Chapter 28

Lorelai

I reached for his hand. I wasn't sure what prompted me to do it, except I was honestly terrified and needed something to ground me. I'd assumed I was doing a good job of putting a tight lid on my nerves, on my fear. In that moment before we walked in to face not only the powerful beings who oversaw this planet, but who also oversaw the portion of Earth where I'd come from, I couldn't help dwelling on the enormity of my new role. Here I was, trying to get over my divorce and forge a new path in life, suddenly thrust once again into the role of wife…soon to be mother…and even a de facto ambassador for humans back home.

All this, while married to an alien Overlord I barely knew.

It was too much. Internally, I was flipping out. I had to ground myself, which had prompted me to glance back at Ellax, reach for his hand, and confess "I'm scared," in a whisper his colleagues couldn't overhear.

Instantly, he caught it. The warmth of his skin had felt almost fiery against the coldness of my palm.

"I am with you," he promised. For once, I saw no lust, no superiority, no disdain, no arrogance in his eyes. Only honest assurance that he was there. For me.

And he was.

He continued to hold my hand, his thumb massaging soothing circles on the back of mine as we followed the delegation across a marble corridor lined with pillars. Sunlight streamed in through the open window in the middle of the ceiling, the beams bouncing off the exact center of the chamber. There was something almost holy about the sight. I half-wondered if we'd walk around rather than through it. No, the delegation passed through first, Ellax and I trailing behind. The circle of sunbeams meant nothing to them. This was normal. I was the outsider. I was the human from a frozen, wasted planet, who'd never witnessed sunshine and warmth like this, or seen grand buildings and elegant halls except in ancient history books.

Still cradling my hand, Ellax walked me down the remainder of the hallway, towards the massive double doors that were already opening, yawning before us like the entrance to our destiny. Whereas all the doors so far had been sliding electronic ones that opened automatically upon approach, these were akin to the doors I'd seen in history books of castles or grand palaces on Earth. Thick, heavy, and wooden, with intricate carvings all over their surface. I wouldn't have minded stopping to admire the Asterion artwork, which was quite different from any style we had on Earth, wondering over the history of both the doors and the art, but Ellax walked me right through with barely a chance for a second look.

And then we were inside.

For all the ornateness and artwork on the outside of this room, the meeting chamber itself was nothing fancy, which surprised me a little. It was as if the Asterion Council had left all extravagance directly outside, because this room was a place for getting down to business. I gulped, swallowing the trepidation that engulfed me, clinging even tighter to the Overlord's hand as he guided me to a seat.

I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe a courtroom type setting, with the other Council members lined up behind a bar or table, facing us as if in judgment. It was far from that. There was no table. A set of chairs had been arranged in a circle on the marble floor, all exactly the same: plain and grey with purple cushions in the seat. An extra chair with no cushion had been wedged into the circle, apparently for me as the guest. Ellax seated me in that one while he took the seat to my left.

Or, that was what started to happen.

I hadn't thought anything about taking the clearly lesser seat. After all, I was human and a visitor and only a Council member's wife. I wasn't expecting to be treated like royalty by any means. However, even as Ellax started to sit, he popped up again—albeit gracefully—walked around and took my hand, pulling me up. Confused, I allowed him to direct me into the chair clearly meant for him, as a powerful member of Council, while he re-seated himself beside me in the guest's seat.

"Uh hem."

A senior member of Council, marked by the white threaded through dark silver hair and the gentle wrinkles on his face, cleared his throat pointedly. I felt like my face was on fire. What was Ellax doing? I couldn't tell. When I peeked around the room, I noticed one female Council member, Sirena, giving me an exceedingly stern look. Clearly, she disapproved of me. Or of Ellax. Or maybe she disliked humans—possibly humans in the Asterion Council chamber. I supposed I could understand that. These people didn't simply rule a city or a county or a nation. They ruled an entire planet, their power structure being set up differently than that of Earth at any point in history. This Sirena wielded so much power I couldn't even begin to imagine it.

But if she does, so does Ellax, I thought, turning towards him and allowing myself to find comfort in that fact. He hadn't hurt me yet. Despite our rocky beginning and even his playboy history, I could see signs of gentleness and possibly care from him.

Unless I was reading him all wrong, and he just wanted to get in my pants. That could be true too.

"I am Ursis," the white-haired Council member said to me. "Welcome to Asterion, Lady Lorelai."

"Oh my gosh." I felt my cheeks redden. "Please don't call me that. It's just Lorelai."

Ellax cleared his throat quietly. My gaze jumped to him. Had I said the wrong thing? Another female Council member spoke up.

"You are the wife of Ellax Pendorgrin. You'll have to get used to titles."

But I don't want a title!

I clamped my lips shut, although internally I was screaming. A title? I didn't want or deserve a title. I was me, and that's all I'd ever wanted to be…albeit with a husband who loved me. My kids safe and happy, wherever they were and whatever they chose to do in life. This—this was so far out that my mind was spinning like stars cartwheeling through the galaxies.

Nausea swirled in my belly. And it wasn't calmed when Ursis went on.

"The news of your marriage could not have come at a better time, surprising though it was."

Was that a hint of rebuke in his tone? Ellax cleared his throat softly, again. Then said, "With the passing of Druea and Grivan, I needed a wife to give me an heir. The Council knew this."

"The Council assumed you'd gone to Earth to reconcile with your other son, Caide," Sirena interjected. "Not to choose a human wife."

There it was. Definite disdain on the word human . I wasn't mistaken this time.

"My plans changed," Ellax replied simply. "I will not apologize for them."

"Nor should you. We were surprised, but not displeased." Grignus spoke up. He leaned towards us. I picked up an intensity in his manner that set me to inconspicuously twisting my thumbs in my lap. I sensed he was about to lower the boom. This was the point of why we were here.

"We have a tremendous need for you and your human wife, Ellax. A need that centers on Earth and our development of it."