gaze thoughtful. Her cousin has the same eyes; however, hers are often narrowed suspiciously. When the two are together, their eyes are almost identical—usually lit with mischief and crinkled with suppressed laughter.
Not for the first time, I wish my parents had given me a sibling. Someone to talk to, to strategize with. I snort at the thought. With my luck, it would likely be one more person attempting to have me killed so they could take the throne.
“I will see you later,” I say, my body hardening yet again at the thought. I have never felt this level of lust for a female, and it is…disconcerting.
Vivian nods, her expression still thoughtful, and I leave, making my way toward my own rooms.
Here, I have a large meeting room, which I use for more intimate meetings with a few of my closest and most trusted advisers. Korzyn is waiting for me, and he shakes his head when he sees me. Likely, his palace spies have already reported that I slept in a female’s rooms last night.
Something I have never done.
Korzyn frowns. “You took the human female to your bed.”
I give him a warning look, and he narrows his eyes back at me. I sigh.
“Well, technically, I took her to her bed. Does this truly surprise you, Korzyn?”
His frown turns into a deep scowl. “These human females seem to be uniquely created precisely to lower the defenses of Braxian males. My sources say it has happened time and time again. Smart, fearsome warriors across Agron have fallen to their…charms.”
I raise one eyebrow. “Do you have a point?”
“In the Seinex Forest close to the barbarian tribes, there is an animal called a thixis. The animal is small and unable to fight. It would be the perfect prey except for a tiny, gaseous bulb located in its throat. When it opens its mouth and blows at a predator, that predator instantly becomes as docile as a tamed karja.”
I blink at him. “You are suggesting these human females are…poisoning the males here?”
“All I’m saying is it does not make any sense that these strange alien females have managed to overcome any natural Braxian resistance to outsiders.”
I hear a shuffle outside the door and open it, finding Sarissa waiting. She tilts her head, and from the way she waggles her eyebrows at me, it’s obvious she has heard everything he has said.
She steps inside. “I’m about to head to the marketplace,” she says. “I just wanted to thank you for your help so far.” She smiles sunnily at me, and I have a feeling she was in this part of the castle gathering information for her own needs.
I frown, but the female is already turning her attention to Korzyn. She smiles, showing him her teeth, and then presses one hand to her lips before pointing it in his direction and blowing.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Blowing him a kiss,” she murmurs. “It’s something of a tradition on Earth.”
Across the room, Korzyn steps back, narrowing his eyes at her. She winks at me and then struts out the door, swinging her hips as she leaves.
Korzyn raises one eyebrow at me, and I laugh.
“She is playing with you. You used to have a sense of humor.”
“I can no longer afford a sense of humor if I’m going to keep you alive. Nine guards lost in one revolution, Arix. One day, you will turn a corner, and there will be no one we can trust left to protect you when someone slits your throat.”
I sigh, throwing up my hands. “What would you have me do?”
“Be careful. Do not speak of anything you would not mind your enemies learning when you are close to these females. We know nothing about them.”
“Fine.”
We both turn at a knock on the door, and several of my advisers file in. Rachiv glances between Korzyn and me, likely noting the tension in the room, but I get straight to business as soon as everyone is seated around the large, circular table.
“Have you heard back from Rakiz about our offer?”
Tridi shakes his head. While he is not in my trusted circle, his blood relationship to me ensures his access to these meetings. Access that he always uses.
“Rakiz wants to talk in person. He says his people do not conduct business by messenger unless there is no other choice.”
“He is more than welcome to visit. We will have rooms made up for him and his mate.”
“He won’t leave, Your Majesty,” Rachiv speaks up. “His mate is with child