TICEES (30 page)

Ticees watched her, his head resting on his gloved hand, his eyes intent. “Ah, I see. I just may do that. So let’s move to you personally.”

Chelan looked down at her glass, clenching it tightly. Korba hugged her closer, buoying her as best he could. “I’m from Calley,” she began, “and I was trained there in engineering and aerodynamics. I’m twenty-three Earth years, well, now twenty-five, actually, or approximately. I’m from a small family from a part of my world that is quite stable and affluent … and that’s about it.”

Ticees smiled. “Did you have a man on Earth?”

Chelan’s face blanched. “I …” she stuttered. “I was not married, my Lord.” She looked down, not sure of what else she was to reveal.

“So, how do our men compare to your own?” he pressed.

Chelan’s eyes skated to his in disbelief. “In what manner, my Lord?”

Ticees smiled to himself. He enjoyed playing with this alien as he tried to pin down her ways and her feelings. He just hoped that in his pursuit of fun, Korba would not be too angered. He leaned forward and grinned. “How about sexually, Chelan?”

Chelan stiffened once again, surprised by the anger he instantaneously aroused in her. Her eyes cut into his. “I do not compare my men, my Lord. Each man is accepted for what he is and what he does, not judged by who has gone before him.”

She pushed up from Korba, facing Ticees more directly. “Besides, Sire, I assume by your use of the term ‘our men’ that you refer to the purebred Iceanean man. Maybe you could tell me how you compare to them in sexual prowess since we’re on the topic.”

Ticees appeared pleasantly surprised by her quick response, and he smiled at her as he pushed himself back into his chair. He raised his drink to her. “Touché, my Lady,” and he nodded respectfully to her.

Chelan felt a tremor surge unbidden through her body, fear spreading rapidly through her as she wondered if she had gone too far. But she did not have time to flounder in her anxiety as she was startled back to the present by Ticees’ deep voice.

“So,” he said, smiling. “I’ll tell you what I have learned about you, Chelan, and you may correct me if I am wrong. You are indeed an exotic mix of dichotomous personality traits. You are oppressed physically, despite your ample femininity that you could easily flaunt but do not. You are shy and unassuming, and that causes you problems with our ways. You are also insecure and easily intimidated, and that is aggravated by our ways.”

His eyes narrowed as he continued. “You are excessively possessive of the men who you deem as yours, and you are loyal to a fault in this area, an Earth value, I assume. But despite all, when you become comfortable with a man, you are an attentive lover and a born pleaser. You see men as your superior, even though, I might add, they are your equal at best.”

He paused, studying her closely, and was surprised by the control she seemed to be able to exert over herself. “Your reserve and your inherent timid conservatism has always worked against you, both on Earth and here, preventing you from reaching your rightful potential. However, because of your possessiveness, and a degree of nurtured self-confidence, you are aggressive and competent in areas where you feel comfortable. Such areas would undoubtedly include your training and work, and would extend to the men you consider yours, namely Korba and Fremma.

“You are sensitive, Chelan, far too sensitive for your own good, for the most part, and constructive criticism is nearly always taken personally. As a result, you knock yourself down, again denying yourself growth toward your full potential.

“However, in short, your genuine qualities, both inherent and nurtured, far outweigh your self-inflicted deficits. In our world, your positive qualities will carry you far, and some of your exotic and foreign Earth mannerisms are interesting and captivating to the people of this world, especially the men: another advantage in your favor. Your strangely attractive features, your curvaceous body, and your timorous personality all are alluring to our men, and you automatically extract from them their primal male urge to protect and possess.

“And, if in the future you can bolster your confidence, becoming more self-assured, you will surely rise to the top in our culture by Korba’s side, where I have no doubt that—despite your alien status—you belong.”

Ticees stopped and then smiled briefly at Korba before looking back at Chelan. “So, I see now why my friend is so taken with you and why he is so protective. Therefore, it is indeed wise for me to announce my arrivals here. It would be most unfortunate if I burst in here one time only to have my throat slit by my best friend and prized Overlord.”

Korba chuckled, but Chelan was not so sure that she appreciated Ticees’s rapid and accurate assessment of her. She was well aware of her inadequacies, real or perceived, and it was because of them that she’d had so much trouble with Korba in the beginning. Once she had received wind of his true status, she could not believe that anyone of his standing could possibly be interested in her. And until recently, instead of using her beauty and brains to bring herself up to his side, she cowered under his power and position, receding into his arms as a subordinate lover requiring his constant guidance and reassurance. But that was changing, she hoped.

Then, in the interminable silence that surrounded them, she looked down at her hands, and despite her determination, her inadequacies were surfacing again, spawned by the stress of the day’s events. She wondered if she was indeed worthy of Korba, or if she was simply a novelty, a curiosity that in the long run would become a hindrance. She also wondered just how much she aggravated him, a man who revered strength and determination and who was the epitome of such qualities and so much more. Would he simply tolerate her for the time being, hoping that someday she would rise to her newly acquired status? And what if she didn’t? Would he eventually discard her despite his assurances?

Chelan continued to flounder in her fears and concerns, oblivious to the fact that both men were studying her.

Korba began stroking her slender back as Ticees leaned forward, his powerful arms resting on his knees as he looked down at his drink. “I was not attempting to diminish you in anyway, my Lady,” he began quietly, his face full of concern. “Obviously, Korba has chosen to accept you as you are, holding no false hopes or unrealistic expectations for you.”

Ticees hesitated, looking at Chelan as she continued to struggle to maintain her composure. “Korba has had too many other women in the past who would have given up everything to be in the same position as you. To choose you above all others in hopes of transforming you into something you are not, he would never do. I know he loves you for who you are now, and not for what you have the potential to become, although I know that would far from displease him.”

Chelan took a deep breath, still unable to look at either man. But she did attempt to smile, praying that the small gesture would somehow buoy her flagging spirits. But she was exhausted, her fatigue cutting to the bone.

Ticees watched her closely as he spoke again, his voice now soft and quiet. “Chelan, I know Korba very well. He is my best friend, and one of the reasons for that is that we think alike and know each other’s thoughts. Therefore, I want you to realize that you are not an inferior creature in my eyes. I will accept and care for you as my friend has, and I expect nothing from you in exchange. I see your qualities as does Korba, and I understand his choice. I am sorry that I have once again rendered you ill at ease. I promise to make it up to you in the future, if you will allow me.”

Chelan finally forced herself to look at him, and she smiled weakly, but she did not trust herself to speak. She was using every ounce of her waning energy to keep her body still and her features as unreadable as possible.

Korba, in turn, was mute, his mind sorting through Ticees’ words, something about them causing him to be consumed by tension. There was a hidden interplay occurring between Chelan and the Emperor, and Korba could not decipher the complexities. Korba knew that Chelan had felt it earlier when she had expressed her concern about Ticees. But Korba also knew that, for now, his friend appeared innocent. It would take time before the problem surfaced, if there was indeed one, and Korba felt it was imperative that he be present when and if it arose, for Chelan’s sake.

Ticees looked down at his drink again as Korba continued stroking Chelan in an attempt to subtly console her. Chelan finally glanced at Korba, her features stoic, but he could see the weariness in her eyes.

Ticees looked up just as Korba pressed her head to his chest and kissed her forehead. The Emperor drew a deep breath. “Well, I can see that I have done enough damage here for now,” he commented softly. “I will take my leave and prepare for dinner.”

Korba smiled at him and nodded. Chelan straightened and glanced at him, giving him a small nod. “My Lord,” she acknowledged as steadily as she could.

Ticees watched her momentarily, wishing suddenly that he could retract all that he had said, his heart strangely and unexpectedly aching for the misplaced alien. He knew she had not deserved his heavy-handed brashness, even though none of it was meant to hurt, and his face grew long. “I have located Fremma in the vacant suite next to Toran,” he stated softly. “At your leisure, you can show Chelan where he and Dar are located.”

Ticees paused, watching the young woman look down at her hands, which tightly clenched her drink. “Tomorrow, if you wish, once you are both rested, we can begin tours of the area, familiarizing Chelan with the grounds and the functioning of the Palace.”

Korba nodded. “That will be fine, my friend.”

Ticees looked to Chelan. “My Lady, my apologies once again.” He hesitated. “I have a nasty habit of toying with all new people who enter my realm. It saves time in the getting-to-know-a-person department. Someday, when you are more comfortable with me, I may even allow you to slap my insolent face. There are times I feel I would more than deserve it, a fact with which I am sure you now concur.”

Chelan finally looked back up at the Emperor, her eyes regaining a spark. “Watch what you wish for, Sire.” And the two men laughed.

Chelan smiled almost deviously and then returned her attention to her drink, allowing her hair to cascade about her face and partially obscure her features. Korba then took a deep breath and signed silently to Ticees behind Chelan’s back.

He requested that Ticees refrain in the future from attacking her directly. Korba told him that she had suffered much already at the hands of him and his men, both emotionally and physically.

Ticees’ eyes opened wide with curiosity and concern. “Physically?” he questioned silently.

Korba closed his eyes and kissed Chelan again as he stroked her neck, his fingers moving softly over her skin, and eventually to her shoulder.

Ticees’s eyes automatically followed Korba’s hand, and he noticed for the first time, her faded scars. The Emperor was stunned, knowing full well the type of wound inflicted by a man’s blade. He took a step toward them.

But Korba signed him away, and Ticees stopped. The Emperor nodded his understanding, and promptly left.

Chelan remained still, afraid to move or even tremble lest Ticees was still lurking about. Korba hugged her tightly. “He’s gone, my Lady,” he whispered.

Chelan exhaled sharply, allowing her tension to explode from within. “He’s a beast!” she spat.

Korba had expected her to be upset, but he had not foreseen the depth of her distaste, and he sat upright, pulling her from him so that he could look directly at her. “Chelan?”

“Why is he so cruel?” she blurted. “I have done nothing to hurt him or to warrant his ill treatment of me.”

“Chelan, he meant no harm. He is outspoken and brash to the point of rudeness. He is that way with everyone, and I warned you.”

Chelan’s breathing was ragged. “His words say that I am worthy of you while his actions and his face say the opposite. He says that you have accepted me with all my shortcomings for whatever reasons, while his eyes say that you could do better, and that—”

“No!” interjected Korba almost harshly. “He never implied anything about your lack of worthiness, or whether I could do better by my own personal choice. His actions and his words were his way of learning about you honestly, and he was accurate. You have now experienced his straightforwardness. Ticees minces no words. He plays no games with me, and he pulls no punches. He merely stated the facts about you as he saw them, and he was dead-on. He also voiced his opinion on the basis of our relationship, but he never judged. And regardless, if he had, it would have been no consequence to me or to you, for it would not have affected my relationship with you, nor my love for you.”

She frowned. “But by Iceanean standards, I am weak.”

Korba smiled, lowering his voice. “And if you are, I am strong, Chelan, and therefore we balance one another beautifully.”

Chelan looked deeply into his azure eyes. “I don’t understand how he can rule the galaxy with his pit bull personality.”

Korba cocked an eyebrow. “Pit bull?”

Chelan rolled her eyes. “Never mind. Let’s just say that he’s no diplomat.”

“Well, actually, he does quite well in the diplomacy department when he has to.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Actually, no. He is quite proficient at it. Mind you, he does have advisors.”

“I’ll bet he does. And they carry with them a shipload of duct tape.”