Terran Times Second Wave # 10 - Liberty Read online

  “Apologies for the pain.”

  “I will heal quickly, and you are the first woman to dare to mark me. It seems that being in a mating situation was all I needed to cause me to allow myself to enjoy the experience.”

  She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Will you feel the same way in two hundred years?”

  His gaze was becoming a little unfocused. “You tell me.”

  Libby shifted and carefully straddled him. “We will fade into the next world surrounded by our children and grandchildren. I have to tell you, it is one damned big room.”

  Rajon laughed and held her tight, tipping her back into the water, kissing her wildly.

  He lifted her back to the bench and settled her on his lap. He lifted her up and pressed his cock against her, easing her into him.

  It was the most stimulating bath she had ever had. She left feeling far dirtier than when she had entered the tub sweaty and sticky.

  Her tiara stayed on.

  Chapter Nine

  Three days later, they stood in the audience chamber. Liberty was introduced to the court and she was seated next to Rajon.

  Each and every member of the Miexhar court was expected to come and swear fealty to her. For this event, Abin-Da had provided her with gloves to keep her from reading the deaths of the court. Something told everyone with a brain that the courtiers were not going to live and die normally.

  When the woman with the evil gaze appeared in front of her and glared instead of bowing, Libby knew that the time for a little confrontation was upon her.

  Shoklek had filled her in on the details, but it took her aback to see Lohra-Ahn.

  Liberty had to admit that the ex-mistress was stunning. She extended her hand to the woman, and Lohra-Ahn took her fingers in a hard grip.

  “Welcome to Miexhar, Your Grace. Let’s see how long it takes for him to tire of you.”

  Libby cocked her head. “I do hate to disappoint you, but I have seen our children and grandchildren.”

  The woman jerked back, but Libby turned her hand quickly and held the taller woman in place.

  “How could you…”

  “I am a seer, Lohra-Ahn. I saw my death and I have seen his. Together, we will pass to the next world with our loved ones around us. I hope that you have the same blessing.” Libby released her and the ex-mistress stepped back.

  The lady of the court looked from Libby to Rajon and back. Her hostility transformed to confusion as she scuttled away.

  Libby looked sideways at Rajon, and he winked sheepishly at her.

  “Well done, Your Grace.”

  She snorted at his comment and continued to meet the rest of the court. Somehow, speaking with Lohra-Ahn had changed how they viewed her. The first round had been a little contemptuous of her, treating her like the duke’s toy. Now that she had faced down her rival, the rest were far more cautious.

  Two hours later, Shoklek was grinning at her in a private dining room. “You have done well, Your Grace.”

  She made a face at him and inhaled as much as she could in the tight corset of the new gown.

  Rajon lifted her hand to his lips. “You did very well, Liberty.”

  “Thank you.”

  Shoklek chuckled. “You have nine requests for death readings, Your Grace. I am working to gain you a social secretary to keep track of these requests. My cousin has a girl with a gift for organisation. She can be here by the end of the week.”

  The food began to arrive.

  Rajon applauded. “Excellent, Shoklek. Don’t forget her court.”

  Libby had been rubbing her hands together as the food arrived, but she paused when she heard that. “My court?”

  He smiled at her. “You need attendants, love. Shopping and travel companions when we leave the city for processions and festivals.”

  “Will we be doing that a lot? Can I get away with a hand puppet or something?” She forked some cutlets and reached for bread, making herself a sandwich with hot mustard.

  Rajon was watching her as she attacked her meal. He laughed helplessly. “I think not. You will interview and select four women of the court that Shoklek has pre-interviewed. Your accounts will include stipends for travel and their wardrobes.”

  She blinked at him. “I get accounts?”

  He laughed. “Your clothing is now paid for by the Miexhar people. You represent them and will have input into all treaties that are negotiated from here on in.”

  She finished her sandwich and glared at him. “You could have given me a briefing before this all got rolling.”

  He chuckled. “I was far more interested in sealing the deal and getting you wrapped in safety.”

  Libby winced. “Right. Sorry. I forgot.”

  He frowned. “I think that the physicians need to scan your mind if your memory is that bad.”

  Shoklek nodded. “She has a scheduled check in medical after lunch. I will have them do a full scan with cognitive investigation.”

  Libby sipped at a cup of juice and glared from one overly tall male to another. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

  Shoklek gave her a sober gaze. “I never joke about mental health.”

  They held their serious faces for a full minute before they broke out laughing.

  She relaxed a little and speared some fruit for dessert before it was time to head to medical for a once over.

  The doctors gave her a complete scan with Rajon standing by. They checked the settlement of the spine in her abdomen and were very happy with the lack of an immune system response in regard to the invader.

  For the first time, Libby saw the spike on the scans and her eyes widened at the three inches of whatever it was made of embedded far higher than her uterus had any business being. Her organs had been shifted to make room for a womb that boggled her mind. Everything else had simply gotten longer.

  When she got pregnant, she was going to be peeing every nineteen seconds. A child of Miexhar blood was bound to be a little bigger than normal.

  Just when she was working herself into a panicked state about what could happen, Rajon took her hand. “Easy. There has been a contingency provided for this. We can either have a surrogate take over the pregnancy or have the child grown in a gel tank until it is ready for decanting.”

  She slowed her breathing and noted the fluttering of his pulse along the thick cords of his neck. “You could feel that, couldn’t you?”

  He smiled sheepishly. “Did I neglect to mention that pleasure is not the only thing that we share now?”

  “It just goes one way, does it not?”

  “Well, it will take you a while as you are not born to the stimuli. In a few years, it will be an even exchange.” He ran his thumb across her palm.

  She chuckled. “I can hardly wait. You laugh far too often at my expense and I am wanting to know why.”

  “I can tell you why.” He leaned close to her and whispered in her ear. “You make me happy. That is why I laugh.”

  She turned her head and looked into his ruby-red gaze, smiling slightly. “I am glad. Now, get me out of here so I can call home and tell them that I am a duchess on a world they can’t imagine… and then show me the world. I like the palace, but it will get a little stale after a while.”

  She lifted her face to his and kissed him in full view of the medical team while they monitored her body. When he touched her arm, the monitors began chirping as her arousal spiked from the light contact. Embarrassment was pushed aside for enjoyment as he moved his hand over her breast, and she jolted in surprise as she soared toward orgasm on the wings of exhibitionism.

  Libby had never considered herself a public-display kind of person, but having his hands on her under the scanners in the medical centre were enough to have her on the brink of release in a few seconds.

  When he slipped his hand inside the medical gown and squeezed each breast in turn and he pressed his thigh between hers, rocking her against the hard muscle of his leg, she squealed and he caught the sound with his kiss.
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  As Libby came back to herself, the doctors were gathered and muttering around the readouts. It was a little perturbing to be ignored for a set of displays, but Rajon eased her out of the scanner stand and into the dressing area.

  “Don’t feel bad. They have never seen a transplant take this well. I knew that you were going to come into it easily, but I don’t know how I could get this lucky.”

  He was lacing up her corset with astonishing dexterity. Apparently, she had something to thank his previous mistresses for.

  The moment her gown was secure, she turned in his arms and enjoyed the feel of them wrapping around her. The sensation might fade over time, but right now, it burned hot and she enjoyed the heat.

  There were worse things in life than knowing you were building a life that would echo through time. And she would get to go forward with a tiara. Life was getting sweeter.

  Author's Note

  This story was written while I was on vacation. I was keeping a friend company in the jungles of Costa Rica (see my Facebook page for pictures).

  It was not a fun time, but I have managed a few tours around the countryside and I have enjoyed it for the most part. The rush to write may or may not be visible in the book, but it did take four times as long as a normal short story.

  With all this… I need an actual break. There will be no books from me August 15th, and the next instalments will be Sept 1.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  http://www.violagrace.com

  [email protected]

  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.

  Table of Contents

  Description

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Author's Note

  About the Author