Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

Regan

“S o,” Lomax nudged my hip as we cleared the table of the dinner dishes, “when were you going to tell me that there’s a dungeon in the castle?”

“Since you will never go there, I did not think sharing was necessary,” I said. “Who told you about it?”

“Emily did. She says that Eastolf has imprisoned Draax in it.”

I leaned against the counter, giving her a grave look. “He has.”

She studied me just as solemnly, and I pulled her into my embrace. I was grateful when she put her arms around me and rubbed my back. “Have you ever been sent there?”

“No,” I said, “but I have taken Draax there on Eastolf’s orders.”

I kept my gaze on her face even as that familiar hot shame filled me. She cupped my face, soothing me with her touch as she always did. “I imagine that wasn’t easy for you.”

“No,” I admitted, “but I did it anyway.”

She swallowed hard. “Regan, has Eastolf killed any Draax living here in the castle?

“No, my sadora, he has not. He uses the dungeon mostly to humiliate those in the castle who anger him.”

She sighed. “He’s not a good guy, honey.”

I rested my forehead against hers, inhaling her sweet scent as she brushed her thumbs across my cheekbones. “I have to believe there is still good in Eastolf because if there is not, then I am no better than he is for allowing him to get away with what he has.”

She frowned. “You’re nothing like him, Regan. You’re good and kind, and you care about others.”

She cupped my face again, studying me intensely. “And I know how hard this is for you because you care for Eastolf and want him to still be the boy you grew up with, the one who saved your life, but I also know you will do the right thing when the moment calls for it.”

I appreciated her support and belief in me, but I didn’t have the same faith in myself as she did. How could I when I had spent so much of my adult life bending to Eastolf’s will?

There was a knock on the door, and Lomax glanced at it. “Were you expecting someone?”

I shook my head and pressed a kiss against her mouth before crossing to the door and opening it. Axen stood in the hallway, and my stomach dropped when he said, “The king waits for you in the training room.”

Axen looked as sick as I felt. I nodded and said, “Give me a moment.”

I turned to see Lomax had joined us. She took one look at me and said, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, sadora,” I lied. “But the king has requested my presence, and I must go.”

She rested her hand on my chest, and despite what I knew was about to happen, her touch still soothed me. “Can I go with you?”

“No,” I said.

Her forehead creased into a frown, and I kissed the faint lines. “There is nothing to fear, sadora. I will return to you soon.”

“Do you promise?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said, but I could see the worry in her eyes. “I will be back soon, sadora.”

I joined Axen in the hallway, closing the door behind me.

“Did he make them fight while I was on Earth?” I asked.

Axen nodded. “Every week. One of the recruits, Matthew, was injured badly. He almost died before Casto could get serum into him.”

“He doesn’t normally make the recruits fight,” I said.

“He was annoyed because Matthew has a human name,” Axen said.

I muttered a curse as we strode through the hallways, and Axen gave me a quick look before saying, “He is becoming increasingly erratic, Regan. I know he is your friend, but you see that, do you not?”

“I do,” I said.

We arrived at the training room, and I pulled the door open, stepping inside. I wasn’t surprised to see the entire guard lined up in neat rows as Eastolf and Noka stood before them.

“Good evening, Regan,” Eastolf said.

“My king.” I bowed before studying the guard. They looked tense and nervous, and anger soaked into me. These were my guard, and it was my responsibility to keep them safe, yet for years, I had stood by and watched as Eastolf made them fight for his amusement.

I turned to Eastolf, my body vibrating with my fury, but he was studying the Draax with a lazy smile. He pointed to a mild mannered Draax named Yana and the recruit Veron. “I think the two of you will make a fine start to the fun.”

Trepidation on their faces, Yana and Veron stepped out of line. The other guard backed away, and they faced each other in the middle of the room. I could see Veron’s hand trembling as he gripped his sword. Yana was among my most experienced fighters, and Veron didn’t stand a chance.

“Begin,” Eastolf said.

“No,” I said before the two Draax raised their swords.

Eastolf’s gaze fell on me. “What did you say?”

“I said no, my king.” I stepped between Yana and Veron, keeping my eyes on Eastolf. “I will no longer allow my guard to fight for your amusement.”

Eastolf’s nostrils flared, and I knew him well enough to know he held his temper by a thin thread. “You forget your place, Regan.”

“I do not,” I said. “I am the head of the guard, and it is my duty to keep them safe.”

“It is your duty to protect your king!” Eastolf snarled.

“Yes, and forcing my guard to fight when there is no reason does not protect my king,” I said evenly. “A tired and injured guard cannot protect you.”

“You are refusing a direct order from your king?” Eastolf said.

“I am doing what you asked of me when I became head of the guard,” I said. “I am keeping my king from harm.”

“Perhaps a few nights in the dungeon will remind you of your place,” Eastolf said.

I didn’t reply, and he said, “Or perhaps it is time for a new head of the guard. One who does not openly defy his king.”

“It is not defiance to do my job, my king,” I said, “but if you believe another can lead your guard half as well as I do, I will step down from my position.”

A muscle ticked in Eastolf’s jaw, and his tail snapped back and forth. I held his gaze steadily, and after a moment, he turned and stalked from the training room with Noka at his heels.

I released my breath in a harsh rush, the silence in the training room amplifying the sound. I turned to see the entire guard staring at me, their faces reflecting surprise, gratitude, and that same admiration I’d seen on Axen’s face.

“In the past, I have not treated you in the manner you deserve,” I said. “I allowed you to be pawns for the king’s amusement, I spoke disrespectfully to you during training, and I belittled and ridiculed you for mistakes made. I am ashamed of my behaviour, and I promise to do better, to treat you with the respect you deserve, and to lead with kindness, not fear. I know I have much work to do to gain your trust and respect, but from now on, I will try to be fair and honest with you every day. If you are willing to give me a second chance.”

The seconds ticked away before Axen stepped forward and studied the guard. “Regan asks for a second chance. What say you?”

“Aye!” The guard roared without hesitation.

Relief washed over me. I’d made many mistakes as head of the guard, but I would do everything in my power from this moment forward, not just to be the Draax my guard needed, but the Draax that Lomax believed me to be.

* * *

I slid my arms around Lomax’s waist and kissed her throat. “How was your day, sadora?”

“Good,” she said. “Vanessa, Emily, and I met at Emily and Wallen’s apartment this morning. Vanessa is teaching Emily and me how to knit.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It’s an old Earth craft. You use yarn and these long blunt needles to make stuff,” she said. “I’m terrible at it, and my scarf is a hot mess, but Emily is making a sweater for her baby, and hers is turning out brilliantly.”

She leaned against me and smiled before lifting the pot lid to show me something that might have resembled grundleswat if it hadn’t been charred black. “It appears my talents do not lie in crafting or cooking. We’ll be going to the dining hall again tonight, my love.”

“You have many other desirable talents,” I said.

“Oh yeah, like what?” she asked with another smile.

“Sucking my cock.” I cupped her breast, teasing the nipple with my thumb. “Being my good mate when you take every inch of my cock in your pretty pussy.”

She gasped when I pinched her nipple. “I don’t think those are talents I can brag about to my friends.”

I wrapped my tail around her waist. “I am glad you are making friends with the other little females.”

“Me too,” she said. “It’s only been a few weeks, and I wouldn’t say I’m friends with every woman here, but I definitely have a friendship with Vanessa and Emily. It helps with the -”

She stopped abruptly and I gave her a gentle squeeze. “Tell me, my mate.”

“It helps with the boredom,” she said. “I’ve never not worked before, so it feels a little weird to me to have so much free time. I thought teaching myself to cook would help, but,” she made a face as she stared at the pot, “I suck so bad at it. Sorry, honey.”

“I do not care that the food you cook tastes terrible,” I said.

She laughed hard. “Uh, thanks, I think?”

“I can cook our meals, or we can go to the dining hall,” I said.

“You already work hard enough with the guard,” she said. “I want to contribute somehow.”

“You do,” I said as I turned her to face me, slipping my arms around her waist. “Just having you here with me is enough, sadora. My life is better with you in it, and I am happy knowing I come home to you every night.”

She smoothed her hands across my chest. “Such a sweet talker. You’re getting lucky tonight, buddy.”

“I get lucky every night,” I said.

She laughed and swatted my butt. “Keep looking so smug, and you won’t get any of this,” she waved down her body, “tonight.”

“Bullshit,” I said the Earth curse with a flourish. “You cannot resist me and my pussy eating skills.”

“That might be true, but you shouldn’t brag about it.” She gave me a second swat. “How was your day?”

“Busy,” I said.

“Is Eastolf still giving you the silent treatment for not allowing the guard to fight for his entertainment?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I guess that’s better than punishing you,” she said.

“I know all you see is the unpleasant side of Eastolf, but he was not always this way,” I said. “Even just a few years ago, I would spend evenings with him in his quarters, and we would speak of the future and his plans for his people. He cared for them, sadora. I think part of the reason he tries to gain more Earth states is because he believes it is what is best for his people.”

“Maybe once he did, but do you think that’s still why he does it?” she asked.

I sighed, loving and hating how easily my mate could read me. “I want it to be. I do not want to give up on my friend.”

“I know,” she said and pressed a kiss against my chest. “But on Earth, we have a name for someone like Eastolf, and that name is toxic. He’s a toxic person, honey, and he uses your affection and gratitude for something he did years ago to manipulate you.”

I didn’t reply and she kissed my chest again. “Enough talk about toxic people in our lives. God knows I’ve had my fair share of them, and I struggled to let go of what the relationship used to be, so it isn’t fair of me to lecture you.”

I kissed her forehead, and she said, “Emily told me that she heard more recruits are arriving at the castle soon.”

“They arrive tomorrow.”

“Didn’t you get recruits only a month or so before you went to Earth?”

I nodded. “Yes, but the king seeks to grow his guard.”

“Does that worry you?”

It did, but I didn’t want to worry Lomax, so I simply shrugged. “It is difficult to predict why Eastolf feels he needs more guard. There could be any number of reasons.”

I nipped her throat before squeezing her ass. “Come, we will go to the dining hall for dinner, and then I will bring you back here and eat your sweet pussy for dessert.”

“Perfect plan is perfect,” she said.

The knock on our door made Lomax jump. She glanced at me before crossing the room to open the door, smiling when she saw who stood there. “Boken, hi! How are you?”

“Very well, small human. Is your mate home?” Boken asked.

“He is. Come in,” Lomax said.

“Hello, Boken,” I said.

“Regan,” he said. “I must speak with you.”

“All right.” I indicated for him to sit at the table. He glanced at Lomax as he took his seat, his hesitation clear.

“I’ll give you some privacy,” Lomax said.

I shook my head, grasping her wrist when she headed toward the bedroom. “Whatever Boken has to say, he can say in front of you.”

“It might be something personal,” Lomax said gently.

“It is not,” Boken admitted, “but it may be best if we speak in private, Regan.”

“There are no secrets between Lomax and me,” I said. “Whatever you say to me, I will tell her later, anyway.”

“All right,” he said, his face a pale green.

“I’ll brew us some tea,” Lomax said, obviously deciding that whatever Boken had to say, he would need the fortification of gallberry tea.

Once she had set the three steaming mugs of tea on the table, she sat beside me, smiling encouragingly at Boken, who sipped at his tea.

“This is good. Thank you, human.”

“You’re welcome,” Lomax said.

“What is it you wanted to speak with me about?” I asked.

“The king’s desire for power is hurting his people,” Boken said. “And no longer just those of us who live and work in the castle. He only cares about acquiring more of the Earth states. Meanwhile, his people are suffering. He denies vital infrastructure because he says it is too costly and has cut the education budget nearly in half. He even siphoned from the military budget the last few moons for reasons he will not share.”

“How do you know this?” I asked.

Boken flushed, his gaze slipping to Lomax for a moment. “Zylen and I are… in a relationship.”

“Zylen from treasury?” I asked, the surprise evident in my voice.

Boken’s flush deepened. “I know our age difference is significant.”

“He is nearly two decades younger than you,” I said. “What do you even have in common?”

Guilt washed over me when Boken looked even more embarrassed. I had spoken without thinking and regretted it.

Lomax reached across the table and squeezed Boken’s hand. “What Regan means to say is that sometimes it isn’t what you have in common with someone, but how they make you feel that matters. We’re happy for you and Zylen. Why don’t the four of us have dinner here at our apartment next week? I would love to meet him.”

Boken smiled gratefully at my mate. “I will speak with him, but I am sure he would also like to meet you.”

“Good,” Lomax said before smiling at me. “Regan will make his famous maluken stew, right, honey?”

“Yes, and forgive me for my bluntness,” I said, giving Boken a grave look. “You may be sleeping with Zylen, but he should not be sharing confidential information with you, Boken.”

“He shared it with me because he is worried, Regan. Our king is not making decisions that will benefit his people. He does not think of his people at all. He only thinks of his greed and need for power. You know this is true. Besides, the rumours of his erratic behaviour do not plague only those in the castle. It has spread outside the castle walls, and many are questioning his ability to rule.”

I stared at him in shock, and he nodded solemnly. “It is true, Regan. I swear it. His demand for the number of gallberry plants to send to the Vokine has tripled in the last three moons. With the amount of juice we send to Earth and the increase in plants to Vokine, the farmers are worried they will not have enough to sustain the province for the following cold season. The upcoming warm season is predicted to have a nasty rugenroach infestation, and you know our plant production suffers when that happens.”

“We have always had an active trade agreement with the Vokine.” I kept my voice even as Lomax’s hand slipped into mine below the table.

“Yes,” Boken said, “but not to the detriment of the Draax who live here. You know that all the vrohas brought into the province go through me, and there has not been an increase in the number of ships from the Vokine in these last three moons. What is he giving them the plants for?”

“It could be technology he barters for,” I said.

“Perhaps.” Boken shrugged. “But if so, why the secrecy? Zylen inputs all trade agreements into our system but has not been given any paperwork for the extra plants sent to the Vokine. No one but the king and Noka know the details of these secret dealings with the Vokine.”

Boken sipped at his tea before saying, “While I do not know what he is trading with the Vokine, I believe he is using the money he takes from treasury to buy extra malanite from the Pokarans.”

“What’s malanite?” Lomax asked.

“It is a mineral that allows our ships to travel through hyperspace,” I said.

“Why do you have to buy it from the Pokarans?” Lomax asked. “Why not trade gallberry juice for it?”

“The healing power of the gallberry plant does not work on the Pokarans,” Boken said. “Zylen is confident that the king was trading gallberry juice for malanite with the Korceans a few moons before the cold season started. He saw a shipping statement he was not meant to see, and the king approved an increase in juice for the state of Oregon. Zylen has a friend who works for the shipping company the palace uses, and he told Zylen the extra juice was not sent to Oregon but loaded into the cargo hold of a ship that he had never seen before. The shipping company was not given a manifest for it.”

I didn’t say anything, although I knew what that extra juice had been for… to give to the Korceans as payment for their part in kidnapping Madison. But I didn’t doubt that if Eastolf had not angered the Korceans by denying some of the promised juice, he would have also started trading with them for the precious malanite, despite the collective agreement of the four kings not to deal with the Korceans for their malanite.

With his tenuous relationship with the Korceans ruined, he would have no choice but to return to dealing with the Pokarans, the only other planet in our system with the malanite mineral, which meant Eastolf needed money, not gallberries.

“Why would he need extra malanite?” Lomax asked.

“If he successfully convinces other Earth states to break their treaty and enter into a new one with us, as he did with two of the western province’s states, he will need the extra malanite to deliver the extra gallberry juice,” Boken said.

“Okay,” Lomax said slowly, “but he doesn’t seem to be thinking long term. We agree he’s trading a ton of your plants with the Vokine for reasons that concern his push to acquire more states, yes?”

I nodded. “I believe so.”

“But the extra plants he’s giving the Vokine is putting the province in danger of not having enough plants for themselves. So, how does he expect to also keep up with the demand of extra states if he convinces them to join the eastern province?”

“He is not thinking clearly,” Boken said. “His desire for power has blinded him.”

Drumming his fingers on the table in a nervous gesture, Boken said, “There is talk among the farmers of asking the three kings to invoke the Kaliden Act.”

My stomach dropped, and my hand tightened on Lomax’s hand until she gasped. I eased my grip, bringing her hand to my lips to kiss it softly. “Forgive me, my mate.”

“That’s okay.” She studied Boken and then me. “What’s the Kaliden Act?”