Asteron

ASTERON

I sneak another look at my queen. I was rather disappointed when she took a bath to clean off my seed, but as I was unable to control myself and spent it everywhere, I can't exactly blame her.

I don't have any control around my Ginny. None whatsoever. Do I care? Not in the slightest. It's about time I am allowed to act like a king, a warrior, and a mated bull. I can hold my head up high among the clans.

We come to a halt in the ground transport within the fabric quarter.

"Mazos has some of the best tailoring in the galaxy," I tell her. "We should have made the trip sooner."

"We were busy." She gives me the sweetest and dirtiest of smiles.

"You were," I murmur into her as I wrap my arms around her delicate body, one which is now growing my young and must be protected at all costs.

Ginny giggles, and I guide her out of the transport into the heat of Mazos. The place is bustling, and our presence is causing some considerable interest, but my guards do a good job of keeping everyone at bay. Especially the cohort picked to guard my queen.

They have something to prove after all.

I usher my queen into Cretzain, the best store in Mazos, where all the staff are lined up behind the owner, an old Xnosson bull called Daeldan. He greets me like an old friend.

", your majesty." He clasps my hand in his. "And your beautiful mate." He beams at Ginny who is looking very nervous.

"My queen," I say, shoving the desire to whisk Ginny away from any male who looks at her back down inside me.

Daeldan gives me a sharp, intelligent look and makes a short, respectful bow to Ginny. "My queen." He smiles at her.

"She requires a wardrobe fit for her station," I say, leaning in a little. "And your establishment is supposed to be the best." I raise my eyebrows.

Daeldan positively beams, snapping his fingers at his staff.

"See to the queen," he orders. "My king, would you care for refreshments while we wait for your stunning bride?"

I oscillate. I don't want to leave Ginny, not for a minute, not for a second.

"Go," she says. "It'll be boring for you if getting measured and everything is the same as when I was with Starlight Brides."

I growl under my breath. "Fine." I look over at Daeldan. "I want to be in the room next to her."

"Oh, I think we can do better than that," he says, making a shooing motion at the female staff, who surround Ginny and usher her off into the back. "Come with me, ." He grins.

He takes me on a different route, and I find myself in the armor fitting room.

"My mate is next door?" I query, furrowing my brow.

"She is, and once my staff have had their time with her, you will be very pleased, I assure you," Daeldan says. "She is an absolute beauty. You are a lucky bull," he says with genuine enthusiasm. "And so is Xnos."

I run my hand over my snout before pulling at a horn, a habit I've never quite been able to drop, no matter what my father did to me.

"I can only hope the clans feel the same. She is with young. I don't know what more I could do to prove myself."

To my surprise, Daeldan laughs.

"You were always unsure of yourself, , for no reason. I always saw far more in you than your father ever did, may his horns adorn the walls forevermore." Daeldan sits next to a set of armor and gestures for me to do the same.

"I know some of the clans have doubts about his death. It doesn't help my position." I sigh. "It seems whatever I do, the crown's authority is weaker under me."

"They don't know you as a ruler, . All they know is your father, the way he conducted himself…" Daeldan looks at me for permission, but I already know what he is going to say.

"You mean he was not a good ruler, not in the last twenty nova-years. He played the clans against each other. It was only because they feared his retribution they did not rise up," I say, finishing his sentence.

Daeldan visibly relaxes.

"You are not your father," he says quietly. "I know you. The clans just need to see what you are, who you are, and they will understand as I do. The rivers and winds of Xnos flow through you as much as your blood. Your horns are forged of Xnosson soil and stone. You are a great leader. And taking a queen so soon after ascending to the throne has raised your standing considerably. The entire of Mazos is abuzz with a desire to know more about the tiny human who has captured your heart." He chuckles.

"Thank you, old friend," I sigh, "Is there any chance you could do a tour of the clan lands and preach to them too? Or are you too busy running your business?"

Daeldan barks out a laugh. "I do business with many of the clans. But you and your queen being more visible, especially if she is with young, will do you considerable favors with the populace…and the clans too."

"And the fact she is a Starlight bride, one I had to procure rather than take a pretty cow from among the Xnosson clans…?"

"They appreciate not being put in a difficult position, ." Daeldan says, sagely. "You chose wisely."

The throne has been too concentrated in on itself for too long. So have I, consumed with the desire to be nowhere near my father and yet wanting to be the prince he wanted me to be. I never considered I might be able to make a good choice on my own.

There is a soft chime, and Daeldan gets to his hooves. "Your queen awaits you, highness."

"Already?"

"Am I not a miracle worker?" he says in all seriousness.

"You are." I run my hand over the armor next to me. It's lightweight, made of tilon, one of the hardest substances in the galaxy, worked to a thinness which shouldn't be possible. "Make me a suit to fit, will you? Like this?"

Daeldan gives me a short bow. "As his highness wishes. Although I assume you are no longer participating in the gladiatorial games on Trefa?"

"Not with a bride and young on the way." I grin at him. "But who knows what the future holds?"

"It will be all the better for Xnos with you at our head," Daeldan says with all seriousness. "We are proud to have you, King ."