Ginny

GINNY

" H umans are a delight," Kilina, my chief fitter, a delicate, pretty Xnosson female says. "Such grace."

"I feel like a whale," I say as she runs a black device over me.

"A whale?"

"It's an Earth creature," I explain, thinking I've only ever seen one in a vid and never in person. "They're really big."

"But you are tiny," she says, confused.

Almost subconsciously, my hand goes to my stomach. Equally as quickly, I move it away. I don't know when Asteron wants to announce our impending arrival. We haven't exactly had a chance to discuss it yet.

"Ah!" Her quick bright eyes don't miss anything. "You are with young?"

"Yes, we just had it confirmed today," I say, it's clear there's no point in hiding anything from this Xnosson. "I'm not even showing, but I feel huge."

Around me, the others titter in a sweet conspiratorial way.

"What?" I ask.

"We are pleased our king is a virile bull." Kilina smiles. "And he has a mate to match. But if you are with young, we will need to ensure your wardrobe can be adapted for you." She looks at my stomach. "I want to enhance your beauty and comfort at all times."

I exhale a breath I was holding. "You are very kind, thank you. I've never been…fitted for clothing before. I basically wore whatever I could find in the thrift stores, places where humans recycle their clothing and where it can be bought cheaply," I explain.

"You are not royalty among humans?" Kilina asks.

"No." I choke out a laugh. "About as far from royalty among humans as it's possible to get."

Kilina looks around the others who have fallen silent, and I wonder if I've said the wrong thing. Maybe it's tradition on Xnos for royalty to marry royalty. I rather wish I'd paid more attention to the vids Phinade sent me about Xnossos, rather than allowing Asteron to distract me.

"There you go," Kilina announces to the others. "Asteron is truly a king of the people if he takes a mate he loves, rather than marrying into the clans for favor."

She looks around at her assistants, and they have eyes like saucers, immediately talking among themselves, looking at me with awe and envy. Only I can't concentrate much…

Asteron has told me he loves me, but until now, it hasn't quite hit home.

"He loves me?" I blurt out.

"He doesn't want to let you out of his sight," Kilina says as she goes back to running the wand over me. "And he doesn't want any other male near you. I'd call that a Xnosson bull in love if I ever saw it."

The other ladies giggle.

"I have so much to learn." I sigh.

"Nonsense. Having a human for a queen is a breath of prairie wind." Kilina snorts. "It's about time Xnos viewed itself through a lens, rather than spending all its time on clan politics."

"Clan politics?"

"Males." She snorts again before motioning over a lady with a bolt of material in a rather shocking pink shade. "It's all that occupied their time under the old king. Not only was it boring, but it didn't help business." She gives me a wide smile. "Your mate is different. He has actively sought out trading contracts with other planets, even while the clans…"

She trails off, pretending to fuss with the fabric.

"Even while the clans what?" I press her.

"I have said too much, my queen. My duty is to dress you, nothing else."

"I don't know about duty, but I want to know what you think, it's important, to me." I deliberately put my hand over my stomach this time. "What happens on Xnos is important to me."

All of their eyes are drawn to where I have my palm.

"More important than ever."

A fierceness rises within me. Once it was all about my own life. Now it's about so much more. As quick as it appeared, the feeling drops away and fear takes its place.

Kilina fusses around me, explaining how my measurements will end up in some sort of machine where I will get several new outfits today, with the rest being sent on to the palace. More will follow as my pregnancy progresses.

All of the ladies are incredibly excited as they whirl about with skeins of fabric of all colors. I have no idea how I'm going to end up dressed, but I decide I trust Kilina to do what's best, and given she assures me I can give her any feedback l like, she offers up the first outfit.

"Oh, Asteron's going to love this," I say the second I see it.