His to Claim: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance - Taylor Vaughn Page 0,78

the right of refusal. The hu’man females will also have the right to select the Xalthurian male with whom they wish to breed. We will continue to collect the male issue of these breedings every solar. However, from now on the…”

I pause, taking a moment to recall the term Ki’Ra thought better than my original idea of “vessels.” What was it again? Oh, yes…

“The birth mothers will be granted access to visit their offspring at designated intervals during each solar. In turn any Xalthurian male who wishes to meet with their female offspring will also be granted the right to visit New Terrhan at designated intervals. And, as an incentive to continue the breeding exchange we will offer the New Terrhan enough supplies so that their planet can thrive instead of suffering through food shortages and nutrition deficits.”

A long pause greets my announcement, then the hall erupts in gasps and objections.

And yes, just as I suspected, N’Ure is no longer smiling.

“What of the Kaidorians, my Kel?” he demands, shouting to be heard over the rest of the council members.

“We will take control of Darlanz but offer them a percentage of the dystranean crystal mines profits. We will also arrange for them to meet with the New Terrhan representatives upon the Darlanz station. And we will not intervene if the Kaidorians wish to make their own accord with the hu’mans.”

"But why would you give up our rights to New Terrhan?” one council member with a hybrid son of his own demands. “The Kaidorians consider these hu’man females more valuable than even the known universe’s largest store of dystranean crystal. Why would we simply grant them access to our most precious resource?”

I answer the council member, but glare at N’Ure who apparently decided not to keep the terms of the Kaidorian peace offering to himself. “The New Terrhans are not a precious resource. Their females are sentient beings, birth mothers, and not ours to give away.”

“My Kel, I must object,” N’Ure says with his shoulders lowered submissively and his hand upon his ridges to convey his utmost respect even as he contradicts me.

“The hu’mans are distrustful and as you know, many of their females do not even have the mental capacity to understand the gravity of the breeding agreement. If we give them too much power, they will not only take our generosity for granted, but also demand further reward. They are such an indolent and avaricious species, the females would soon have us working their fields instead of doing it themselves—all for opening their legs once per solar.”

My nostrils flare at the words spewing from his mouth. “You are basing this all on a report that you swore was thorough. Yet, upon further investigation, I have found several inconsistencies in it. I was also incredibly vexed to discover that you spent but a few mere hours on Terrhan constructing your supposedly comprehensive survey.”

At most council meetings, the Kel barely talks, leaving the prime minister to facilitate most discussions and arguments. But now I stand and fully turn to face N’Ure, awaiting his answer while the rest of the council members watch our heated exchange with open curiosity.

“I am just thinking of our people,” he says, also coming to his feet. “If we place the decision making in the hands of the New Terrhan females, not all of them will agree to breed with our men.”

“You are correct, P’rm N’Ure. However, I am told that if given translators, the hu’man females will be much more open and receptive to the Xalthurian males.”

“And what part of this new accord benefits us Xalthurians?” N’Ure asks, his shoulders no longer purposefully stooped. “Xalthuria first, as your father and his father before that would say. If either of them were here, they would have taken that deal with the Kaidorians without any further consideration.”

I shoot him a quelling look. “If either of them were here, you would no longer have a head for speaking to your Kel in such a manner.”

His ridges quiver with the realization of how much disrespect he has shown me in front of the council. “My Kel, my apologies. Please understand that my hearts lie with the needs of our people—”

I purposefully turn away and continue on before he can finish that sentiment.

“Some of our males have expressed interest in taking hu’man females on as consorts and/or mates. This will be permitted, and open to any interested male, not just our warriors and the sons of the richest merchants. We must replenish