the next thing I remember is my back hitting his sleeping platform. I close my eyes and trust Borak to take care of me. As sleep takes me, I feel his warm body press against mine and the soft warmth of his wing covering me. Thus ends the best night of my entire life.
Mountain Home
Borak
Escorting my new mate to our keep is the proudest moment of my entire life. My five scions and I started here with nothing. We set up a rough camp, slept under the stars at night and mined precious metals from our mountain. I know not how many trips my scions and I made from our mountain to the huge trade center in our one and only city. It seemed to be an endless cycle for almost a complete solar cycle. I remember we sheltered in a cave at the base of our mountain the first winter.
Eventually, we amassed a sizable fortune and turned our attention to constructing a residence fit to house numerous queens, for each of my scion has his sights set on luring a lovely queen of his own. I stand back with my arms folded over my chest as Queen Juliet wanders around this paradise we have created. Our common area is magnificent.
She gestures by throwing both arms out from her body. “This place is huge. It must have taken forever to excavate it.” She stares straight up, noticing the intricate relief carved into the ceiling.
I grunt my agreement. “We expanded a naturally formed cave in this very spot using mostly droids. It was tedious and time consuming, but we persisted until the space was as glorious as we could make it.”
She drops down to sit upon one of the large pieces of furniture. I made certain my furnishings were pleasing to the eye and built to last. She runs her hand over the tapestry fabric. The three scions I left behind have maintained our keep in perfect working order. Even now a robust fire crackles in the fireplace that spreads out on either side of the seating area.
My queen scoots back, drawing her legs up. “This space is cozy. I could sit here forever.”
I snort a laugh. “You will find it difficult to fit into the chair beside me. Do not worry, for I will have one built to your human specifications.”
She runs her hands over the arm rests. “So this is your favorite chair, is it? I should have guessed because it’s off by itself and so comfortable.”
My perfect queen knows me well. I had a favored chair in our cramped shuttle quarters and another in our common area aboard the battleship. “I once liked my personal space, but I doubt I would now be happy sitting alone. I prefer you to have a comfortable spot at my side.”
“I’d really like that.”
Her smiling face makes my chest ache so I try to keep the tour moving forward. “Now that you’ve wandered through the lower quarters, would you like to see our personal suite?”
She comes gracefully to her feet. I like the way the firelight reflects off her soft skin and how pleased she seems with the home we created. This queen of queens is used to living in the best and most spacious homes to be had in the domed Earth cities. Her status as the leader of Earth Gov military meant she was well provided for.
I wrap my wing around her sturdy form and guide her to the lift designed to transport us from the lower level to the suite I created above. I take a moment to scan her handprint into the security system so she can not only access the lift but all the areas of our home.
“My quarters are not as well furnished as the common room, for I had no designs on bringing home a bride for myself. Most of my time and effort went into tracking down furnishing for my scions.” I am warming up to the human terms for mates. Bride is one that caught my interest.
My now lighthearted queen responds positively to my admission that our quarters might be lacking. “That just means we can decorate the space together. I’ve got a good feel for your decorating tastes. On Earth it is similar to what we call lodge furnishings. That means your furniture is large and sturdy. However, our designs for lodge furniture are usually simple, but your furniture is more modern and ornate that anything we have on Earth.”