Chapter 12

Zerien

O ur ship settled on the landing pad on the east side of the palace, the Braxians parking a short distance behind us. As expected, a huge greeting party awaited us with our highest political officials present. While I welcomed this appropriate display of respect for my mate, I couldn't deny the worry gnawing at me.

My poor Siona had gone through an emotional rollercoaster over the past few weeks. Despite the determination she displayed yesterday after our reunion, I now knew her well enough to sense the nervousness she felt. She was doing a fantastic job of hiding it and would probably fool most of the people in attendance. I could only pray that my detractors wouldn't go on the offensive right away.

Siona slipped her hand into mine as soon as the soft hum of the ship's ramp lowering stopped. Although subtle, I could feel her hand slightly trembling. I gave it a gentle squeeze. She didn't turn to look at me but acknowledged the gesture by softly caressing the side of my hand with her thumb.

Seconds later, the doors parted before us.

My father looked regal in his black ruvyn embroidered in silver. The long, sleeveless robe with a plunging neck hid little of his muscular body. He'd passed on to me his dusty blue skin, silver-blue eyes, and midnight blue hair. While we shared a similar height, I was a bit bulkier than my sire, but nowhere near the type of impressive mass the Xelixians achieved. Like the Korletheans, Sarenians tended to be on the lither side.

He was standing a few meters in front of the lowered ramp, a warm smile on his face. The five females of his core Council surrounded him, flanked by his bodyguards. To his right, my entire Council—both males and females, as well as the two Korlethean Seers who had joined me—stood with Kaelin and my sister Jastira in the front. I flicked my eyes around before noticing the small silhouette of my son next to Shandar, his caretaking Matriarch, slightly off to the left of my Council. On the opposite side, Senators and other dignitaries looked on. They worried me the most. The politely neutral expressions plastered on their faces made it even harder for me to gauge what sentiment animated them.

As soon as we began walking down the ramp, my father approached us, meeting us halfway. We clasped each other's forearm in greeting, although he also placed his left hand on my nape and leaned in to kiss my forehead. It was a rare display from my father, but it expressed his true happiness at me finally getting the triumphant return home I should have had the first time around with my mate by my side.

The love I felt for this formidable male further swelled in my heart.

His hand glided from my nape to my shoulder in a paternal caress. He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze even as his silver-blue gaze so identical to mine turned to my beloved. The stoicism with which she withstood what had to be tremendous pressure for her genuinely impressed me.

"My dear Siona, it has been too long since I last had the pleasure of your presence," my father said in a gentle voice. "Come here, Daughter."

My throat tightened with gratitude as he drew her into his embrace. Despite her effort to control her emotions, I could tell how deeply this warm welcome moved her. She returned his embrace and smiled affectionately at my sire when he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead as well.

He kept his hands on her shoulders as he took a step back to examine her. "I'm glad to see you are unharmed and arrived here safely. Zerien apprised me of your stellar handling of this situation. I am impressed."

She shrugged, acting nonchalant to hide her embarrassment at the compliment.

"I benefited from great training by fantastic people, not to mention the amazing technology that Mercy provided," Siona replied humbly.

My father snorted and cupped her right cheek while giving her a slightly chastising look.

"Do not underestimate yourself, Siona. You are proving yourself a Warrior Queen, which is exactly what my son needs. But come, there will be plenty of time for you to fill me in on the details of that encounter. For now, let me introduce you to your new people and then give you a chance to rest from that long journey."

As she had previously met my father's Council years ago when Faolen first brought her to Sarenia, the reintroductions went swiftly. They then stepped aside so that I could present her to my own Council. Tension crept up my spine as Kaelin and Jastira led the pack. Right this instant, I would have given anything to be able to read my mate's mind. But she had an unreadable yet polite expression on her face as she made eye contact with my sister.

"Siona, you may remember my sister, Jastira. She's one of the main members of my Council," I said in a gentle voice while gesturing at her. "Jastira, say hello to my soulmate, Siona."

The stern and slightly judgmental glimmer in my sister's eyes had my stomach knotting with stress and aggravation. Jastira and I didn't exactly get along. Our personalities couldn't have been more opposite, almost conflictual. If not for her undying loyalty to the throne and to the welfare of our people, I doubted she and I would have any relationship. She wasn't a malicious person, but she also had no filters which tended to make her come across as overly harsh if not rude.

"Hello, Jastira," Siona said with the appropriate level of friendliness.

"It's been a while since we've seen Zerien's chosen," she said, pursing her lips as she gave my mate an assessing once over. "Welcome back to Sarenia, little Guldan."

I frowned and barely repressed the urge to scold my sister. Technically, she hadn't said anything offensive, but that wasn't an appropriate way to greet a guest, let alone her future Queen.

To my pleasant surprise, Siona did not seem destabilized by the comment.

"Young, yes. Little, not so much," Siona countered with a shrug, casting a meaningful glance at my sister who happened to be a few centimeters shorter than my mate. "While you are accurate about my genetics, I deem myself more of a Braxian."

My sister lifted her left eyebrow in an expression I couldn't quite define. A part of me believed my mate's swift repartee impressed Jastira, while another wondered if her competitive nature perceived her response as a challenge she needed to rise to.

"I see," Jastira replied in an overly sweet tone that made me think her motivation was the latter. "Too bad you don't deem yourself more of a Sarenian. But welcome, nonetheless."

I flinched inwardly and clenched my teeth not to express how badly I was seething inside. With so many people eager to undermine my imminent reign, the last thing I needed was for my own sibling to rattle the cage further, challenge my future wife's suitability when so many already resented her ethnicity, and do so in public while surrounded by those who would love nothing more than to see me fall.

"I have no doubt that will come in time," Siona replied calmly, seemingly unfazed by the dig. "But thank you for the welcome."

My sister stared at my mate for a few seconds longer, the hint of an enigmatic smile playing on her lips before she bowed her head in concession and stepped aside to let Kaelin forward. Another wave of pride surged through me for my mate. I doubted Siona realized it, but with that nod, my sister had acknowledged her as having played that first round respectably. I didn't know if Jastira considered it a draw or that she personally won this first encounter, but she would at least grant my mate the benefit of the doubt for a while longer.

The tension twisting my innards cranked up another notch as I introduced her to Kaelin. By the look they exchanged, both females immediately recognized each other. In Kaelin's case, she'd seen plenty of photos and 3D holograms of my Siona over the years. She often teased me for the ridiculous amount of time I would spend staring at them as I pined away for my woman. Siona had only seen her once, but clearly had not forgotten her.

"My love, this is Kaelin, the Head of my Council. You've met her during the vidcall I had on Venus Hive," I said, trying to sound casual.

"I remember," Siona said calmly.

"So do I," Kaelin replied, her polite tone laced with a hint of taunting. "After years of hearing Zerien speak endlessly of you, we finally meet in person."

Just like me, Siona didn't quite seem to know how to take that comment from my friend. I could totally do without Kaelin also making her life difficult. My mate desperately needed her support to overcome the challenges lying ahead. Although both females were acting polite enough, I could tell they instinctively disliked each other… which did not bode well.

"I hope you will become friends," I said, casting somewhat of a warning glance at Kaelin.

The overly bright smile she gave me clearly expressed that she wanted me to relax. Nobody told her what to do, least of all who to like.

"Friends? I'm sure we'll be sisters, even," she said in a sickly-sweet tone that made me want to strangle her.

Once again, she ignored my warning glance as she continued to look at my mate in a silent staring contest. Although relieved by the stoicism Siona continued to display, it infuriated me that the two most important Sarenian females in my life would not be more supportive of my mate in these trying times.

Movement to the right drew our attention. Shandar was discreetly attempting to chastise Eldrin for his restless fidgeting. The boy had been impatient to meet Siona since the first time I mentioned her to him. As soon as he made eye contact with her, Eldrin took a couple of steps towards her, visibly eager to be called forward. His caregiving Matriarch, Shandar, tried to pull him back by the hand she still held, but he resisted.

However, it was the soft gasp Siona emitted and the stunned expression on her beautiful face that retained my attention. She froze as she stared at the boy, and time appeared to stand still. An almost deafening silence settled over the attendance. Although I'd warned her that my son would be present so that she was mentally prepared, I had dreaded what her response would be in person. Without a doubt, everyone else present was attentively studying her reaction to the boy.

My breath caught in my throat when Siona's surprise gave way to the softest expression as a warm smile lit up her face. Eldrin beamed at her and tugged his hand free of Shandar's grasp. I held my breath as he eagerly approached my mate, too focused on her to even spare me a glance. As he closed the distance with her, Siona crouched to be at a height with him.

"Hello," Eldrin said, his young voice filled with the strangest mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Hello," Siona replied in a gentle voice. "You must be Eldrin."

He gave a sharp and enthusiastic nod, his smile broadening. "And you must be my Massi," he replied.

Siona blinked, baffled by the foreign word. "Massi?" she echoed questioningly.

Eldrin gave her another vigorous nod. "My Mama who didn't give birth to me, but who married my Papa."

"Oh! I see!" Siona said with understanding. "That's a pretty title. I like it. But what should I call you?"

"Just your son," the boy said with a shrug as if it was self-evident. Then he appeared to hesitate before giving her an uncertain look. "Or you can just call me Eldrin, if you'd rather not."

My stomach dropped when Siona didn't respond right away that calling him her son would be entirely fine. I immediately kicked myself inwardly for not discussing that matter at length. I didn't want to coerce my mate into a relationship with my son that she wasn't ready for. However, I should have at least gone over some of the basic expectations of my people when it came to interactions with younglings. Not for the first time, I realized what a steep hill my beloved had to climb just to catch up on all the societal and cultural things she needed to learn to adapt to my world… her new people.

"I'm not sure if your mother would be okay with that," Siona said carefully before casting a sideways glance towards Kaelin.

"Why wouldn't I?" Kaelin asked, seeming genuinely taken aback. "Children are blessings on Sarenia. Family—however extended it may be—is a blessing. Children can never get too much love."

My heart leapt at the way Siona's face immediately softened and a glimmer of approval flashed through her emerald eyes as she gazed upon my friend.

"Indeed, they can never get too much love," she conceded before shifting her focus back to the boy. "Then I shall call you my son."

Eldrin puffed out his chest and gazed at her with something akin to wonder, almost adoration. I didn't understand why he was so fascinated with my mate. Granted, she was an off-worlder. But our children were well aware of other species, and many had visited our world. Whatever the cause, I thanked the Ancestors for the instant chemistry that existed between these two people so dear to my heart.

"You're so pretty, Massi," Eldrin said sheepishly.

Siona chuckled and gently caressed his cheek before teasing the tip of one of his little horns with her index finger.

"As are you, sweetheart. You are your father's spitting image."

Eldrin grinned and cast a proud glance my way. I winked at him, which only had him smiling even more brightly before he returned his attention to my mate.

"Can I give you a hug?" Eldrin asked her with a slightly timid expression.

To my delight, she gave him a playful look that hinted it was a silly question to ask.

"Of course! It was about time, too. I thought you'd never ask!" she said with a falsely offended expression.

"Sorry!" Eldrin said with a chuckle before giving her a big hug.

My heart melted when she returned his embrace with the type of maternal love I hadn't dared hope she might one day feel for him.

She kissed his cheek and then his forehead before looking him straight in the eyes. "Just like your Mama, your Massi will always have a hug ready for her son whenever he wants one," Siona whispered before giving him another hug.

Movement at the edge of my vision drew my attention. I glanced sideways. My throat tightened at the look of shock heavily laced with approval in Kaelin's eyes. Jastira had lost that cold and borderline haughty air as she contemplated the touching tableau of my mate and my son. She had not expected this level of acceptance from a Guldan female. For the second time, my Siona defied her prejudiced expectations. My father's face also displayed fierce pride at the bond between his grandson and daughter-in-law. Even the guards and other people in attendance softened.

This obviously would not suffice to win them over. Many hardships and challenges lay ahead in the upcoming days, weeks, months, and maybe even years. But the seed of hope had truly taken root in my heart. Whatever hurdles stood in our path, so long as our family remained a tight unit, nothing could defeat us.