Sol, p.15
Sol, page 15
part #3 of Lyqa Planet Lovers Series
I turn away from her and signal my sentry to escort her from my command room and back to her chambers. A moment later, Oni’at enters. He bows deeply when he reaches the middle of the room.
Sire. We are pleased that you have returned. In your first duties as our king, you have served our people well in containing this uprising.
I look up from the comm station.
I did it to save my queen, first. That is as much my duty as keeping our lands safe.
If I did not know Somii better, I would say that Oni’at manages to look surprised. In a matter of a fortnight, this lack of emotion among my people has become odd.
So it is true? You have taken this human female as your partner?
I have.
And it is your youngling that she nests?
My muscles tense unexpectedly.
It is.
That is unfortunate, sire. These matters are usually arranged by the counsel. Your birthing pod had been reserved. We had a companion settled for you as well. Her family has already been appointed to the castle as is custom. She is more than adequate as a partner and queen. She will give you healthy, Somii offspring.
The idea of partnering with anyone but Sheh makes my stomach twist, and I feel my expression change.
You may dismiss her. I have my queen. We have a youngling. We have chosen each other, and in five days’ time, we will partner in the way of her people. It is done.
But, sire—
“Yes?”
I use my voice. It booms through the room, and this time, Oni’at’s thick brows do lift. He clears his throat.
“I—I only wonder if she will not be more comfortable with her Lyqa family. Her people seem to be quite boisterous. They created a disruption when they arrived. I do not know that she will adapt to our way. It may be uncomfortable for her.”
His voice is rough from disuse. I move around the desk and stop when I touch the toes of his slippers.
“You would have me banish your queen and princess to another planet?”
The agitation is back. Sheh’s lovely voice whispers through my head.
Kick his ass.
“I would have your queen and her child comfortable and content. She may be more so with her people.”
I narrow my eyes on Oni’at’s calm face.
“She is mine and I am hers. She and our child are our people now, and she does not go away from me unless it is her choice.”
Without hesitation, Oni’at nods and turns to leave the room. I go to the comm station to send word that the medic visit the general, and then I go to find Sheh. I miss her.
I hear them three halls away. Sheh’s cackling laughter and two other laughs just like it ring through the usually quite halls of my private residence. It is a lovely sound, and my feet quicken to reach it.
I am here, Sheh. May I enter?
“Boo, get in here!”
Her voice calls out from the other side of the door. I push it open and interrupt some kind of human ritual.
Three dark, curly heads turn in my direction. Sheh and her sisters are beautiful. Each a lovely shade of brown. Each smiling.
Sheh stands with our ovum strapped to her chest. Around the bundle are several pieces of cord. I look at the tapestry hanging on the wall across from my bed. Several tassels at the corner are shorter than the others.
“You destroyed my furnishings.”
Sheh’s mouth pouts, and I immediately want to take back my words. Her sister Amina, heavy with her own youngling, steps forward and slaps my arm. I flinch when she does.
“Don’t be mad at her, Sol. It’s a baby shower.”
“Sol doesn’t get mad. He doesn’t do feelings,” Tee counters.
Sheh pushes past her sisters and approaches me, wrapping her arms around my waist and sheltering our ovum between our bodies.
“Tell them how you feel about me.”
She nods her head back to her sisters. I pull her against me as much as I can without harming our youngling and lower my head to press a kiss to her lush mouth.
“I love you very much, Sheh. You are my queen.”
Her sisters snicker and shift their eyes into their heads.
“Mm. She got you calling her your queen.”
Sheh’s mouth curves up.
“Tell em.”
Her mind reaches out to me, and the thoughts make me smile. She wishes to boast?
“Comm engage. Please send me an attendant.”
Not a moment later, the door opens and a young Somii attendant enters. He stops just inside the door and addresses me.
“Sire?”
I turn to Sheh.
Request something. Whatever you like.
Sheh turns to her sisters, and her mouth breaks into a wide grin before she turns back to the attendant. She presses a finger to her chin and stares up at the ceiling.
“Hm. Let me get a strawberry milkshake and some french fries with mild sauce.”
The attendant’s eyes shift to me, and I look calmly back at him awaiting his response. He straightens and nods his head respectfully.
“Yes, my queen. I will do my best.”
He turns and leaves.
I can sense his confusion. I also do not know what Sheh has asked for, but whatever it is, I will be sure that she gets it.
We turn back to her sisters, and they both stare at us open mouthed.
“Wait, he’s a king?”
Sheh crosses her arms and arches a brow.
“He’s the king. Boom, bitches! I’m a queeeeen!”
She bounces on her toes and throws her hands into the air. Her sisters both look up at me and shake their heads.
“Do you even know what you’ve done? You know she’s gonna be extra about this forever, right?”
Tee sighs deeply after she says this, and I look down to my Sheh who is still bouncing and laughing.
“I will take her however she is. I love her.”
CHAPTER 17
LASHAY
“God, just touch it.”
Amina and Tee’s hands hover over my daughter’s shell. Their faces are a mixture of curiosity and disgust. I have to work hard not to cuss them out. They aren’t going to sit up here and play my baby all night.
“Just touch the egg, damn!”
I grab their hands and place them on the warm covering. They both flinch and a second later, we’re in the field. Tee and Amina stand next to me. All of our eyes fix on the little girl dancing through the tall wild flowers, her little plaid dress billowing around her.
“Is that you?”
“That’s your niece.”
My daughter bounces over to us and looks up at her aunts.
“This is so weird. Where are we?”
Tee looks around, squinting in the bright sun.
“I think, we’re in her head or my head. She’s like Sol, but she can do this. He said she’s a better telepath than him.”
Amina leans down. She reaches out, and my daughter leaps into her arms, squeezing her around the neck. Amina hugs her and laughs.
“Oh, Shay! She’s so precious.” She pulls away and soothes a hand over my daughter’s curls. They stare at each other, smiling. “Can she talk?”
I shake my head and reach down for my baby, lifting her to my hip.
“Nah, she’s just a baby. She’s projecting this image of herself into our heads. I don’t think she all the way knows whats up.” I turn to Tee. “You want to hold her?”
Before she can agree, my daughter climbs out of my arms and into hers. Tee smiles and holds her close, sniffing her little neck.
“She smells good,” she says on a watery chuckle.
“Yeah, she’s a good baby. I can’t wait until she’s born.”
“Is it going to be soon? She’s big inside her little thing.”
“Sol said it won't be long. I guess we’ll see.” I reach out and flick my baby’s soft cheek with my finger. “Let us go, baby.”
“Aw, I love her so much already. Even if the fact that you laid an egg is weird.”
“Shut up. You’re about to give birth for the second time in four months. You can’t talk about weird pregnancies.”
We’re sitting on the floor eating—wait for it—french fries with mild sauce. My man is the shit. I don’t know how he did it.
“Did you see Ah’dan’s face when Sol came up behind you? He was salty!” Amina cackles and folds another fry into her mouth. She’s in a hunger. We’ve had to reorder three times. Tee hits her in the arm.
“Don’t make fun. You know he’s lonely.”
Amina rolls her eyes.
“Pish. I know he’s salty.”
“So what happened after I got taken? How did you guys know where I was?”
Mina’s still shoveling food into her mouth so Tee answers.
“Ah’dan said he saw someone he thought he knew and walked off and when he came back you were gone. He looked for you all day. When he finally commed us, he was panicking. Like, for real.”
“Really?”
I know my expression is disbelieving. Tee nods.
“Like, that dude went Sherlock Holmes and contacted the transport center to find out if any strange crafts left. That’s how he found out those Zefr dudes had left with a sleeping human. You know Lyqas are so damn nice, they didn’t even think it was strange.”
“He flipped the fuck out.”
Amina adds this around a mouth of food.
“He did?”
I’m more shocked by the second. She nods.
“Yup. He got a craft to come here as soon as he figured out what happened, and then Sol’s people were giving us the run around. It was a mess.”
“How long were you here?”
They look at each other and shrug.
“Maybe a little over a week,” Tee answers. “Bati and Ah’dan were going through the woods looking for you. They went to some mountains where they thought you were, but you guys had already left. Girl, I don’t know. Anyway, it didn’t matter cause Sol had you.”
I smile when I think about Sol. He stayed for a while, but then left saying he had king stuff and he would be back. I kind of miss him. I want to kick these chicks out and cuddle with my boo.
“How long are you guys going to stay? I’m pretty sure we can find some room for you in our castle.”
I spread my arms wide and both of my sisters roll their eyes. Mina tosses a fry at me, but immediately frowns.
“Oh my god, we get it. You’re a queen.”
“I’m just saying.”
“We gotta go tomorrow,” Tee replies. “She’s gonna give birth soon, and I miss my kids. Bati had to go back the moment we found out you were safe cause Kwarq was going crazy looking after five children.”
I feel a little sad at the idea of them leaving so soon. I want to stay with Sol, but not seeing my sisters every day isn’t going to be fun.
***
Sheh.
I scoot back against Sol as he settles behind me. I fell asleep waiting for him to come to bed. He drapes his arm over my middle and settles his hand on our baby.
“You can use the reproduction pod to keep her now.”
His voice is a soft whisper against my neck. He presses a kiss there and electricity dances across my nape.
“I like having her close.”
The guy who brought me the fries rolled in a little incubator type thing earlier, but I couldn’t put her in there. She felt too far away.
“I prefer having her with us as well.”
I reach a hand back and cup his crotch, squeezing. He groans but catches my wrist.
“I am sorry, Sheh. My body has run its course. I require sleep. It has been many days. But when I awaken, I will fukh you for as long as you desire.”
“Promise?”
It’s quiet. I roll back to see his face. He’s already asleep.
“You are sure this is what you want? You can come home. We will care for you and your child. She will be ours.”
We’re standing on the craft pad behind our castle. A Lyqa pod hovers a few feet away waiting to take my sisters and Ah’dan back home. I try to suppress the loneliness creeping over me. I’m going to miss them. As of right now, I haven’t seen another soul besides Sol and Fry Guy, and Sol’s asleep.
Ah’dan cradles my cheek, and I’m again surprised at the show of affection. Only, it doesn’t send the kind of butterflies fluttering through my stomach that it would have a month ago.
“I’m good, Ah’dan. I love Sol. We’re staying with him.”
His yellow eyes linger on my face for a second longer before he drops his hands and sighs.
“I should have let you love me, Shay.”
He seems so sad. I may not have the hots for him anymore, but he’s still my friend. I throw my arms around his waist and squeeze, looking up into his downcast face. For the first time, he smiles and hugs me back.
“Don’t worry. I still love you, and I know you love me, too.”
***
“Sol, wake up.”
I grab his big shoulder with both hands and shake him again. He doesn’t stir. His face is peaceful. His chest rises and falls evenly. But it’s been nearly twelve hours since we went to sleep, and he still hasn’t moved.
I’m getting nervous. I want to get someone, but I don’t know who I can call. Maybe Fry Guy?
“Um, hello,” I call out into the room. Sol spoke English to summon the guy last time. I hope it works. “Comm engaged. Can you send someone to help me, please?”
I wait, but get no response. I climb off the bed and pace over to the door. I’m just going to go find someone. As soon as I reach for the handle, it swings open and in steps a big Somii dude. I jump back. If the guy’s stoic expression isn’t enough to scare me, the imposing way he strides into the room sure as hell does.
May I help you, my queen?
His words float through my head, and I grin, despite my nervousness, then remember why I need someone.
“I think something’s wrong with Sol.”
Sol?
The dude doesn’t frown, but I sense his confusion. He’s older, which I can only tell because his hair is more white than gray. The tips of the dull, yellow feathers that fan over his chest are pale. His face, however, is baby smooth. Not a line in sight. Probably because he’s never moved it.
“Uh, I mean, Soluni-tiani Solati—Sol, dammit. The king!”
I wave my hand to where Sol still lays flat on his back across the bed.
King Soluanitiat’ti Somiiti’un?
My eyes narrow, but the warmth of embarrassment washes over me. I don’t like this dude.
“Yeah, what you said. I think he may be sick.”
He stares at me for a long moment and turns without a word to saunter over to the bed. I follow at his heels, crossing to the other side.
He leans over Sol, his eyes briefly falling on our egg, before straightening and giving his blank look.
He is asleep.
“Yeah, but he’s been asleep for like seventeen hours.”
He blinks slowly.
You were missing for nearly twenty rotations. If he did not sleep much in that time, he will require rest. It is normal Somii behavior. You do not know this?
“Obviously not.”
I really don’t like this dude.
And you also do not know your partner and king’s name?
I cross my arms and narrow my eyes.
“He told me to call him Sol.”
Dude slow blinks again, and I get the feeling he’s about to throw the slickest shade ever.
Hm. It is a great honor among partners to use one’s complete given name. Perhaps he does not feel you are prepared to incorporate yourself into Somii culture.
Before I have a chance to respond, he turns and leaves.
A few hours later, Sol’s still knocked out, and I’m tired of walking around the room. I settle our daughter under his arm and leave.
Sol’s castle is weird. Unlike Lyqa, which is cozy and casual, this place is like a fortress. The ceilings go up thirty feet of gray stone. Triangular sconces line the walls, and large chandeliers form sharp points from the ceiling. There isn’t much in the way of decoration. Really, there aren’t any decorations. It’s kinda boring.
I head in the direction of the rooms where my sisters stayed. Along the way, I don’t come into contact with anyone. It feels like an abandoned warehouse.
After walking the long halls for nearly ten minutes, I stop.
“Comm engage. Where the fuck is everyone?”
“My queen, can I assist you?”
I spin around and crane my neck back at a new giant Somii standing behind me. It isn’t Fry Guy or Stuffy McJerky. He’s bigger, more solid. Fry Guy looks like a teenager. This dude looks like a dude. His skin is a darker silver than Sol’s. The feathers on his chest are almost orange. The kilt that sits low on his hips is a bright green. Warm orange eyes linger on my face.
“Hey. Um, is there anyone here?”
His head tilts slightly to the side, but his face doesn’t change.
“I am here.”
“No, I know. I mean, like, where are your people? Do you guys do anything?”
“Do anything?”
That head tilts a little more.
I shrug.
“Yeah, like watch TV or play sports? Hang out?”
“I do not—”
“Know what hang out is, I know. I’m bored. Are there any people to meet and talk to?”
He seems to think about it for a second. But I can’t really tell cause his face is giving me nothing.
“We have a common place in town. Our people gather there for commerce. Do you wish to go?”
“Can I go? I mean, Sol—the king—is asleep. Is it okay if I go?”
That head tilts a little more.
“You are our queen. You may do what you wish.”
I have to pull my lips in so I don’t grin. Oh snap!
I fix my face and pull my shoulders back, trying to look queenly.
“Well, I want to go. I can’t sit in that room anymore.”
He gives a short bow and extends his hand for me to continue down the hall. I set off, and he steps in line beside me, walking with his hands clasped at his back. He doesn’t say anything. I let us walk in silence for a few minutes before I can’t take it anymore.
