The Ilia's lovers - Chapter Four

Please be aware, this is a first draft of The Ilia's Lovers. That means this hasn't been edited. There will be multiple errors and even consistency errors. Feel free to share comments highlighting them, but you don't need to contact me personally, unless you see a major consistency error. Please also remember, this book has been written in three parts across three different years due to the health concerns I've had since 2023. Thanks for understanding.

As soon as Dahnus closed the door on his office, his focus sharpened. It was always been this way here. His office wasn’t a sanctum, as many Amarans called it. For Dahnus, that was his bedroom, with his cock deep inside his adalan.

This room was different.

Amara was a place of lies, deals, conspiracies. It had always been this way. Amarans were power hungry. At least, the rich Amarans were. Dahnus believed the people, the ones in their homes and in their jobs cared only for their lives, their families, their loved ones. They just wanted the world to be stable and fair. It was for them he fought.

When Dahnus walked into this room, he pulled on the mantle of Ilan. When he walked into this room, he was the protector of his people. All of them. Here, he made deals to strengthen Amara and its people, and, in the dim light of twilight, he planned to take on their enemies. Fellow Amarans, who would happily sell adalan as slaves. Who would abuse their own people if it meant making just a few more credits.

When Dahnus was in this room, he could see the plots more clearly. Unravel the threads that worked against him and his people. When he was in this room, nothing could defeat him, even if plans he made needed years to unfold.

He took in the comfortable surroundings. The room was much bigger than he required, but as Ilan, it was expected and really, it was hard to find a small room in the palace of light. His office was decorated in bronzes, olives and blues. It was warm, comfortable and masculine. The smell of wood dominated the room. A thousand years this wood had covered this room and still it smelt like it was freshly cut.

The walls were covered in wood panelling from the Saeood tree, a tree that was once common on Huan before his people turned it into a dust bowl. It was a rich metallic bronze, unique among trees for the colour. It was tough, which was one of the reasons his ancestors wanted it and didn’t want the Huan to have it. Records showed, the Huan once lived in the hollows natural to the once giant trees that dominated their rain forests.

Right now, there were people combing through the records of Amara’s occupation of Huan, gathering information, gathering the things they’d stolen including seeds of the Saeood that had been kept in stasis since the Amarans pulled out. Dahnus intended on returning it all, but first, Huan had to become politically stable. That instability was another thing Amara left in its wake.

So many worlds. So much pain. How do you make it right?

‘You can’t, without starting. The Huan don’t owe you forgiveness. But you owe them.’

It was a hard lesson Tara Hannigan taught him. But he knew she was right.

So many things. So many things.

Dahnus walked across the Saeood tree floor, to the desk made of the same wood and sat down. There was a message from Tassian’s contact.

Tassian was an adalan living on the Myardahl homeworld. He helped slaves escape and Dahnus and his people funnelled them off planet to Tessan space. Making a mental note to deal with it later, Dahnus turned his attention to the task at hand and pushed the button on the intercom to his personal secretary’s office which sat to the right of his office.

‘Marstam, send Elithan and Hemian to my office please.’

‘Yes, my Ilan.’

Dahnus took out a pad and started making notes. He never wrote anything down on a computer. They could be hacked. He seldom made notes, preferring the privacy of his own mind. Every now and then, however, he needed to see things written down.

Elaine would need protection. Even here, the Palace of Light was filled with spies. Once Quennen and his people knew she was here, they’d get to work for the IGC. The IGC would also make public overtures, demanding the human be turned over to them for trial. Then there were the Devori.

Attacking the Illisa in Amaran space was to their advantage. They would be able to hold them, if he wanted to, Dahnus could put them on trial. He could also put forward a motion with the first chamber to put sanctions on trade with Devor. However, he didn’t think the motion would pass, and it would only make him and the Ilanian look weak.

There was a sharp knock on the door.

‘Come.’

The door opened and two males walked in.

Like all palace guards, Elithan and Hemian’s heads were shaved bare, showing the pointed ears all Amarans had. Their uniforms were simple, with white tight-fitting trousers, and a tight-fitting white top with a corseted waistcoat showing both males physiques. Both males were muscular and carried Adunis sticks and guns at their sides. 

Palace guards lived in the palace and trained whenever they weren’t working. Their loyalty was meant to be beyond question. For Dahnus, few people’s loyalty couldn’t be questioned, but Elithan and Hemian were on the list of those he trusted.

They stood before him at attention. Dahnus thought about offering them a seat, but he knew both males would refuse.

‘Elithan. I want you to coordinate a report on everything that happened with my sister and the Devori attack. Coordinate between her security, fleet and planetary security. I want to know how the Devori got this close before anyone noticed they were following my sister.’

‘I have already began, my Ilan. I will ensure lessons are learned.’

‘Excellent.’

This was one of the things Dahnus liked about Elithan. He always pre-empted Dahnus’s needs.

‘Also, we have a guest. A human. Her presence here is a secret, for however long that lasts. However, when word gets out, it will become a point of contention. Elithan,’ Dahnus turned his attention to the head of Palace security. ‘I want you to choose which of your men will patrol around the family areas. Confide in those you trust, the rest will know nothing until we can’t keep the secret any longer. Understood.’

Elithan nodded. ‘Yes, my Ilan.’

‘I also want you to choose the staff who interact with her. The safety of our guest will be impressed upon them. Anyone who talks will be immediately dismissed.’

‘Yes, my Ilan.’

If Elithan disapproved of putting a human above an Amaran, it never showed.

‘Hemian. I’m concerned that the human will not be safe here. I want you to choose twelve guards to have on her at all times on a rotation. You will oversee them. This is your sole task now.’

Hemian’s eyes widened, obviously surprised. ‘Yes Ilan. Thank you for this honour.’

Dahnus nodded in acknowledgement, then turned to Elithan who was frowning.

‘Something, Elithan?’

‘My Ilan. I understand you want the human to be safe here. But you must always be our priority. If you and the human are in danger, the duty of Hemian and his guards is to protect you.’

Dahnus flexed his fingers under the desk. He knew this would be the sticking point with Elithan. The man was obsessed with Dahnus’s safety. It was why he’d had to put Kymon, Elithan’s previous second, in charge of Hadith’s security. Elithan didn’t seem to realise that Dahnus couldn’t survive without Hadith.

Technically, Amarans didn’t die when their mates did, like some species. Like Adosians. But Hadith was his heart. Dahnus couldn’t live without his heart. The thought… the thought of surviving in a world without him. Dahnus was suddenly chilled to the bone, his throat thickened.

He couldn’t even bare to entertain the thought for a moment.

‘I understand, Elithan. I thank you for your loyalty. You may go. Hemian. I need to give you further instruction.’

Elithan hesitated for a moment. Dahnus could see he wanted to protest. That he knew what Dahnus was about to say to Hemian, but he didn’t have the authority to stay once he’d been dismissed.

Elithan shut the door behind him.

‘Hemian. I need you to sit down for a moment. I know it’s against protocol. I don’t care.’

Hemian cleared his throat and, with only the briefest pause, sat down in front of Dahnus.

‘A drink?’

Hemian paused for another minute and then nodded. ‘Thank you, my Ilan.

Dahnus got up and walked over to the panelling which sat under a window overlooking the Temple Chambers. He liked to look out at it, remember what it was supposed to represent and remember how it had been twisted by the rich to get what they wanted, instead of serving the people as they were supposed to.

He poured them both some Amanath and walked over to Hemian. Handing it to him, he saluted his guard and took a sip.

Dahnus sat down next to him and took in a deep breath.

‘You can’t mistake why I asked you to stay behind?’

‘You want me to prioritise the human’s safety over yours.’

Hemian spoke bluntly. It was one of the things Dahnus liked about him. That he didn’t waffle. Or pretend to misunderstand. It was one of the reasons Dahnus trusted him.

‘Indeed. Elaine has been abused. We are meant to protect the abused. That is a sacred duty. Hemian. I have more guards than I know what to do with. Each one prioritises my safety. Someone needs to look after Elaine.’

‘I understand. I know exactly the guards to bring onto this duty. guards I trust.’

Dahnus smiled. ‘I knew I could count on you. You report directly to me at all times. You are no longer in the direct chain of command. This is your duty now. Let Elithan know he will need to find a new second.’

‘Yes Ilan.’

The two males finished their drinks. Dahnus took Hemian’s glass and watched him leave.

One down. Many, many more to go.

Dahnus stood and rounded the desk, dropping back into his seat.

‘Marstam. I need you in here.

A few moments passed before the door connecting Dahnus’s office to Marstam’s office opened.

On the other side of Marstam’s office was a door that led to his staff.

Coordinating the life of an Ilan was a big job. Marstam needed a big staff to do it. It had many advantages to it as well. It meant Dahnus could do the following and because he knew he could trust his staff; he knew it wouldn’t go any further than he wanted it to.

‘Is the human settling?’ the adalan asked.

‘She is sleeping. She is very traumatised.’

Marstam’s features tensed, taking on a dark aspect, no doubt reflecting the memories he kept to himself. Dahnus had no idea the trauma Marstam had experienced, though it was his people who saved him from it, he chose not to learn the details. Eleven years ago, Marstam came to the palace of light as a survivor. Within a cycle he had proven to Dahnus that he was capable of the position he now held. For his loyalty, his ability, Dahnus respected his privacy.

‘We need to protect her,’ Marstam said, his voice sounded almost cold with rage.

‘I need you and your team to find every loophole you can. Everything you can do to stop the IGC from forcing us to hand her over.’

‘Her mental state in the wake of her trauma protects her.’

‘For now,’ Dahnus agreed. ‘I want more. I want you to, what is it Rhona calls it, sandbag ideas.’ Dahnus hummed, not sure he’d used that term correctly. ‘We need to make sure we have plenty of ideas, so that no matter how quickly the IGC finds a way around them, we have more. We may need to protect this female here for the rest of her life.’

‘Yes, Ilan. I will have my team start looking into alternative forms of protection.’

‘Good. Get to work. I want all the legalities in place long before the IGC knows she’s here.’

Marstam bowed and turned to leave the room.

‘And get Thanesh on the line for me. I need to let him know she arrived safely.’

Dahnus sat back and waited for Marstam to connect a vid call to Tessa. His thoughts turned to the small human female sleeping in his guest rooms.

Elaine’s skin was pink with a yellowish tone. Dahnus believed that if her skin was touched by the star, it would take on a golden hue.

Her eyes were clear blue, her hair thick and golden blonde.

Elaine was stunning. Even for a human and Dahnus and Hadith found humans fascinating.

But fragile. Elaine was a thin glass figure right now. Too much pressure anywhere and she’d shatter.

Again, Dahnus wished she hadn’t been the one to kill Castus. He wished he’d had that honour.

The words from the report came to mind.

Deliberate cutting.

Sexual abuse.

Mental torture.

Forced the other human to watch.

He’d done indescribable things to Elaine while he forced her friend to witness it.

‘My Ilan, I have Thanesh for you,’ Marstam’s voice said through the intercom.

Dahnus reached out to switch on his terminal and realised his nails were dug into the palms of both hands. He extracted them, seeing teal blood fill the small pricks in his skin.

He felt like he needed to kill someone.

Dahnus pressed the button and High Protector Thanesh appeared in all his pale glory.

‘I wish you were here right now, Thanesh. I could do with a few rounds of Aoltor.’

‘Your sister sent me the report. I understand why.’ Thanesh’s lip curled; his anger clear to see.

‘I was able to speak to Pyri, Elaine’s friend not long ago. Pyri is indeed their mate. We have come to an agreement, that Pyri will give them a chance to be worthy of her. If, after a cycle, she still wants to leave, I will be going to Adosia for her.’

‘If you attack an IGC world, especially a founding world, the IGC will go to war.’

Thanesh nodded. ‘I don’t believe it will come to that.’

‘What makes you so sure?’ Dahnus leaned closer.

Everything Dahnus had learned about ruling, he’d learned from his parents. What he’d learned about tackling conspiracies, he’d learned from Thanesh when the Tessan was training him to fight with Adunis sticks. Someday, Thanesh would teach Dahnus’s children. Then his grandchildren. A hundred years from now, Thanesh would be training his descendants. When Dahnus was long in the ground, buried at the foot of this mountain.

‘The Adosians deny their natural instincts. I do not see them lasting when faced with a human. Especially this human.’ Thanesh laughed. ‘Pyri Bjornsdottir is strong minded. I watched her change Talis’s mind with no more than a look.’

‘Well, this next cycle should be interesting.’

‘Indeed. Have you told Elaine about Endurance?’

‘Danari did, on her way here. We haven’t discussed it with her, or what it means for her being here, but I already have people working on keeping her safe.’

‘If things begin to look like they’re falling apart, let me know. I will have to ask forgiveness for the small incursion team I send to bring her to Tessa.’

‘And I will give it, my friend,’ Dahnus said, grinning. ‘Though I’m sure it won’t come to that.’

For some reason, the thought of the tiny human leaving this place, of going where he couldn’t be there to keep her safe, made him feel wrathful.

‘Pyri is concerned for her friend. Will you tell Elaine and tell her I will be communicating with her again soon, so if she wants to send her a message, I’m happy to pass it on.’

‘I will tell Danari to let her know.’

‘How is she?’ Thanesh’s voice was filled with compassion. It was strange to think how different he was from the male who’d trained him. Dahnus’s thoughts turned to the small human, his mate, Alethia, who’d wrought this change in him.

‘Deeply traumatised. Have you read through the report fully?’

‘I’ve skimmed it. Alethia is reading it.’

‘How is she, and the children?’

‘Miracles. I’m grateful for them every day.’

Dahnus smiled. From any other species, Dahnus would think his friend was exaggerating, but Thanesh and his males had been without females for three hundred years, only recently finding out they were genetically compatible with human females by design. It had changed everything. Making the Tessans the greatest champions of humanity. A race others wanted to exploit as slaves and nothing more.

‘Has she worked out you’re keeping her on Tessa yet?’

‘No. Thankfully she’s too busy helping me run Tessa. Helping the rescued slaves, caring for our young.’

‘She does good work, your mate. Better, now you’re there to defend them.’

Alethia had been buying and freeing slaves before she ever met Thanesh. It was a cause close to her heart and as such, Dahnus deeply respected her.

‘I do what I can to aid her work.’

That was an understatement. But it was just like Thanesh.

‘Sotul Perim has married a human,’ Thanesh said, a grin on his face.

Dahnus felt his mouth drop open. ‘The Koldar Sotul,’ he said when he regained the ability to speak.

‘Yes.’ Thanesh was enjoying this revelation.

“The Koldar Sotul? Perim? The Koldar? The arrogant, elitist, racist coddled Perim?”

Thanesh was laughing as he nodded.

‘I thought he was missing. Went missing during his pilgrimage?’

‘They found him a few days ago. He and a human slave he’d acquired were living rough on a planet. Apparently, he fell in love with her. He’s banned slavery.’

Dahnus shook his head, it was spinning with this news.

‘The Koldar! The racist Koldar who believe they’re better than everyone else? This isn’t possible! How do these females do it?’

‘I have no idea. But the Koldar have pledged themselves in the aid of their Sotala’s people. If we could get a human female for the Bentari leader, whoever that ends up being, this whole thing will be over.’

Dahnus laughed, then stopped.

‘If it’s Arien, I can see it. But his brother? I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, let alone a delicate human.’

Thanesh’s face lost all traces of humour. ‘Agreed.’

‘Going back to Alethia. I will be taking her to Ket’Kitara in several cycles. The Kuyon are holding a meeting for me. Between our allies and representatives of the human’s government. We’re discussing a strategy to deal with the IGC and to discuss Earth’s plans in the event the IGC votes in favour of invading their system.’

‘In other words, you’re going to get them to formally ask for Tessa’s help in the event of an invasion?’’

Thanesh smiled. ‘Exactly. Earth is finally allowing human women to volunteer for our relocation programme. But they’re still resistant to other kinds of aid.’

Something flashed on Thanesh’s face.

‘What’s wrong?’ Dahnus asked.

‘The human the Koldar Sotal married. She was the first woman approved to relocate. I approved her myself. I had hoped she would make a suitable mate for Korren.’

‘That’s the one that disappeared, and had no memory of where he’d been when he returned?’

Thanesh nodded. Then waved his hand, dismissing whatever thoughts were in his head.

‘I understand you won’t be able to come to the meeting.’

Dahnus sucked in air, his mind going through all the reasons he might attend and not anger the IGC council. It would be hard.

‘It would probably be best I don’t. But I really want to. Leave it with me.’

Thanesh nodded, understanding on his face.

‘I’ll be in contact soon,’ Dahnus said.

‘If you hear anything, let me know.’

Dahnus sat back in his seat and looked up at the high ceiling.

He wanted to declare his support for Earth, but once he did, lines would form. Alliances would push to the fore, stopping worlds from deciding and making them vote for or against Amara, rather than for or against Earth.

The longer Dahnus held out, the more time Thanesh and his representatives had to talk to these worlds and convince them of Earth’s innocence and the conspiracy against them.

It was frustrating that the actions of his ancestors meant there were worlds that resented him and his people now so much, that they’d condemn humans to slavery just so they didn’t vote with the Amaran people.

And this is why Tara is right. We must make amends.

No more races, histories, individuals could be lost to slavery, like the whole history of the Aavani, just because the IGC was too paralysed to stop the Bentari when they invaded because it was Amarans leading the call to defend them.

The Aavani’s whole culture and history was lost.

The guilt of it ate Dahnus’s father alive.

Dahnus refused to live with that same loss. He refused to let the humans suffer because of the actions of his ancestors.

With that grim thought, Dahnus got back to work.

Chapter Three

Chapter Five