CHAPTER 4
Nicholen had no time to ponder what the searing eye contact with the beautiful aide meant. The human Lead seemed determined to leave the space station as soon as possible, a decision he didn’t agree with. A magnetic storm was brewing in mu-space, and as Captain, he would have much preferred to wait out the storm. As prince, he had to balance his own opinions with diplomacy.
Fucking diplomacy. There was a reason he preferred his job. “Shoot first, ask questions later” had served him well.
At 08:00 hours the next morning, the delegation gathered to discuss. He and Camlan sat on one side of the table, and Manda sat on the other next to a woman named Gloria, who was the Senior Ambassador on the team. He was unclear on why Gloria wasn’t leading the delegation, but he chalked it up to another species’s quirk.
“Why chance it?” asked Nicholen.
“I’ve told you why,” said Manda.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant what’s the harm in waiting another month?”
“Would you like me to bring up the chart again?”
Manda had, of all things, a multi-colored chart showing timelines and lost revenues, all of which made Nicholen’s head spin. Numbers were not his forte.
“I’m not asking about harm to the economy but to your diplomatic team.” Maybe he could wheedle her into a corner, make her admit to something untoward. “What promises have you made to your higher-ups?”
Senior Ambassador Gloria was frowning now, and Camlan cleared his throat. “Gloria, have you had a chance to review Manda’s navigation route? I looked at it last night, and I found are several pockets of magnetic winds that might throw us off course.”
“I have. And I defer to Manda’s judgment. She’s Lead on this mission.”
And now they were back to where they’d started. Nicholen was growing more and more frustrated.
“Gentlemen.” Manda’s tone sounded like the dismissive one Nicholen used during interrogations. “We have matters to attend to. The decision has been made, the crew informed. If there’s nothing else, we need to prepare for our departure.”
“Gloria,” said Camlan, thankfully, as Nicholen was about to lose his temper, “you’re the ranking official in your department. Is there a reason you’re letting Manda move forward with such a reckless plan?”
Rather than answering, Gloria looked at Manda, and Manda looked at Nicholen. “Trincaar, I suggest you bring your captain under control. If you do not, I will have no choice but to file a grievance with the Unified Federation of Solar Systems.”
Oh, by the forebears, give me a fucking break. This woman was grating on every last one of his nerves, and he had no idea what the real prince of Imdali would say in this situation. He’d probably find it amusing but demand an apology just the same. “Camlan?” Nicholen tried to sound stern.
“I’m sorry, Ambassadors. I spoke out of turn. If required, the trincaar will have my resignation in hand before we depart tomorrow.”
Now he’s just playing games. Nicholen hated this ruse already.
“That won’t be necessary, Captain.”
Camlan bowed his head in the most ridiculous display of mock deference Nicholen had ever seen. From that alone, he expected the human ambassadors to know something was amiss.
But instead, Manda stood. “Now then. Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. I will see you at noon for takeoff.”
* * *
The only good thing about leaving so soon was that they didn’t have to stay at the human space station long. The shorter the trip, the sooner Nicholen could get back to being Captain of the Guard.
Despite Manda watching them like a hawk—something she didn’t even attempt to disguise—Nicholen managed safety checks of the starships. As part of the diplomatic protocol, two ships would make their way to Imdali. The first was the lead ship, manned only by the Captain of the Guard and the Lead. The second was the anchor ship, with the rest of the humans and kadyyza.
The idea of the real trincaar being on the lead ship sent Nicholen into a near-frenzy. The whole concept of a lead ship was a leftover tradition from the early days of kadyyza spacefaring. He decided to talk to Camlan about it.
“We’re going to tell the humans we’ve decided the prince will be on the lead ship. It’s more logical anyway,” he started.
Camlan laughed, and his mischievous attitude brushed Nicholen’s psy-sense with sweetness. “Nope.”
“I can’t let you be alone on a lead ship. You’re much safer here, surrounded by my guards.” Couldn’t Camlan see that?
“We promised my father we would do this.” His jaw was set in a way that said he wasn’t budging. “Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?”
Right. Because nothing bad ever came after those words. “But I’m the real head of security. I’m supposed to be on that ship.”
“How long do you want to fight about this?” said Camlan.
“Do we even need a lead ship? Maybe we could forgo it this time.”
“I’m the protector of our customs as much as you’re the protector of me.”
“That’s not what you tell your father all the time!”
“Oh, I just like to shake things up a bit. When it’s an important tradition, I make sure it gets done.” Camlan’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Besides, I don’t think Manda would stand for that.”
Nicholen’s mouth fell open. “Are you smitten with her?”
“No!” Camlan’s face was flushing from its usual indigo to a deep purple.
“You are. By the forebears, Camlan, be fucking careful.”
“That’s enough. I’m still your prince, and I’m not going to have a conversation about my love life again. Who I date is my business.”
“So you want to date her?”
“Enough.” Camlan drew himself to his full height. Not a trace of sugar now, only steel. “Go do one more safety check. I’ll ensure she’s distracted.”
And that was that. It made Nicholen growly. Extremely growly.
Takeoff happened without a hitch, but once in mu-space, Nicholen paced around the anchor ship relentlessly. It was large enough to accommodate two dozen humanoids, yet he felt like a fuvvia trapped in its stall. The ship was only mid-range, which meant no exercise facilities. What I wouldn’t give for a punching bag.
Three hours after liftoff, they were deep in remote territory. This long stretch between the Sol System and the Imdali System wasn’t precisely uncharted, but it was no longer settled. Long-abandoned terraforming projects abounded out here, from the centuries ago when many species were expanding. Due to the length of time it took to travel, the projects had sucked up precious money and resources. The galaxy was in a recession, with most species focusing their energy on the planets, moons, and asteroids within their home systems.
Traveling through it made him nervous.
He was marching around the corner, trying and failing not to fret, when he knocked into the long-haired aide from the reception room. The contact was over in a second, but she was so soft. Sparks shivered down his spine, and his manhood stirred as he realized he’d brushed her breast.
She gasped and blushed. “H-hello… trincaar.” She kissed her fingers and held them out for the traditional kadyyza greeting.
Nicholen’s heart pumped faster at the impressive display of manners. Even the minor aides were schooled in their ways. He took great pleasure in grasping her small hand in his and bringing it to his lips. When he kissed the tip of her middle finger, something new thrilled through him, something primal and protective. She was diminutive but fierce, as had been evidenced by the way he’d seen her ordering the other aides around. “Good day to you.”
“My name is Xaviara.” Again, that gorgeous name, just like the viaar on his homeworld, a winged insect he supposed was akin to Earth’s butterflies. “I hope all is well with the, ah, captain and my boss?”
“Oh, yes.” The way she’d said that was odd, but she was flushing a pretty pink, and he couldn’t stay on that line of thought for long. “You seem to enjoy working with the ambassadors.”
“I do! I’ve always wanted to be a part of diplomatic relations between humans and other races, ever since I was a little girl.” “ And now she was glowing. Her enthusiasm was enchanting. He could have listened to it all day.
“A woman who knows what she wants. I like it.” Nicholen could relate. Security for the royal family was a highly coveted position, and he’d wanted this position since he was a boy.
Xaviara was flushing again, and her scent was slightly floral—alluring. It was so subtle, Nicholen wasn’t sure if it was his sense of smell picking up on a shampoo or his psy-sense signaling a subtle emotion. What would it be like to pull her into a side room, take out some of his frustrations in a better way than storming around the ship? From the way she was looking up at him from under her eyelashes, she might thinking the same thing.
When was the last time he’d let his fantasies get away from him like this? He was being ridiculous now.
“All seems to be going well.” Xaviara held her poise admirably, which made him want to bite that bottom lip all the more. “I just came from the bridge.”
He inclined his head. “Yes.”
“It’s just that you seem… worried.” She tipped her head back, looked up at him.
She seemed so open, so inviting. He wished he could confess his troubles to someone. He had no real companions, especially not within the delegation. He grasped at something to say to keep her talking to him longer.
A klaxon blared. She startled.
“What the fuck?” he swore under his breath.
Xaviara’s brown eyes were wide. “Do you think the… Are they… ?”
“I don’t know but we’d better find out.”
“Warning,” droned the ship’s AI, “lead ship for delegation KH-159 off course. All personnel, rendezvous on the bridge.”
This time, Nicholen’s string of epithets were colorful metaphors that likely went completely over his human companion’s head, if her translator was able to keep up at all. He turned on his heel and marched toward the bridge, not even worrying that he was falling back to movements that seemed too crisp or military for a prince. This ridiculous charade would have to wait.
His trincaar was in trouble, and he had no time to waste in finding out what was happening.