His to Claim: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance - Taylor Vaughn Page 0,64

sweet hot had gripped my diijo when I gave Ki’Ra her reward for submitting.

I will join her in that bath, I decide as I rise to find her instead of waiting for her imminent return on my sleeping mat.

To think, that I had waited two entire solars to claim her. Now, I am barely able to wait two of the time measurements she calls “minutes” in her throat language.

However, as soon as I step foot on the mat, the room’s system interrupts my mission with a beep. “Reminder: You have a council meeting at mid-day tomorrow.”

A new, much less pleasant memory surfaces then. Being so eager to get home to Ki’Ra that I had agreed to meet with N’Ure and the rest of my council, thinking three days would be enough time to reunite with my k’vani. But that had been before I received the message from one of my emissaries about her garden trysts with the hybrid.

Dread roils both of my stomachs. N’Ure will most certainly expect a definitive answer to the Kaidorian question when the council meets on the morrow, but I still cannot resolve what that answer should be.

Agreeing to the Kaidorians conditions would bring my planet both riches and peace.

But Ki’Ra will never forgive me.

This single thought continues to invade my otherwise practical deliberation, despite her betrayal and last night’s necessary quelling.

I shake my head to clear it of these unpleasant thoughts as I enter the bathing room. I have several more hours before I must render my final decision, and wish to spend those hours enjoying Ki’Ra’s supple body—

But what is this? I furrow my ridges when I find both the pool and the rest of the facilities empty.

Returning to my sleeping quarters, I grab a robe and commence my search for her.

Only to stop short when I find her in my receiving room.

Ki’Ra lies on one of the long sitting lounges, in nothing more than an examination gown while a male dressed in the special light blue robe of a palace doctor runs a scanning wand over her body.

He is obviously conducting a medical examination, but the sight of her with another male…my talons pierce my palms when my hands suddenly ball into fist at my sides. “What is the meaning of this?” I ask.

When he sees me, the green-skinned doctor hastily steps away from Ki’Ra. “My Kel,” he says, placing his hand on his ridges as he bows his head. “I was summoned through the emergency call system. I was made to believe that you wished to have this hu’man examined.”

My focus transfers to Ki’Ra who sits up and also bows her head while touching a hand to her smooth nose. She is the very picture of submission, but I suspect my unintelligent human—not a concerned servant—somehow figured how to make an emergency call on the toilet’s system.

“You will tell me if it was you who called the medic to my quarters, Ki’Ra.”

She nods without making eye contact. “My apologies if I have broken yet another Xalthurian rule. I didn’t want to wake you…my Kel.”

Her use of my title is completely proper yet the ways she says it makes my ridges bristle. I still do not quite understand her people’s use of tone, but something about hers strikes me as irreverent.

However, before I can construct a response, Ki’Ra turns to address the medic. “Thank you for giving me this robe, so that I could maintain my modesty during the exam, D’hr Te’Hah. Would you please be sure to send the results to the A’oh Gh’A? He needs to be notified that the conditions of my contract with our Kel have been met.”

“What is the meaning of this?” I ask, a terrible feeling rising in my stomach.

“My Kel, I am pregnant,” she answers, keeping her head carefully bowed. “With a boy.”

I go utterly still. She is pregnant…with a male child. My Kel line has been secured.

This news should elate me, but a sick heat envelops my body, even as Te’Hah says, “Congratulations are in order, my Kel. I have examined your hu’man and she is healthy, as is the babe. Your heir will be strong.”

“Leave us, Te’Hah,” I say through gritted teeth.

The medic starts at my abrupt dismissal, but then bows in the proper way before heading toward the suite’s front door. However, he stops, and turns to face me once again, “My Kel, have no worries, I will send the report to A’oh Gh’A.”

His words only increase my fury, “Out!” I hiss with