Fencer Read online

  He grinned and held out his hand.

  She slid her fingers against his and blushed.

  “Good morning, Kebril.”

  “Good morning, Meena.”

  He kissed her hand and led her through the halls. Bots were zipping around with items in their little mechanical arms but everything was business as usual as they entered the courtyard for fencing practice.

  The Saluth blades seemed light, but Meena faced off against her husband as she prepared for her workout. They were both surprised by what happened.

  At first, he disarmed her, and she was accustomed to it, so she didn’t remark on it, but there was a gleam in his eyes.

  She picked her blades up and flexed her fingers around the hilts. Her recovery was much faster today.

  “Again.” Kebril faced off against her.

  To her surprise, she got him to back up a few steps in her volley of blade strikes. The world around her slowed, and she moved at her top speed, striking toward him, and to her shock, her blade passed through his wrist, causing him to jerk.

  Her distraction cost her, and he disarmed her again. It was a pattern that repeated until they were interrupted in their morning exercise by a shuttle landing and disgorging, not only Rhoda and Drehl, but also Hawk, Under and two older Genarans.

  Rhoda rushed up to her and gave her a hug.

  “So, I hear you took the plunge.”

  “I got stabbed in the wrist and now I can see a fly’s wings beat. Is that the same thing?” Meena laughed.

  “Pretty close. Meena, this is your mother-in-law, Elian Yaghin.”

  Elian scowled. “I wanted my eldest to be wed in a proper ceremony.”

  “Waiting would have taken me off Yacaro in the clutches of a very unappealing Yinshin.” Elian paused. “Then, I am glad you joined, though I can be wistful about the lack of ceremony. Now, we are having your reception in an hour, show me your clothing so that I can help you dress appropriately.”

  The implied insult slid off Meena’s back. She would have worn plain bodysuits each day if Kebril would let her get away with it. He wouldn’t, so she didn’t.

  They walked to the master bedroom, and she opened the door with her eyes squinted half closed. She wasn’t sure if it took both of them to get into the bedroom or not.

  The bots had made the bed and her wardrobe was closed, but as she opened it for Elian, a new gown in burnished gold and black was hanging from the interior door.

  Elian chuckled. “It seems that he guessed about my demands. Well, daughter. Let’s get you into the shower. We have fifty minutes before the party.”

  Rhoda was chortling, and she ushered Meena into the lav. “Don’t fight it. Just be quick.”

  Meena took a shower and fixed her hair again.

  A light flick with her new control over her body and she was dry and ready for her party.

  She paused and stared in the mirror. The mask was gone. She vaguely remembered being woken in the early morning by Kebril licking at her skin once again. The gold was gone from her flesh, so it had either been him or her.

  Meena wrapped herself in a towel and asked Elian, “Does Kebril sleep?”

  Her new mother-in-law stopped picking out shoes and smiled, “Not much. He never did, but exams told us that his body was repairing itself at such a rate that if he did sleep too much, there may be complications. He burns off the energy he needs to burn off.”

  She laughed. “That explains a bit.” Rhoda grinned, “You have an alien with ADD?”

  “No, his attention is definitely focussed. Scarily focussed.” She remembered the slight graze of teeth on her and the ache that the care he used had caused.

  Elian grinned, “I birthed two excellent boys, now let’s get you dressed and off to your party.” She put herself into the elder’s hands and thought about it. “If Drehl and Kebril are princes, does that make you the queen?”

  “Yes. I don’t use titles with family though. As soon as Kebril gives the signal, my Berehl and I are going on a long vacation.” Elian fussed with the line of the dress and helped Meena get her shoes on.

  “What signal?”

  “That he wants to take over command of our people. The moment he does, they will begin to create a village around this palace, and you will be surrounded by your new kind.” Elian grinned.

  “Um. Speaking of that, how do you feel about two alien daughters-in-law?”

  Rhoda was all ears at that.

  Elian looked Meena up and down. “As long as you make my boys happy and keep them under control, I am delighted. We don’t hold with pure bloodlines. There have never been enough direct descendants to keep them going. New blood is good.”

  Her casual acceptance made both Terrans sigh in relief.

  The queen smirked, “Besides, once you wed my boys, you became Genarans. Rhoda, you know what I mean.”

  Rhoda nodded. “I know. I now have Drehl’s ability to move items without touching them. Foreplay gets kinda freaky sometimes.” Meena snorted. “Well, I am stuck on the manipulation of matter.”

  Elian paused. “What? Already?”

  “Yeah, last night, I used touch to remove his clothing. Today, I used it to fix my hair.” The older woman looked like she would swoon in delight. “I am going to tell Berehl. He will be so happy.”

  They walked toward the inner gardens, and Elian kept babbling happily about how fortunate she was in her new daughters.

  Meena looked at Rhoda. “I am glad she is happy, but I don’t know why.”

  Rhoda nodded. “Few new bloods in the Genaran community have the same strengths as their mates. To have two imports match their mates is exceptionally rare.”

  “So, we aren’t human anymore?”

  “I really doubt it.”

  Kebril stood up, and the gleam in his eyes warmed her.

  Meena said, “Why am I not upset by that?” Rhoda was walking toward Drehl and in his arms before she could answer.

  Chuckling, Meena walked to stand next to her husband, snaking an arm around his waist while he put his around her shoulders.

  Drehl was asking Rhoda about doing more portraits for the Guardians and Rhoda was asking how she was going to fit them in with her regular schedule.

  Meena looked up at Kebril. “Do you think we are going to be having those discussions in a month?”

  He shook his head. “No. I have already put a fencing school together in the capital where you can teach what you have learned to those who have an interest in absorbing new knowledge.”

  “Genarans and Nyal?”

  He laughed, “Anyone who comes to the door. It will all be on you, but we will have to continue practicing until I am convinced that you can teach a novice. It may be a year before you are good enough.”

  Meena sighed. “Gee, what will we be doing in that year?”

  He leaned down and whispered graphic and creative suggestions in her ear. Her cheeks went scarlet and remained pink for the four hours of their reception.

  Meena closed the door behind her, caging her mate. She kicked off her shoes, flicked off her dress and backed him up until he toppled onto the bed.

  She crawled over him and caged her startled mate between her hands. “Now, Kebril, I believe that you made some promises and suggestions. Start using your mouth for something useful, mate.”

  His eyes flared hot, and she saw fangs extending as he lunged upward to flip her to her back. She moaned as he immediately applied his mouth to where she needed it most, and she had to admit, he had a talent for using his tongue.

  Pleasure followed, and after he had exhausted her in three different manners that he had mentioned earlier, she slumped across his body, listening to his heartbeat.

  Meena sighed. Destiny was a funny thing, but she had just stopped laughing.

  Author’s Note

  Another Terran in Nyal space, Finite, revolves around a dancer who rejected a very lucrative offer and ended up in Janial Prison.

  Rhoda matches the woman with a bright ball o
f light, which confuses everyone until one of the Guardians recognizes the image. An ancient god requires a sacrifice, and to get her free, they just might have to sacrifice her to an infinite power.

  Yes, I know. Human sacrifice is so last week. I am a fan of the classics. ☺ Just be thankful I don’t throw in a volcano…ooh. Volcano.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  [email protected]

  www.violagrace.com

  About the Author

  Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

  Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush.

  Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Author’s Note

  About the Author