Page 50 of The Pregnancy Pact

“How do we tell who are the troublemakers and who are simply the untamed?” Grignus pointed out. “Either way, they have resisted the Coalition’s authority. That makes them worthy of death.”

“It does not!” I shot back. “You’re talking about innocent lives here, who…”

“Lady Lorelai…” Ursis, clearly the most senior member of Council, raised his hands in a shushing motion. “We know this is difficult for you to accept, as we are speaking of your species, but, to us, humans are little different than the cattle we breed for food and hides, or the beasts of burden we utilize. Your kind decimated your planet. All of you would have perished from your own folly, had not the Coalition stepped in to rectify the matter and preserve your world. What did we ask in return? Compliance. Obedience. Little enough, correct?”

I felt myself bristle at being compared to cattle. I knew that was how they saw us—I did—but I guess I’d naively supposed some of the Asterions had moved beyond that notion.

“You’ve demanded more than that,” I put in coldly. “What about your breeder’s lists? You’ve taken our women too.”

A few sideways glances at each other. This being the ruling body of the planet Asterion, they’d had to have approved the measure. I couldn’t tell if they were a little ashamed or simply not used to being called out.

“Yes,” the argumentative, younger Council member agreed, and there was a challenge in his tone. “The humans are a resource. We needed females. Humans are more closely akin to Asterions biologically than most species. We had to make use of the resources we possessed.”

“I don’t know why you would complain,” Sirena interjected snidely. “It worked out in your favor.”

I shouldn’t have, but I shot her a wicked glare. “That is not what happened,” I snapped. “I wasn’t chosen off a breeder’s list.” Because I suspected jealousy on her part, I dug back, adding, “Ellax actually wanted to marry me.”

“A-hem.” Grignus cleared his throat loudly to interrupt the conversation. Too late. I’d seen the flash of sheer hatred in her eyes, and knew I’d touched a sore spot. My instincts were right. Whether Ellax knew it or not, Sirena had a thing for him, and she hated me for taking the spot she wanted.

Childish, but for the briefest moment I allowed myself to feel a thrill of victory at finally gaining the upper hand on at least one of these pompous aliens.

“This is all beside the point,” Grignus went on, redirecting the conversation. “Whatever the reason behind you and Overlord Ellax’s decision to marry, the Council needs you to remain married and, more than that, to present yourself as united and compatible.”

“Why, to soften the blow to the humans when the strike force goes in there and starts butchering non-compliant people?”

“If you wish to describe it so harshly…yes.”

I glared at him from across the circle. Beside me, my new alien husband put his palm on my leg. Heavy. Commanding. Comforting.

“That doesn’t even make sense,” I said coldly. “Also, why you think you could get me to go along with it is beyond me.”

“Many things are beyond you, it seems,” Sirena said cooly, running her fingertips lightly over the yellow trim on her robe. “We would not expect a human to understand the minutiae of governing a colony.”

“Sirena!”

This time, Ursis jumped in before I could speak. “This is not helpful. Nor will you insult the wife of a Lead Advisor.”

I watched Sirena’s gaze flick to Ellax. Turning my head, I also looked at Ellax. We hadn’t been together long enough to truly form an attachment. At least, not on my side. Nevertheless, the fire in his eyes was sheer hatred. Whether because by insulting me she’d insulted him, or because of the slight against me, he was murderous. He made no move to hide it either, snarling into the uncomfortable silence, “Recall your place, Council member. Lorelai is my wife. Insult her again, and I will have your position, your home, and your life.”

Chapter 30

Ellax

“Come, come, Ellax, no need to resort to threats.”

Jorta, the peacemaker of the group, held up both hands in a soothing gesture. “I am certain Sirena referred to your human wife’s lack of knowledge on Asterion affairs.”

I made no reply. I did not need to. My stare held Sirena’s. I would not look away first. She knew I meant what I’d said. My wife, human or not, married in a bout of drunken foolishness or not, was my wife. I would not suffer insults towards her. Especially not from the youngest member of Council. Sirena was bright and ambitious—I would give her that. Two factors that could work in her favor, should she learn to wield them wisely. Insulting my wife was far from a wise use of her position.

She must have realized her mistake, for she finally dropped her eyes and her head, mumbling, “My apologies. I meant no offense.”

I did not consider her repentant at all, but this was not the time for warfare. Larger issues were at stake.

Since I had cowed her, I allowed my gaze to turn from her to the remainder of Council. I was not utterly surprised by what I’d heard. Grignus and Sirena had been whispering for months of an all-out raid against the wild humans. Rebuilding on Earth, specifically in Asterion’s colony, advanced too slowly for their taste. I knew they had been in communication with other councils and ruling bodies in the Coalition. I was well aware neither of them possessed the temperament for the long, slow game of rebuilding a decimated planet and making it useful. Nevertheless, they had not been to Earth as I had. They’d not seen how barren and inhospitable the planet was, compared to our own Asterion. I supposed I couldn’t fault them for seeking a faster solution. I simply wondered how they’d managed to finagle my fellow Council members into agreeing with them behind my back.

Returning to the topic at hand, I glanced around the circle of my peers, meeting each member’s eyes. I left my hand boldly on my wife’s thigh, a silent reminder that none of this was about her. She was mine, and here to stay. No, we would discuss this matter about my role as a Lead Advisor without placing her in the equation.

“You are all in agreement, then,” I said. “None of the information we have been presented in the past concerning the adverse working conditions on Earth has dissuaded you. You truly see wiping out the wild humans as the best solution?”

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