The Ilia's Lovers - Chapter Twenty-Four

“I need excuses why I need to go to the human ally meeting at Ket’Kitara,” Dahnus said to his sister as soon as she walked into his office. At the same time, he also turned to the device on his desk and activated it, and checked his computer to confirm the room was now safe for them to talk.

Dahnus, Hadith and Elaine arrived back from the island minutes ago. Reluctantly, and with lots of kisses, Dahnus returned to his office, the memories of the island playing in his mind over and over until he shut the door and became the Ilan.

Dahnus was waiting for the two Tessan guards to arrive to protect Elaine, and Danari was finally back from visiting their siblings on the Zenin colony of Amsara where their Zenin father settled with all their siblings after the death of their other parents so they couldn’t be used by the family’s enemies against them. It still hurt to be separated from all his siblings and his agba, his Zenin father, and Dahnus visited as often as he could, which was far and away from often enough.

“Agba wants to know when you’ll next visit. He misses you and Hadith. Zamin says either you get your ass to Amsara, or, Ilan or not, as your older brother, he’ll come here and drag you there.”

Dahnus laughed. Zamin was his Amaran half-brother to one of his Davvi and Adanna’s lovers before they met Dahnus’s mother, his vammi. Zamin was never interested in the throne, or politics. His interest lay in keeping his siblings safe. When Dahnus was a child Zamin was always there, protecting him, supporting him. When Dahnus worried about the responsibility on his shoulders, it was Zamin who would listen to him, assure him. He loved his older brother fiercely, but then, Zamin ensured all the siblings felt united, included, and loved. He also didn’t take, in Rhona Desares’s words “crap from anyone”, and that included Dahnus.

“So, maybe we arrange for agba and everyone to meet us on Ket’Kitara. You can tell the IGC we’re going to sound out Earth’s allies and meeting your family at the same time.”

Danari dropped into the seat in front of Dahnus, crossing her legs, kicking her foot as she waited for him to think through what she’d said.

“Act as a neutral agent, sounding the allies out?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. In reality, we’re a sovereign Ilian and they don’t have a right to say a damn thing. But I get the politics,” she said, holding out a hand when Dahnus opened his mouth to interrupt. “However, to maintain an illusion of neutrality, we can hold separate meetings both with IGC member and non-member races, asking them about their stance, while… making it semi-transparent where we’ll fall if the IGC is Vashni enough to attempt an all-out invasion of the human world.”

“You think agba will come all that way?”

“He misses you.” Danari nodded.

“I miss him too.”

Losing Dahnus’s parents was hard enough, but of course Sehn, Kuyon and Hinari who mated for life died when one of their mates did, so when Dahnus’s mother passed, so did all of them, leaving Dahnus, Danari, Borum, his Zenin agba and their siblings suddenly bereft in their grief. They supported each other, even as Dahnus was coronated. They had a few short cycles where they were able to grieve as a family.

Then the political conspiracies began. Attempts at finding mates for his siblings in prominent families. Attempted seductions. Bribes, and attempts at blackmail. When Sirini, one of his half Sehn sisters was poisoned, sick for weeks and almost dying, Borum decided it was time for him and Dahnus’s half-siblings to leave. Once Sirini was well enough to travel, they were gone.

Their absence left a gaping hole. A quietness in the family quarters formerly filled with laughter and chatter. Dahnus still felt it every time he walked down the halls. The ghost of his family, imprinted in vibrant memories in every room.

“Arrange it for me, will you?”

Danari nodded and Dahnus could see the memories gripped her just as much as him. It was a lonely thing to be an Ascendi in power. Amarans were naturally family oriented and usually surrounded by them. But if Dahnus wanted that now, he had to create it for himself, and he would. Elaine was their Ilia. With her would come her lovers and with all of them, the halls of the Palace of Light would echo with the sounds of children playing, lovers vrokking and a family who loved one another once again.

Dahnus couldn’t wait.

“So, why the change? You were sure you wouldn’t be able to go to Ket’Kitara.”

“Thanesh is contacting the Sehn, Kuyon and Zenin governments with my mating profile,” he said.

Danari’s eyes widened.

“Thanesh is also sending two guards for Elaine. The first chamber is insisting they won’t pay my gaurds to protect Elaine. But I can’t leave my future Ilia without security.”

Realisation lit Danari’s eyes and her face lit up with happiness. Dahnus grinned, letting his own happiness show.

“Well, it seems you have a lot to do,” Danari said.

“We do,” Dahnus replied, confirming that even now, he was getting everything ready for them to make their move.

“Oh, here’s an interesting thing. Adiyan Sinarti seems to have gone missing.”

“Do we know what happened?’

Danari shook her head.

“He was seen arguing with his father and Quennen Vatari almost half a cycle ago. Then he seems to have just disappeared. I have people looking into it. I don’t like it.”

“Neither do I,” Dahnus admitted.

“Then, their father pulled Demenzin from university. Kelia and Nataiya haven’t been seen, though sources say they are restricted to their father’s estate.”

“But not Adiyan?”

“Not Adiyan. He just evaporated into thin air.”

Dahnus sat back, possible events unfolding in his mind. Adiyan, despite his fealty to his father, wasn’t foolish. If he caught a hint of what Dahnus knew about him, about his plans, Adiyan was likely to turn and Dahnus had considered approaching him in the past, but there was the slightest possibility he wouldn’t and if not, all Dahnus’s plans would be ruined.

But if Adiyan learned something he didn’t like, what would he do? The answer was obvious, he’d go to his adala sister Kelia who was far and away the most intelligent of Corthan’s children. Kelia was the obvious heir to Corthan’s business empire, while Adiyan was the obvious heir to his political seat.

The tension of Dahnus’s thoughts hit their peak and the events unfolded. Kelia confronted her father, and Corthan, not wanting his plans upset forced his children to come home. But what of Adiyan?

“There’s another interesting rumour,” Danari said.

“Hmmm?” Dahnus waited.

“Corthan Sinarti is looking for a bond match of impeccable breeding. According to my source, he believes he was cursed with two adalan and two adala children because of the low birth of their mother. He’s barely happy with Nataiya as a caya, and is furious he was never given a son. There is also word from one of our agents inside his staff that he has a series of bills drafted to roll back the laws around inheritance. He wants a son.”

“He’s looking to disinherit Adiyan and Kelia.”

“He’s looking to disinherit all five of them.”

So, Adiyan was now expendable. But he wouldn’t have sold his child. A shiver of ice ran down Dahnus’s back. He’d learned long ago, whatever horror he wanted to not be true when it came to the deprivations of the darker elements of his people, he should always expect to be proven wrong. But he was sure Corthan hadn’t sold his adalan child, not yet anyway. Not until he’d secured his male heir. But punishment. He would absolutely hand his adalan child over for punishment.

Dahnus closed his eyes and shook his head in disgust.

“Precisely.”

Dahnus opened his eyes to find Danari just as disgusted.

“Find him. Rescue him,” Dahnus said. “Use my forces as well. Whatever it takes.”

Danari nodded.

“I’ll see it done.”

“And if it looks like Sinarti is about to be successful in his goal of fathering a male heir, get the rest of them out. I want our agents to get them out as a priority, even if it means withdrawing our forces. That sick vrok.”

His own child. His own Child. His. Own. Vrokking. Child!

“Root and stem, Dahnus,” Danari repeated the promise they made their parents so many years before. “Every one of them, root and stem.”

“Root and stem,” Dahnus repeated. “Every last sick vrokking one of them.”

“My Ilan. The guards from Protector Thanesh have arrived.”

Marstam’s calm voice over the comm contrasted the high emotion in the room.

“Give me a few metri, then send them in. Would you like to meet my future Ilia’s new guards?”

Danari grinned.

“I knew Elaine was special.”

“Thank you for bringing her into our lives.”

“I wish the circumstances were different, but it is my pleasure, brother.”

Dahnus stood and crossed the room, pouring both himself and his sister a drink of Amanath before handing it to her. He was still shaking from anger, from frustration, from the thought of what Adiyan Sinarti might be going through as he sat here sipping on expensive vrokking alcohol.

Even if everything went perfectly, even if Dahnus got exactly what he wanted, there would still be no way for him to protect every adalan, every caya, every dunaar, every human and the other slave races. Even the Tessans, though they were more than capable of looking after themselves, yet Dahnus wondered, worried, planned for every eventuality. He wanted to find adian stones and build a gate near to Tessa so that his fleet could cross quickly should they have need to and he’d do the same for Earth.

His people brought slavery out there. They brought it from their vrokked up planet with all their ego and hubris and subjected unknown, unnamed masses to their sickness and now, centuries after slavery was illegal in Amaran space, they were still dealing with the fallout.

“You can’t save them all today, Dahnus,” Danari said, a grimace on her face and Dahnus knew she felt the same way. “And though we might not live to see the job done, we can get it started.”

Dahnus closed his eyes at the memory those words evoked.

The words knocked the wind out of him, at the same time, they centred him.

There was a knock on the door and Marstam entered. Behind him, instead of Tessan soldiers, a Raqhan and Nuulan male entered behind him, the Nuulan ducking despite the massive size of the doors, his high yet widespread horns barely clearing the door frame.

“I know the both of you,” Dahnus said when he recognised them.

“We have had the honour of being guards for Alethia since the Protectorate settled on Tessa,” the Raqhan answered. “I am Zinif. This is Thalvuten.” He nodded in the direction of the Nuulan.

Dahnus took them in as they lined up in front of his desk, Marstam leaving the room.

The Raqhan was the creamy colour of his people with brown markings on his back, the back of his arms, exposed under the sleeves of his Protectorate uniform. He had brown hair and his eyes beamed bright green at Dahnus. He had slight ridges on his forehead that made him look like he was frowning all the time. His thick hair fell in several huge braids, one thrown over each shoulder, resting down his front each ending in a large gold heavy ring. The style was traditional to Raqhan males.

The Nuulan, Thalvuten, was the darker, navy blue of his people with black striped markings which made them able to almost disappear in the navy forests of their home. His orange eyes had a slit pupil and his midnight blue hair spilled freely over his shoulders and down to his waist. He towered over the Raqhan; Nuulan were enormous. They were also one of the most technologically advanced races and almost all of them lived on their homeworld. Nuulan shunned the rest of the universe, however, they had claimed a space which included several pre-technological sapient species and protected the planets against slavers fiercely, determined those aliens would join their galactic neighbours in the course of their own time. Not when the slavers wanted them too.

Dahnus had nothing but respect for the Nuulan and what they were doing. They had a massive military. All males and many of their females served and they used it to do what they could for those in their sphere of influence.

“Why did Thanesh let you two go?” Dahnus asked.

“I needed a change. Alethia…”

Zinif looked at Thalvuten, the pair of them had a wary look in their faces.

“Has Alethia worked out Thanesh is keeping her on Tessa yet?”

Zinif’s faced instantly relaxed.

“No, and I found it impossible to continue staying confined to the planet. One of my human friends said it sounded like I had ‘Island fever. But the planet version.’”

“Island fever?” Danari asked.

Zinif looked down at her.

“Apparently, some humans when they visit small islands hate it. They hate the restriction of the island. It can become distressing for them.”

Danari seemed to think about it.

“I understand that. I don’t think I could live my whole life just on Amara.”

Dahnus smiled. He couldn’t understand, he was exactly where he wanted to be.

“It was… distressing.” Zinif stepped on the spot, seeming to hate the memory of it.

“Well, as much as I love my home. I must travel. Colonies, the IGC. Tessa. Allies and even enemy worlds. My entourage, which will include my human lover, will always come with me, so you will never be restricted to Amara for long. Though, when we go to our island on Athia, you may have to stay behind. My security forces do not enter the island. They stay underwater.”

“I do not believe I would like that,” Zinif replied.

“A holiday during those trips then.” Dahnus grinned, then turned his attention to Thalvuten.

“And you?”

“I have an honour debt to this vashni. Where he goes, so too must I until it is repaid.”

“It’s been repaid several times. You just like my company so much.”

Dahnus grinned. He liked these two. He also knew Alethia was very fond of them, and Thanesh sent them, meaning they were trustworthy.

“Anything you overhear here, is of the strictest confidence.”

Both males nodded.

 “Very well. Let’s introduce you to my… to Elaine.”

Dahnus stood and headed out, Danari at his side, Zinif and Thalvuten and turned towards his private suite, which included a series of connected rooms for his lovers in which, one day, Elaine would have her lovers. While they were away Dahnus had Elaine’s things moved to the suite adjacent to his and Hadith’s, though Hadith had never spent a night in his own bed and Dahnus was determined Elaine would do so only if she wanted. Even now his cock began to harden at the thought of seeing her.

One of Dahnus’s guards, who preceded him, opened the door to her suite, and they entered into the formal meeting room.

Inside, one of Elaine’s guards opened the door to the personal living room. When Hemian, who was standing at the bedroom door saw Dahnus, he knocked and opened the door.

Dahnus almost hoped he would see Elaine and Hadith in bed, instead, they were standing over her bed and a pile of clothes.

Elaine smiled when she saw him and Dahnus grinned back, his heart beating faster.

“I can’t believe you moved me while we were away.”

Though the words were an admonishment, Elaine’s face showed her happiness. Then she looked over Dahnus’s shoulders and saw his sister.

“Danari, you’re back.”

Elaine ran across the room and embraced Dahnus’s sister. Danari was shocked and Dahnus thought it might be the change in Elaine since the last time they saw one another, however, she hugged her future sister by law tightly.

“It’s good to see you, Elaine.”

“Did you have a good time?”

“I did. It was good to have a break from court and everything that goes with it. I heard you had a good time at Athia?”

Elaine turned to Dahnus, a happy smile on her face which lit him up to see. She was so different from when she first arrived.

“Very good. It’s so beautiful and peaceful there.”

Elaine walked back to her bed and started looking through her clothes again.

“Elaine, I want to you to meet Zinif and Thalvuten.”

Elaine turned and saw the two males. Her eyes widened and lingered on the Raqhan a moment and Dahnus thought he saw fear.

“They have been Thanesh’s mates’ personal guards for the last several of your Earth years. Thanesh and Alethia trust them implicitly.”

“I already have so many guards. Why do I need more?”

“The guards are always instructed to put my safety above the safety of everyone else. While I know Hemian will always choose to protect you, I can’t say the same thing for the rest of them. I know Zinif and Thalvuten will put you first.”

Dahnus walked over to Elaine, blocking her view of the room and blocking their view of her in exchange.

“I need to know you are safe at all times, Elaine. We both do,” Dahnus said, turning to Hadith who nodded. “Please, do this for us.”

“They’re so big. I’m a little intimidated.” It cost Elaine to tell Dahnus that and he kissed her forehead as a reward for her trust and vulnerability.

“All the better to scare away any threats to you, my heart.”

“All the better to eat you with, my dear.”

Dahnus frowned and looked at Hadith, who was staring at Elaine looking as confused as Dahnus felt.

“What?”

“It’s a children’s story on Earth. A wolf, a predator, eats a girl’s grandmother and then dresses in her clothes, pretending to be the grandmother so he can eat Little Red Riding Hood when she arrives. It’s about enemies pretending to be friends.” Elaine looked over his shoulder at, Dahnus believed, Zinif.

“Not all Raqhan believe in divine right to slavery.” Dahnus searched Elaine’s eyes. He saw recognition. “The majority do not represent the individual and the individual does not represent the majority.” It was one of the first lesson’s Dahnus’s father ever taught him.

Elaine nodded.

“Put my mind at ease and take the guards.”

“As if your mind could ever be at ease,” Hadith said, standing and joining them. “Though it would help bring me ease also.”

“Okay,” Elaine said after almost half a minute had passed. “Okay,” she said again, quieter this time.

“I wouldn’t bring anyone into the palace that would harm you, Elaine.”

Elaine looked into his eyes and smiled, nodding.

“I know.”

“Come and meet them properly.”

Elaine swallowed but allowed Dahnus to take her hand and lead her over to the Raqhan and Nuulan. He made the formal introductions, lying through the words “Formal lover” instead of “Ilia” as he wanted to say. He wanted to tell the Ilian. He wanted to tell the IGC and the Bentari and the whole vrokking universe that this small human was one third of his being, but he couldn’t.

“I’m sorry, I’ve never seen one of your kind before,” Elaine said.

“I am Nuulan,” Thalvuten replied. “My people do not often leave our space. We are too busy protecting it and those races in our space who have not achieved space travel yet.”

Elaine’s face eased a little.

“Why do you do that?” she asked him.

“Because it is the right thing to do. No races first experience of this universe should be in shackles.”

“I wish my world was in your space,” Elaine responded.

“So do I, my lady.” Thalvuten shifted on his hooves. “My people often wonder how we can protect more of the vulnerable races. But we are only so many.”

“You do more than most.”

Elaine turned to Zinif with a panicked look on her face.

“I’m sorry, I’m not implying—”

“No need to explain,” Zinif said. “My people have lost their way. I hope they will find the true path one day.”

“Perhaps you can explain that to me sometime.”

“It would be my pleasure, my lady.”

“I must get back to the office, my heart.” Dahnus looked from Elaine to Hadith who smiled at him as he approached. Dahnus kissed them both before leaving.

It was time to let his allies know they were getting ready to close in on their enemies. It was time to let their enemies’ spies know some misinformation. It was time to start calling in debts.

It would take months before they were ready to move, but Dahnus was determined that by the time Amara held its next Varosai festival, Dahnus would be going to the island on Athia with his official Ilia and Ilidan.