Soul of Desire

Chapter Sixteen

The female Viccum was pleased to see me. After greetings, had been made between the council and the Dragus she turned to face me.

“Queen Luciana, it is wonderful to see you again. I cannot wait to see the colony. Ambassador Kane has told me much, with great pride. Are these your children? I have been hard-pressed to contain my excitement at the prospect of meeting them.” Taiga said stepping forward.

“Yes, may I present Nadia and Maliki Kane,” I said holding my two cubs. Nadia sat up high on one shoulder and Malaki rested with his head on my chest.

“They are beautiful. You and your mate must be very happy your highness.” Taiga said with a warm smile. I frowned.

“Yes, we are very proud of our cubs. However, I was under the impression the Intergalactic Council no longer recognised me as Queen of the Therros.” I stated. Taiga blinked in shock and looked over to her companion. He stepped forward.

“Sagan Nah your highness. It is a pleasure to see you again.” This male was very tall with dark skin on one half of his body and light on the other.

“The pleasure is mine,” I replied.

“What do you mean, you were under the impression we no longer recognise you? Where did this intelligence come from?”

“We think the Sumi has planted a bug within Nixim Kane’s head. The removal of Luca as queen will give the Sumi in the king’s head full reign.” Ferrin growled, unimpressed. Both council members exchanged a concerned look.

“Admittedly, I was worried about that very eventuality. Therefore, I accompanied Taiga.” Sagan replied dryly.

“Are you saying, the Intergalactic council knew the Sumi were doing this?” Ferrin growled. Sagan sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

“Intelligence suggested, they had in the past. However, we could never catch them in the act.” Taiga replied giving her companions shoulder a light squeeze.

“If evidence of a Sumi bug is found in King Nixim’s head, the ramifications will be vast. We will need to await the rest of our brethren to make a formal ruling Queen Luciana.” Sagan stated. I bowed my head.

“Thank you. I shall see you both in a few days. Yana, Ferrin as always it has been a pleasure. I should return home and leave you to your visit.” I said turning to the two Dragus standing over me. Yana nodded.

“Be careful Luca. A Sumi in a Therros body, especially one as strong as Nixim is a daunting prospect.” She murmured. The children kissed Ferrin goodbye much to Taiga and Sagan’s delight. Yana chuckled as we climbed up onto her sons back.

We waved to Brieeorg as he launched into the sky. Koi and Mex were waiting on the steps. Both wore pinched expressions.

“You’re back early.” Koi murmured.

“Yes. What happened? Why the long faces? You look like someone died.” I demanded handing Koi my cubs. She relaxed a little and looked up at her towering mate.

“Not yet they haven’t. The king has ordered the execution for two days.” Mex murmured.

“An execution, Nix holds a trial first, he stopped me from tearing Selig’s throat out on the mess hall floor. My teeth were around the male’s neck at the time. Who is the execution for?” I whispered.

“Hart and Haze.” Koi whimpered. I froze, shocked. The fur around my neck puffed up in a ring.

“Are you freaking serious? What happened?” I growled.

“Haze came in this morning greeted us and slapped Nixim on the shoulder. As she has done for the three years we were together on the ship. Nixim spun around and punched her so hard she flew backward through the doors, shattering glass and splintering wood. It was like watching a cub’s toy being tossed. Hart stepped in to stop the king from advancing on Haze further. He was in a rage. He raked his claws down his uncle’s face and hit him with a chair. He yelled for Holon and the guards to take them away.” Koi whispered. My eyes lit, glowing an eerie blue. Mex’s eyes popped wide.

“Where are they?” I hissed. Mex bowed his head and motioned for me to follow him.

“How are the Dragus?” Koi asked cuddling my cubs.

“They are fine. Ferrin thinks the Sumi has planted a bug in Nixim’s head. The council needs evidence before they can act. I need to find a way to get that evidence.”

“Doctor Leek might be the best one to ask about that,” Koi said. I nodded. We stopped in front of a short squat building in the middle of the city. A sign on the door said Colony Police. I arched one brow.

“This is nice. I love the sign.” I murmured. Mex chuckled.

“Holon is very proud of the adjustments.” He said leading us inside. We stopped at the front desk. I pressed the buzzer. A large ginger walked out.

“Lady Luca, Lady Koi, Lord Mex how can I help?” He called grinning.

“I would like to see Hart and Haze. Do not give me any trouble, just show me to them.” I ordered. He breathed out a sigh.

“Thank the gods.” He murmured buzzing open the door. 

“Koi, meet us at the hospital, would you?” I asked my friend to carry my cubs. She nodded. Shooting her mate a smile, she hurried out the door. Mex and I walked through the room behind the station officer. He opened another door. I walked down the hallway to the cells at the back of the building. Hart was pacing, and Haze was lying on the cot.

“Well, this is just wonderful. Bloody peachy. I leave for two days and you get yourselves on death row.” I growled unimpressed. Both Therros turned to face me.

“Oh, Luca!” Haze said coming off the narrow bed. She was limping, and Hart had a large gauze over one side of his face.

“Sargent Belem,” I called softly over my shoulder. The ginger came to stand beside me.

“Milady.”

“You have just been attacked. You put up an incredible fight, but in the end, your assailant prevailed, taking the keys to the cells from you.” I said motioning for him to give them to Mex. He reached into his pants pocket and passed the key to the large male beside me.

“Thank you.” Mex unlocked the cell. Hart and Haze stepped out.

“Belem, contact Cleo Kane and Brik have them go to the Styxx please.”

“Of course, Milady.” Belem murmured, he turned on his heel and left us alone.

“You are going to get on the ship and you are going to bloody stay there until I tell you to come out. So, help me, if I must fight my mate for your lives I am not going to be happy. Am I clear?” I hissed. Both Therros nodded.

“Good. Now go.” I muttered pointing to the back door. They walked quickly and quietly out the back exit as the colony police officer returned. We turned to face Belem as he stopped in front of us. The ginger winced.

“He’s going to hit me, isn’t he?” He asked me, looking up at Mex. I shook my head with a chuckle.

“No, of course not. I would not ask Mex to strike you. It would be a violation of our working relationship.” I murmured.

“That is a relief-.” Belem began to smile when I punched him in the eye. He stumbled backward, his eye immediately began to swell. He winced.

“Thank you, Milady.” He muttered sourly. I pat his arm.

“Sorry, it is for a good cause,” I assured him. Belem stood up straight and nodded.

“Yes, ma’am I know. Nixim Kane means a lot to us. I was with him in the mines, I am worried about him.” He said softly. I smiled.

“Worry not. He will be his vicious old self again in no time. You’ll see.” I said.

“Where is the station master!” Nixim’s voice called unimpressed from the front of the station.

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear,” I whispered. I could hear doors opening and the thud of booted feet.

“Go!” Belem muttered. Mex and I escaped out the back door. Belem leaned against the wall and touched his eye.

“Well, what happened?” Nix roared. Holon saw Belem and hurried to his side.

“Belem has been assaulted sire.” Holon’s voice echoed up the hallway.

“Are you alright?” He murmured.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Damn that female can pack a punch. I feel like I’ve been hit with a lump of wood.” He swore. Mex chuckled softly under his breath, overhearing the conversation. We watched through a window as the head of the army escorted his fellow feline out into the office.

“I hope we didn’t just get him killed,” I muttered. Mex made an affirmative noise in the back of his throat.

“He’ll be alright. Come on, let’s get out of here. It would not do to have someone see the queen lurking around. They will start asking questions. Therros are nosy bastards.” Mex murmured.

“I know, bloody gossip mongers,” I said following the large Main Coon away from the police station.

We walked into the hospital to find Doctor Leek staring out the window. Koi was sitting in his office. My cubs playing on the floor in a playpen. Leek turned and frowned at me.

“Lady Luca, I do not know how to say this, so I will just spit it out.” Leek began.

“You’re about to tell me there is something wrong with Nix?” I asked. The doctor nodded seriously.

“Do we have some form of X-Ray machine here?” I asked. Both males frowned. I sighed.

“A machine which shows a digital image of your bones, to check for breaks and diseases,” I said dryly.

“Ah, a Sono. Yes, we have that technology here.” Leek said suddenly cheerful.

“If I can get Nix in here, you can use the Sono to see if there is something foreign in his head?” I was watching the doctor closely. He nodded.

“What exactly are we looking for?”

“A Sumi Bug.” Mex hissed. Leek swore under his breath.

“You are going to need to sedate our venerated leader. It should deactivate the part of the brain long enough for the Sumi monitoring Nixim to leave the room, thinking he is asleep.” Leek said over his shoulder as he walked with us into a room behind the counter. He prepared an air syringe. He handed it to me.

“I don’t even know what that is. Better hand it to the big guy.” I shook my head, never having seen or used one. Mex dropped it into his back pocket.

“I will prepare a bed.” The good doctor said. We met Koi in the hallway leading to the hospital entrance. She was holding my children, pacing back and forth in agitation.

“I will take the cubs to Linus.” Koi murmured as we approached.

“Thank you.” I kissed my twins and made my way back to the palace.

Holon was standing in the hallway outside the first office when I walked in. He looked to me with a mixture of relief and fear.

“Luca, welcome back. His Majesty will be happy to see you.” He murmured. I gripped his chin, turning his face. Three deep furrows lined his cheek.

“What is this?” I growled. Holon bowed his head.

“I am in disgrace with our King. Two prisoners escaped.” He replied softly shooting a worried look over his shoulder.

“Damnit! I am sorry Holon. This is my fault. Go outside, get some ice for your face.” I murmured.

“I knew it was you. Belem told me. This is not your fault, my queen.” Holon whispered as he squeezed my claw. I knocked once on the door and walked in. Nix was alone sitting in his chair. He looked up with a scowl.

“Luca.” He stated calmly. I smiled.

“Hello, my love.” I greeted.

“Why are you here?” He demanded looking back at the papers spread across his desk. I pulled the ties on my skirt, it dropped to the floor. I removed my top and dropped it on top of the skirt. I stood with my hands on my hips.

“I want my mate.” I murmured. Nix looked up, sneered, and went back to reading. I bent, dressed, and left the room fighting tears. Holon and several guards were standing outside with Dr Leek when I approached.

“Holon, you’re mated, right?” I asked coming to stand by his side. He nodded.

“I am.”

“What is the typical male response to seeing your mate naked?” I asked curiously. Holon’s eyes lit up like two lamps. I nodded.

“Yeah. That is not Nix. I even mention the word naked around him and his eyes light up so brightly I could use him to see in the dark. He just sat at his desk, sneered at me, and went back to reading.” I stated. The males looked at each other.

“Dr Leek is there something you can do?” Holon asked.

“Oh, I already have,” Leek replied. Mex stepped forwards.

“You look upset.” He said looking down at me.

“I should be. My mate sneered at my natural form, as it were and continued to read.” I reported.

“It is a physical impossibility for a male Therros not to react when his mate is in the room, clothed or not.” He murmured.

“Seriously?”

“We have to train ourselves hard to tone down our reactions. But to have none, especially a male like Nix. That is impossible. I must hide mine from Koi, so I do not scare her. Dr. Leek has given me contacts to wear.” He replied. I looked at the doctor. Leek nodded. Mex pulled the syringe from his pocket.

“I’ll be right back.” He announced walking into the palace. The male was true to his word. He returned a few minutes later with an unconscious Nix over his shoulder.

“Where too?” He asked slightly breathless from my mate's weight.

“I have a room prepared,” Leek ordered worried. We rushed to the hospital. Mex placed him onto a table. I watched as the Doctor strapped him down, tightly. A stream of light ringed Nix’s head. An image popped up on the screen on the other side of the room. I gasped. Ferrin and Yana were right. There was a bug in Nix’s head. My mate’s eyes suddenly opened. He sat up, straining against his bonds.

“Leek, I don’t know how long I have. Get my mate, now.” He ordered. I rushed into the room as the doctor released his arms. My mate’s eyes lit up when he saw me, he pulled me against his chest. A deep purr reverberated around the room.

“Magnificent female. Kitten, if you ever feel the need to try that scene in my office again. I will be more than happy to oblige you. Perhaps next time you could sit on my desk, with your legs around my shoulders.” He whispered against my mouth.

“Oh Nix, I couldn’t figure it out. You were different. I was so scared you did not love me anymore.” I cried out in relief grasping him tightly.

“Never. I will love you longer than my last breath.” He murmured kissing me back.

“I probably don’t have long. Find me a piece of paper. This bastard is not ruining all your hard work.” He ordered over my shoulder. Nix spent five minutes writing, he signed and sealed the document with the doctor as a witness.

“I so name Luciana Kane to act in my place until I am well enough to resume my duties. Mex, take the rightful place of your bloodline. You stand with my mate as a Therrom knight. No opposition. If one rises, cut it down and I mean f*****g hard!” Nix ordered. Mex bowed his head, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth.

“Kitten, get Haze and Hart out of the brig. She’s going to kill me.” He muttered. I laughed softly.

“I already did. You owe them penance by the way.” I whispered. Nix rolled his eyes.

“Good female and don’t remind me. There is a lot of that going around. Poor bloody Holon, did you see his face?” He muttered sourly.

“You’ll be free soon. I spoke with Taiga Yasi, she will be diving into your head. Don’t worry.” I whispered against his lips.

“They are expecting that. You cannot allow her to read me. I love you, Kitten. Never doubt that.” He whispered lying down again. I kissed him once more and backed out the door and into the hallway. I nodded to Doctor Leek.

“Try and keep me unconscious as long as you can Doc,” Nix said as Leek restrained him tightly and resumed his tests.

“Did he see you dart him?” I asked Mex quietly. The big male shook his head.

“No, I reached through the window and jabbed him.” He replied.

“Good. It is official, there is a bug in his head; allowing a Sumi Elder to control him. Once Nix is free of this, let’s move the desk away from the window.” I murmured watching as Nix was moved to another bed and rolled into a room.

“I hear that. Darting him was much too easy.” Mex muttered.

“What’s a Therrom knight?” I asked turning to look up to the towering male. Mex shrugged.

“Don’t know, sounds bloody cool though.” He laughed. I grinned.