Page 39 of Bonded Queen: to the Alien Warlord Triad

It’s not missiles and las-cannons I’m scared of being exposed to.

Ra’al and Orr walk forward onto the stone bridge that extends from the inner palace to the outer walls. I hesitate, and Kriz steps beside me, extending his huge arm. I wrap my arm around his, pressing myself against his massive, sturdy body as we walk forward.

The two beasts stride forward, taking the stage, but Kriz stops, pulling me tight against his body.

He looks down at me and runs his hand through my windswept hair, and I don’t care that he’s ruining Nash’s work. I’m reassured by this side of him, and as he leans in and kisses me, his hunger makes me feel so desired. No one’s looked at me like that before I met the Aurelians.

“I’ve dreamed of you, all my life,” he says, when he breaks off the kiss. His grey eyes seem to gleam, and I wonder if it’s true that they change color in the moment of Bonding. If so, then this won’t just leave its mark on me forever.

With that, we follow the other two, until we reach the walls. A triad of Aurelians is hidden on the tops of the walls, with long sniper rifles that peek out, surveying the crowd below. Reavers fly above, soundlessly circling the stage. Kriz leads me up the steps to the raised semi-circle, a big stone platform high above the crowd.

At the front and center of the platform is something that wasn’t there the last time I saw a Royal address.

It’s a thin, black slab of marble, about three or four feet tall, and just wide enough I could lie on it comfortably. It’s slightly longer than my body, and the surface is so shiny and flawless it almost seems like liquid. It looks out of place, so different from the cheerful blues and greens of the royal colors. There are black flags raised through the city, the twin semi-circles that match the branded tattoos of the Aurelians an even darker black that you more feel than see.

Thousands of people are packed in the city square. The air shimmers strangely, dozens of high-powered shields all protecting the exposed platform above the masses.

Many of the people look harried. We’re high above, but I can still make out faint details—ripped, dirty clothes, blood stains, and make-shift canes. These are the ones who survived the attack mostly unscathed. They range in age from twenties to fifties, and it’s roughly two to one men to women.

It’s not the entire population of the city, and the square is not even filled to capacity. I wonder what these people were told they would come witness? Were they marched here, or did they come of their own volition? They look like they come from all walks of life, and the only thing unifying them is that they’re adults…

Of fighting age.

I look up at Ra’al. Is he going to make these people fight for his armies? Is he going to conscript tailors and factory workers to die in the frontlines?

While the humans look harried, the Aurelian triads dotted amongst the crowd look proud and imperial, standing above them like gleaming beacons of power and hope. Even the wounded Aurelians stand tall, as if they are rising above their pain, viewing it as a mild annoyance like rain on what was supposed to be a sunny day. In the rest of the city, Aurelians are working, moving through rubble, evacuating people and bringing them into Reavers which dart towards the damaged warship. That huge ship is no longer smoking, but it’s still embedded deep in the ground.

There must be more advanced medical bays on that ship, and in the Reavers themselves. They’re saving the wounded.

Two drones, black as night, hover above. They watch, and I shiver as I imagine them projecting this address to the universe. There are only thousands of eyes on us from the crowd, but there could be trillions tuned into the holo-vid feed if they’re broadcasting wide. Kriz gently squeezes my hand, then takes his place at the right hand of his leader. Orr is a bull of a man on the left, his booted feet planted firmly on the stone, in a stance of readiness.

Ra’al stands in front of the crowd, the wind whipping at his robes. “The Royal Family swore to protect you. They left. They knew of the coming death, and they left everything to escape with their lives. They abandoned you.”

The crowd murmurs in response. People are nodding.

“They did not just abandon you. They abandoned their power. And much of their wealth. Because they knew that their lives were more valuable than their estates. These lands are worthless without you! You are the men and women of fighting age. You are the wealth of this planet. You are the lives that give this rock value!” His voice booms out. It’s strange to see Ra’al like this. He is a natural king, addressing the populace below without acting as though he is better than them.

I thought that the citizens would be split, some hating him, some scared, and some just glad to be alive. Perhaps the people in the crowd are comprised of those who volunteered to see the Aurelian triad speak, but the awe in their eyes as they witness a true protector, one so unlike the Royal Family that betrayed them and left them to die, is palpable.

“This city was dust before you built it. It will be reborn, under our rule! Those who left you to die had the wealth and power. By what right? Did they till the earth? Did they grow the crops? Did they take up arms to protect the cities? No!”

He waves his hand, and on cue, the thick clouds that constantly surrounded the top of the spire dissipate. The crowd gasps as they see the heights of the innermost spire for the first time in their lives, the huge circle of the holo-dome which was the secret palace, hidden even from their eyes.

I stand behind the three huge men, their bodies forming a shield that hides me from the crowd. The marble slab is in front of me, and I run my hand over the surface. It ripples it response. It’s cold to the touch, and it’s not made of stone. It’s made of some other substance I’ve never seen before. I pull my hand back in surprise, and the black liquid stone pulls up with my hand, then returns to its original, flawless state.

Ra’al raises his hand again, motioning to the palace, then waving dismissively towards the richest part of the city, where the ships took off first. “They knew what was coming, and they left you to die. But you did not die! All of you were fighters. All of you. Any who is found to have looted and killed will be executed. Those who survived will be given a choice.”

“Serve. There are more Scorp coming. I have seen the waves of Org-Ships thick as flies. They cannot be stopped. They can only be endured. To save yourself and your families, serve. You will all have the choice. The fields. The factories. The army. Men and women who are willing and able can join to protect this planet any way they can be useful.”

“We are not slavers. Those who serve will have our protection. There are vacant lands, lands that were ruled by false lords and barons. All those who serve will have their portion of land. You will be the owners of this planet!”

“We are Aurelians. We protect. And we own. My men have fought, and they now claim their reward. Single women of fighting age may present themselves to the palace. Those that are worthy will be bought in auction. Our brave triads have earned Talons in battle. They will bid. You will become their prized possessions. You alone will have the exclusive safety of an Aurelian triad, if you are worthy enough to be picked. Those that are not bidded on will have the same choice—the fields, the factories, or the army.”

I had heard the dark rumors that Aurelian Fanatics would come in and take every woman prisoner.

Now I see the choice. A choice I took myself, giving myself to the Aurelian Generals.

Ra’al looks up to the drones. “Aurelians serving the false Queen! Do you see this planet? Eight billion! Eight billion souls, forsaken when you allowed them to become Independent. Your weakness is murder. I fought on Abascus! I saw the price of your weakness, while you grow fat with your harems, damning those who need your protection. Do not serve your false Queen, who wants you to subjugate yourself and deny your birthright. You are meant to rule and protect. You are meant to earn your Mate, as we have!”

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