The Royal City of Issneen

The Royal Court

Months later

Xeus moved around his office like a caged sogair—prowling, intense, ruthless. That he hadn't seen a sogair in years, with its dark red coat, sharp fangs, excellent vision, and hearing, didn't, in any way, affect his ability to prowl like one. He couldn't spare a smile if a life depended on it. Something troubled him, and he wasn't dealing well with it. Enyl escorted the first compatible female from another species. This was the only species so far to trigger the Ethera and as such was Etteria's salvation. This could be disastrous or life-changing.

He had sensed Cales hovering behind him during the interaction. He had done so all day, soothing ruffled feathers as well as steering Xeus clear of oversensitive ambassadors. Xeus grunted, recognizing that Cales interceded more and more of late. He drew in a deep breath and glanced through his transparent walls to the vacant court.

The beauty of it was lost on him. The high vaulted ceilings were painted with poignant images. The dark blue and gold tapestries contrasted boldly against a white polished stone floor. His thoughts remained on what he knew of Earth and its inhabitants. More importantly, what he'd seen of this alien female.

She'd shown incredible skill, utilizing a fighting style they themselves employed. They called it Hatimaye, and he had believed it was unknown to all but Etteria. Was her species a warrior race to such an extent that the females also trained? What kind of males would endanger such treasures?

Regardless of how impressed he'd been, not only by her actions but her unusual coloring, he had to remain calm, strong, and confident. None of which he was managing. He glanced around his office and lingered on his white Fuyra desk. What it stood for, the generations of kings before him, the expectations of his ancestors, his people, and Etteria's future pressed on his shoulders until the thought of taking a step sucked the life from him.

He had just met his new daughter, Oriana, and he wondered, not for the last time, what she saw when she looked upon the Etterian species. They all had bronzed skin and long black hair that was fish-tail braided to their bootheels, honor willing. To lose honor was to lose a foot of their hair—a visual representation of one's failure. Their features were bold, dominant, their eyes dark blue unless the Ethera occurred between pairings. But those were rare. He couldn't recall the last pairing or gazing into adult ice blue eyes until today.

Centuries before, a civil war had broken out among them, and many lives were lost. Their king, Pius, Xeus's ancestor, approached the wise Durn for guidance. The Great Durn had devised Etteria's current approach—the extensive training, the development of a passionate people into a warrior race now feared and respected. The Durns modified Etterian genetics, and thus, the Ethera was born. He suspected that the Durn, revered for their higher intelligence and their statistical focus, hadn't anticipated the decline of the Etterian female birth rate. Now their males faced the void, unable to find contentment in meaningless liaisons, to end their lives in battle just to avoid the darkness consuming their souls.

Xeus was such a male.

When the herald had announced the entrance of Enyl and his princess, Oriana, this had stunned Xeus. Princess? He'd thought Enyl had selected a female to claim without the Ethera blessing the pairing. Such was an irresponsible, dangerous risk, and his son must've done so for a reason, one Xeus had soon learned had nothing to do with choice and more to do with the Maker's blessing.

His son had a Dar Eth.

And now Xeus had a daughter. A beautiful creature with ocean-red hair and bright green eyes, the same vivid green of their Ferusi gems. She was tiny in comparison to Etterian females, but she scented like delicious fruit. And there lay the crux of the matter.

He'd found his daughter appealing.

Her scent, softness, incredible beauty, and her inner strength made her a great find.

Maker!

He scowled, the rage building deep within him as his arousal throbbed. This was unacceptable and dishonorable. And he wasn't the only male who suffered so. He needed to bring these human females to Etteria. But how? Any decision he took could affect the survivability of Earth, long-term, as in hundreds of years into the future. He understood what his ancestors must've gone through before the decision to modify their race. He didn't want to harm Earth, but he needed to save Etteria.

"Alodon's balls, Xeus. She is exquisite." Cales marched into Xeus's office. "I've never...felt like this."

"Yes, therein lies the dilemma. We need to find human females with extreme urgency. I cannot have our males testing the strength of the Ethera between Enyl and Oriana."

"Yes... The urge is there." Cales sank into a comfy chair, resting his elbows on his bent knees. "Even her voice made me feel. I wonder what our ancestors would say if they saw how we react to such a creature."

Xeus grunted. Cales had the right of it. He did feel and the darkness in his soul pulsed with hungry eagerness. "Our males might fight the temptation to kidnap a female for themselves. We are not savages nor slavers."

"Agreed, the temptation is great." Cales frowned. "Also, it could be a female and not a species thing. Perhaps the Ethera has chosen this specific female. We would need to discover whether other human females spark the Ethera in our males."

"Yes, but how, Cales? That is what I am struggling with." Xeus paced, the white walls of his office pressing in. "If we approach mid-grade Earth in an ambassadorial role, we violate the Global Council. We cannot stoop to kidnapping either."

"And yet Yithia has no such qualms," Cales grumbled. "Perhaps we could allow a few Yithian slave ships to kidnap females then rescue them?"

"That seems like the only option at this point." Xeus clenched and unfurled his fingers. "Though, to endanger females does not sit well with me, Cales."

"Neither with me. We can only do what we can, Xeus. Protect the planet and rescue kidnapped females."

"True. To stand by and do nothing to prevent their harm is as dishonorable." And he would throw the full might of Etteria in this task. Guard earth with a battalion of battleships and have Malo's operatives infiltrate and monitor human bases between Etteria and Earth.

"Perhaps we need to approach this as if it were a battle? A multi-faceted strategy?" Cales said, now deep in thought.

"Continue." Xeus gestured that he was listening despite pacing the stifling confines of his office.

"Have you heard the buzz about sex-cybs?" Cales's words were so off-topic that Xeus shook his head. "They are cyborgs developed to bring pleasure."

Xeus jerked to a halt. "Cyborgs? As in mechanical creatures?"

"Yes. As you know, we relieve the tension once a day and view it as a chore. It is safe to do so since our hands do not summon the void. Would the cyborg not perform the same function?"

"Release into an inanimate object?" Xeus shuddered at the thought of it.

"An object that is the shape of a human female, or so I am told."

Xeus blinked at Cales. "Truth?"

"They have a sex center in the backwaters of space for...weary travelers." Cales punched into his O.D.I. and projected the location onto the extended display vid.

Xeus strode toward it, mesmerized.

"It is in Earth's system. Trust these humans to invent such an object," Xeus said, even though his heartbeat pounded in his ears.

An image of a sex-cyb appeared. They groaned. Her appearance was that of a human female with flowing hair the color of sunlight and pale green-brown eyes. Her body was perfect with large breasts that looked incredibly soft, a cinched-in waist, wide flaring hips, and long legs easily discernible in the small garment she wore.

"Do you think they could spark the Ethera?" Xeus asked, his voice a little too hoarse as he adjusted his armored pants around his arousal.

"I suspect only biological females are able to." Cales shrugged. "Hence why we should send a delegate."

"Do so. Choose a few volunteers sensing the void and have them test out whether releasing into...that brings the void closer."

"Done." Cales punched into his O.D.I.

"It is a pity we couldn't have them here." Xeus ran a lone finger down the display vid, tracing the curve of the sex cyb's cheek.

"Yes, that is a pity."

"Test first, then we shall decide." Xeus rubbed his hands together. "For this, I will insist the Global Council allow trade negotiations with Earth."

~*~

Planet Etteria

King Xeus's office

A week later

"Well, that was quick," Xeus rasped, though grateful for the confirmation.

He'd just ended a communication with Supreme Commander Ulriq. The male's ice blue eyes were the defining factor. He'd also stated that one in his unit, Kanzo, son of Lenzo if Xeus recalled correctly, had also discovered his Dar Eth.

"Three Eths," Cales boomed, his excitement palpable.

Xeus grunted n response, wishing he could rouse as much enthusiasm, especially for something he'd instigated, prayed, and longed for.

"And all human females." Smiling, Cales sat in the comfy, his hand raised in mid-O.D.I typing.

Xeus could seek the void, now that his males would, at last, find contentment. It seemed their salvation was at hand. And once he received the results of the genetic compatibility tests done on Oriana, then he might even experience peace. An elusive concept for him. Though, whether humans were breeding compatible remained unknown. Perhaps the tests might confirm this? He doubted that the Ethera would choose a species unable to bear Etterian offspring. That seemed implausible.

To discover the Yithians had abducted both Dar Eths from Etterian custody made his vision haze in red. At least anger he could still experience without consequences. Teric's betrayal stung. Honor above all, but to stoop to this? "Have you tasked Operations Commander Malo with Teric's investigation?"

"Done, Xeus. I've informed Xan of the impending rescue attempts."

Xeus pinched his lips as he fisted his hands, relishing the tightening of his muscles. No species would stand in the way of Etteria's salvation. That Ulriq had to violate Global Council laws didn't bother Xeus. The council members were a bunch of sanctimonious males with no self-control. They had a marked lack of honor, integrity, respect for themselves, for the species they represented, and for other species in general. He was grateful Ulriq had informed him of this, lest the council blindside Xeus at the next assembly.

He slumped, the weight of his age, wisdom, and experience dragging on his shoulders. "I do not recall having as much enjoyment when we were their age, Cales."

"You say that as if we are ancient, Xeus. You and I are in prime condition, though that cannot be said for all our males." Cales didn't glance up from his O.D.I. "I do approve of the new law you implemented, even though the males in your court are displeased. A distressed ambassador is a joyful advisor." He grinned at Xeus, implying he was the joyful one. "Wait until they discover this does not mean on Gikaet. We have mines, farms, dockyards, and town disputes requiring their assistance." Cales shifted in the comfy. "Discussions I cannot wait to have with each complainant."

Xeus drew in a slow breath, not willing to break his bond's high spirits by informing him that the law excluded the two of them. There would be no trips to Gikaet. He let Cales have this moment. Soon, he'd come to realize they had no one to replace them during the month's warrior service he had implemented into law.

~*~

Planet Etteria

Xeus's Office

After an Evening Meal

Xeus paced his office under Oriana's vigilance. He struggled to contain his reactions with strange emotions pelting his control. "How do you plan on approaching Earth, my daughter?" He glanced at her for a moment before he resumed pacing.

"I will set up an appointment with the ESA's director. That's Earth Space Agency. They control Earth's interstellar travel. Malo will masquerade as the Etterian ambassador to lay down our terms. The negotiations will commence from there."

"It is simple but effective. I have yet to conceptualize how human females will be introduced to our males, though." Xeus gripped the back of the comfy, channeling his restless energy into stiffening and releasing his muscles, starting with his legs to his shoulders and down again.

"Battleships of females delivered to Etteria would be preferable." Cales chuckled from his position against the wall.

"Yes, I agree, but we will need protocols in place. How will we recruit females? Where to house them once they reach Etteria?" Xeus said.

"If they do not have an Eth, they will not leave Earth." Oriana laced her fingers through Enyl's. He flashed her a sensual smile and caressed her hand with his thumb. Their bond grew stronger each day, proving the Ethera had chosen well. "Etteria cannot cater for women indefinitely. My proposal is this... A dating website."

"A what?" Xeus frowned after his O.D.I. had updated him. Dating? Date? What did a fruit have to do with a Dar Eth?

"A dating website is where humans go to find love. If we create such a central point, we can invite your males to browse the females eager for a match. We just need to make sure full-length images of the women are available. That is what triggers the Ethera."

"Yes, that could work. A directory of sorts," Enyl said.

"They can apply if they agree to off-world life and alien matings. Perhaps we can offer incentives like what Coldar did with me." She laughed—a delightful tinkle that reverberated off Xeus's white walls. "An education, Ferusi gems, or tokens."

Xeus paced again. For Etteria, the combined cost of the incentives would be negligible.

Still smiling, she said, "Malo will have to play the charmer, smiling for the audiences, showing off his Etterian physique, convincing the director that he is an engineer-cum-ambassador."

Enyl grinned, no doubt imagining Malo being amenable. "I'm sure he will rise to the challenge."

"He is not going to like this plan." Cales smirked.

"It is for Etteria. He does not have an opinion," Xeus said, anger hardening his voice. His unusual mood had Enyl studying him, concern darkening his features. Xeus scowled.

"Perhaps you should do the negotiations, Father... If they anger you, and they will, you can detonate a building." Oriana teased Xeus, and for a moment, his lips twitched.

But his presence on Earth would be ill-advised. If he couldn't manage self-control with his daughter's scent, how would he cope surrounded by unclaimed human females? It was for this reason he'd tasked her and Enyl. It would remove the temptation of Oriana from his males and him.

Volunteer males were en route to the sex center on the moon Calisto. It would be a two-week journey at full fusion pulse. Two weeks? He wasn't certain how he'd survive this evening, never mind fourteen days.

"When do you intend to depart?" Xeus asked.

"The closest battleship is the Chikara. It arrives tomorrow. We should be on our way by the setting of the magnus sun tomorrow evening," Enyl said.

"Excellent. Keep me informed. All of Etteria is with you." The urge to flee his office drove Xeus. He made to do so, only to halt when Enyl called his name. His son bounded after him, a frown marring his temple. Xeus drew in a deep calming breath and waited. "What is it?"

"You do not seem yourself." Enyl squeezed Xeus's shoulder.

"It has been a trying day. I need to swing my greatsword. If you have Gika hidden in your chambers, please do inform me." Xeus's attempt at humor brought Enyl's brief smile. He clasped his son's forearm. "Return safely." He marched off with an unexpected heaviness in his chest he couldn't name.

Author's Note: Star Forged is available at most ebook retailers.

https://books2read.com/u/3nXgp5

Links are in my bio.