“Zoelle! Zoelle, where are you?”

“Oh, shit balls,” Zoey muttered, from where she lay on the couch in her private seating area. She sat up slowly. After getting access to a regen chamber, all of her bruises and scratches had healed, but Nassir still noticed a darkness in her eyes sometimes. Boris had also commented to her that it was unusual for Zoey to remain in the palace as much as she was. Nassir understood her need to stay where she felt safe. Nassir felt the same need.

Safe for her was with Boris.

They spent most of their time together. Boris guarding Zoey while Nassir worked as her assistant. Zoey liked to call Nassir her right-hand man, whatever that meant. She had lived on Zerconia for nearly eight weeks now. It hadn’t taken Nassir much time to adjust. Boris already had a set of rooms in the palace for his personal use. And although they had been a bit sparse, some throws and cushions and paintings had soon brightened the place up. Zoey had been happy to help her with that.

Without telling Boris, who had refused any payment for guarding Zoey, Dex had been putting credits into a fund for him, which he had quickly given her access to. She hadn’t liked using his credits, though.

Earning her own money gave her a sense of achievement and security. She would never find herself in the situation she had before, not that she believed it would happen again. But if it did, she had the means to support herself and she was building skills that would help her gain another job should she ever need it.

Not that she could imagine working anywhere else. Life might be crazy here, but it was never boring.

“Zoelle!” Liula called from the main seating area that was used when Zoey had more people visiting.

“Honestly, there’s only like three rooms we could be in,” Zoey muttered. “How can she not find us? And she’s always berating me for not keeping my voice at a polite whisper so why does she get to go around screaming the castle down?”

“Why is she looking for you?” Nassir asked.

Zoey looked guilty, and hastily dived for Elodie, who was playing on a mat on the floor, as Liula, the dowager Empress of Zerconia and Dex’s mother, appeared in the doorway.

Zoey attempted to hide behind the infant she held on her lap.

“Zoelle, what are you doing here? I have been looking for you everywhere.”

Considering they were in Zoey’s private quarters and hadn’t moved all morning, Nassir thought that she hadn’t looked that hard.

“I’m holding your granddaughter! Don’t shoot!”

Liula paused, looking taken aback. She gaped at Zoey. “Are you using my granddaughter as a shield?”

Zoey glanced up at her mother-in-law and shrugged as Elodie smiled and babbled. She looked pretty happy to be used.

“Zoelle, this is ridiculous. Put my granddaughter down. Playing games, joking around, being lazy, and avoiding your duties is not acceptable behavior.”

Liula’s voice had risen so high that she failed to see the warrior looming behind her.

“Is there a problem here, Mother?” Dex asked in a quiet voice.

His mother jumped, placing a hand on her heart before turning. “Yes, there is.” She pointed at Zoey. “Your mate must start behaving in a manner appropriate to her station.”

Zoey crinkled her nose, but sighed, looking resigned.

“And she has not been?”

“She was supposed to meet me at the dressmakers today. She needs some more appropriate clothing for the visitors that are coming. I do not know how many times I have brought this up and I have had enough!”

“Yes, so have I,” Dex said quietly.

Zoey shrank back into her seat and tucked Elodie into her side. Even the baby had grown more serious. She sucked on her thumb as she looked up at her father.

Liula reminded Nassir so much of her mother, that she often found herself deferring to her before she caught herself. She’d actually believed Zoey had been exaggerating about her mother-in-law.

Until she had met her.

Oh, she had several good points to her. She loved Elodie, that was very clear. But when it came to Zoey, she just had this dogged determination to make her into what she thought a proper empress should be.

And Zoey was just as stubbornly determined not to change for anyone.

“Well, good. I have been waiting for you to get firm with her.” Liula stood to the side with a nod, as though waiting for Dex to take his mate in hand.

Nassir looked over at Boris, to see what he thought. He looked relaxed, but she could see a slight tension in his jaw and mouth.

“There is nothing wrong with the way Zoey dresses, mother.”

For a moment, everyone in the room paused. Zoey stared up at her mate as Liula turned to him. “Pardon me?”

“You heard me,” Dex continued in the same soft voice. “Since father died, you have become even more obsessed with changing my mate. I have given you leniency because of father’s death, and because I also know that you do actually mean well. But Zoey is Zoey. She has all the characteristics a great leader should have. She is fair, she is honest and kind and loyal. Most of our people love her and those that don’t can go bend themselves. Did I say it right, my own?”

“Um, I think you mean they can get bent,” Zoey replied, staring up at him.

“So while I thank you for your concern, Mother, I think that there are other areas you could apply your expertise that do not involve my mate.”

Liula looked from Dex to Zoey. “I-I…” She paused. “I only sought to help you both.”

“I know,” Zoey said. “It’s why I haven’t told you to, well, get bent. But Dex is right. We could use your help in other places. I know I’m not the empress you wanted or expected. Or the mate you wanted for Dex. But I love him. I love our daughter and I’ll always do the best I can for our people.”

“Fine then. I will go.”

She turned and left. Zoey bit her lip. “Do you think her feelings are hurt?”

Dex raised one eyebrow. “I am surprised you care.”

Zoey sighed. “I know she was only trying to help. Plus, she’s a great granny to Elodie. Isn’t she, baby?”

Elodie gurgled a reply. Zoey looked up at Dex. “That was so super hot.”

“It was?” he asked with surprise.

“Yeah, only thing is, she’s right. I probably should get some new clothes for these special guests of your mother’s. Who is it again?”

Dex frowned. “Some friends of hers from years ago. I would not concern yourself. They will spend most of their time with Mother. I expect their visit will be uneventful.”

“I’m still surprised how well she took the news that your cousins are alive. I can’t believe that all these years they thought your father ignored their distress call, when he never even received it. Have you gotten hold of them yet?”

Dex shook his head. “They have disappeared.”

“I suppose they will turn up when they want a mate.”

“Yes, and I guess I shall have to let them stay. I suppose I cannot stand between them and finding a mate. Even a human one.”

Zoey threw a cushion at him. He grabbed it, moving towards her. She squealed.

Let’s go. They do not need us now.

With a smile, Nassir slid out of the room behind Boris.

“What shall we do?”

He turned with a grin. Oh, I have some idea.

He tugged her along with him and down the corridor. She kept her gaze down, ignoring the guards outside the royal chamber. Boris opened the door to their rooms and as soon as the door closed behind them, he was stripping her naked. She loved how much he wanted her.

But this time, she was taking control.

She wanted some of those payments.

Game time.

He looked over at her in surprise as she reached for his clothes, pulling at them until he was naked. She loved it when he smiled. He didn’t smile often, even now, but when he did, her stomach would dance happily.

“This time you are going to owe me.”

He didn’t reply but the arrogant look on his face told her he did not believe she could make him call out.

“Sit on the edge of the bed.”

He was naked by now. He sat on the edge of the masic then held out his arm to her. She smiled and walked towards him, trying to sway her hips as she had seen some of the human females do. She was slowly gaining some much-needed weight, although she was probably never going to have curves like Zoey did.

But Boris did not seem to mind, not if the intent way he watched her was any indication. Hunger filled his face.

When she reached him, she quickly knelt and before he could catch on to what she was about to do, she took his shaft into her mouth. She sucked strongly and heard him shout.

Then she drew her way up slowly, licking at the velvet soft skin of his cock, delighting in the taste of him, slightly sweet, so delicious. When she reached the head of the shaft, she licked her way across it.

Do you like that?

What?

She smiled, revelling in her power over him. Then she took him deep once more.

“Gods!”

That’s one.

She repeated what she had done before, licking at him. Then sucking lightly on the fat head of his long cock.

Take me deep again.

Oh no. She was in charge right now. Not him.

Patience.

She cupped his balls in her hand, squeezing lightly.

“Nassir!” That rough-sounding voice, filled with such need, ramped up her own desire.

That’s two.

You are killing me.

She took him deep once more.

Ah, they do say revenge is sweet.

She stared up at him with a smile. He grinned back.

The sweetest. He cupped the side of her face. Remember that.

Remember it? I’m counting on it.

Then she took pity and sucked on him hard and fast until he shouted out her name again as he came in her mouth.

That’s three…

 

 

I hoped you loved Boris and Nassir’s story as much as I did. If you did, please think about leaving a review. It really helps Indie authors!

Following this is Alien Holiday, a novella, which you hopefully read first!

There is also an excerpt from my next release coming April 10th. My novella, Silent Storm features in Mystic Realms, a box set of 20 NYT, USA Today and bestselling authors. It’s just 99 cents!!

 

 

Thank you all for loving my Zerconian warriors as much as I do. Your support means so much!

Sadie xo