a woman’s whim.”

She winced. “That is a little harsh. It wasn’t a whim. You were the only one who didn’t have another woman on his mind or the throne in front of me.”

He blinked. “Fair enough. Come with me and meet your subjects.”

“Good.”

The women in the village outside the city stared at her in surprise. She smiled and walked up to them. “Hello, my name is Myra. Feel free to come to me if you have any points of concern. I might not be able to help, but I might. I am learning as I go.”

One woman with an infant on her hip stepped forward. “What if our men will not let us come?”

Before Arbor could stop her, she said, “I suppose that once a week, I will have to come to you.”

She heard the gusty sigh of her consort and grinned. He was going to have to get used to it. Myra was dedicated to duty, but her duty was now expanding to every member of the Kameraet on Fremiat or in space. Her focus was on building a new wave of living beings and that included the mothers who would bring them into the world.

Talking to half a population wouldn’t build a solid foundation. They would move forward together or she was going to drag them into societal equilibrium. She hoped that she lived long enough to see a more balanced generation.

The baby in the woman’s arms waved his hands toward Myra. She extended her hands and said, “May I?”

The woman looked at Arbor and nodded quickly. “If you like.”

Myra took the little boy and cuddled him, reminding herself of weekend after weekend babysitting while in high school. He reached out and grabbed her hair, stuffing it into his mouth.

“Who is a clever little boy?” She eased the hair out of his mouth and pried it from his grip.

He giggled and grabbed again, butting his head against her breast.

“Nothing there for you, junior.”

The mother looked flustered, her pale green skin shading to emerald. “I am so sorry.”

“It is instinct. I am a huge fan of following instinct. He will grow up to be a strapping young man one day. A little off on his targeting but perhaps he can find a nice assignment in a battle group that will keep him on the straight and narrow.”

His mother laughed, the baby laughed, and then, he filled his diaper so Myra quickly handed him back. That was a part of babies she was glad she didn’t have to deal with.

Two women carried out a chair and offered Myra a seat. She took the seat, and soon, all the children in the village had crawled over her from one side to the next. The mothers beamed, and Myra grinned and laughed as the boys introduced themselves one by one. The little men bowed and then ran to hide behind their mothers.

When she had met all the soon-to-be warriors, she smiled brightly and asked, “Same time next week?”

The women nodded and Arbor seemed relieved. They returned to the tower, and Myra settled in her throne once again. There was no trace of the body.

When the city released the nobles, some came to continue to pay their respects. Others left as quickly as they could. There were no additional attempts on her life, but she had only been introduced to five percent of the population. Life as a tourist attraction was going to get very busy.

She woke him in the middle of the night with slow caresses on his thighs and her mouth on his cock. He had defended her today, and he deserved a reward for being such a loyal and attentive consort.

When she caressed his balls, she came upon something that wasn’t listed in the information sheets about the Kameraet. The small slit before his perineum was definitely an opening. Sek-Rah’s explanation came to mind, and she continued to suck slowly as her finger delved into the small space.

He groaned, and she heard the sheets tear as he arched under her, lifting her upward. She felt the spasms and pulled away as he ejaculated. Myra watched the arc and laughed as it glowed and then splattered across his chest.

She pulled her hand away from him. “You are a hermaphrodite as well.”

He blinked and tried to focus. “That is rather sudden and far more detailed than I can be right now.”

She crept up his body and pressed her breasts to his chest. “You didn’t mention that Sek-Rah wasn’t the only one of her kind.”

“She was dually functional. The Kameraet have always had the potential to be either or, depending on the sway of the Day clan. With a Day clan member at the helm, we had balance. All of us are born with both organs. The female opening is simply a narrow dead end that few of us bother with.”

Myra moved up him until her lips were pressed with his. “You seemed to enjoy the contact.”

“I enjoy every touch you have given me, no matter where it is. I have read that your species are basically gender locked.”

“We are.”

“Does the obvious duality upset you? Any children we have will have the mixed sex organs.”

Myra chuckled. “With the bloodline I have, I am expecting a few hermaphrodites like Sek-Rah. Any child with a future is fine with me.”

He rolled until she was under him, and he set about worshipping her with his mouth. Myra hung on for the ride until she screeched and gasped for mercy. He joined his body with hers and confirmed, once again, that his masculine bits worked as advertised.

“Let me know if I am too rough.” Arbor was concerned.

“Give it to me as hard as you can.” Myra flexed her hands and quivered in anticipation.

The blades came at her, and she blocked them with her batons. He sliced again and she fought him off, snapping and ducking as he attacked.

Two months of daily practice had finally allowed her to face him with live blades. She kept up until he stepped back with a grin.

“Well done, lover.” Arbor laughed.

“Thank you. At least, now, I can back up the batons when I wear them in the court. I have been getting some strange looks.”

“No one knows what to do with a High Lady who wears weaponry.”

She holstered the batons. “I think you have figured out one or two things.”

He sheathed his blades and stepped toward her. He pulled her in tight and grinned. “I am a man who is devoted to his studies and very adaptable.”

“The most glorious and wise consort that ever there was.” She stroked his cheeks and neck.

“With the most glorious lady.”

He kissed her and lifted her, spinning her around. Their private practice courtyard was inaccessible to all and an excellent place to celebrate her triumph with a little outdoor frolicking.

Lying with him under the sun, she thought of her grandparents and the journey to Fremiat that they were about to undertake. Gel shipping took a lot longer, but in six months, they would be walking the world of their ancestors. They were so giddy at the prospect that they had been packed and ready to go before the call was finished.

Her family would be with her, and her new family would be starting about then. One good harvest and she swore that she would welcome the chance to get pregnant. The women of the new city were already showing signs of carrying daughters. All the little boys were going to have a chance at a mate from their own species, and the girls were going to have a chance at a life with voting rights and a voice in court.

The changes would have to take place for the next generation, but the mothers were only too happy for that to be the case.

As Myra trailed her fingers over Arbor’s chest, she smiled at the thought of the inclusion that no one seemed to object to. Until the daughter reached the age of twenty, her mother could vote on her behalf. Any daughter was an instant ticket to voting and a voice in court.

Baby steps would bring the Kameraets into balance, and Myra had no objection to using the existence of those babies to get her way. It was callous but effective, and she had a species to worry about now.

“Are you ready to hear petitions, love?” Arbor lifted her fingers to his lips.

“No, but I will be at your side.”

“And I will be at yours, at your side, under you, over you and my personal favourite, inside you.” He chuckled and sat up, hauling her to her feet.

She put her leathers back on, put the batons on the sides of her thighs, and she waited for Arbor to finish getting dressed. When he was wearing his black and gold clothing and everything was where it should be, they walked toward the wall that opened just for them. It was time to get back to the thrones and hold court. Day and Night joined in an effort to bring their people home.

In case you missed it on my other books, I have cut back to three books per month due to mental health reasons (smoke is coming out of my ears). The first two are on the first, and the Terran Times Second Wave will be on the 15
^th
. Thanks for your patience.

Next month,
Numb
will lead us back to a world with a fading Avatar in need of a new body and an immortal who wants her body for his own reasons.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

[email protected]

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.