Page 40 of The Royal's Bumblebee
“She doesn’t.” I shrug with a grin, and Alaric chuckles.
“Regardless, it’s good to see Billie. Her work for Allico Inc is vital.”
“How so?” Jajana politely asks and a servant slithers around to pour drinks for everyone. I abstain. I don’t want to have any buzz from the liquor dampen what will take place once we’re done here. It’s 4pm, after all.
“Well?” Alaric chuckles and looks over at Billie. “We’ve had confirmation this morning that the next wave of Allico Inc vessels has been successfully redirected to AU 418. Thanks to the data mined and transmitted from our global satellite systemsBilliehas programmed and coordinated.”
“So Humans will colonise Lazevis?” That’s what we call AU 418. Vrujac hummed curiously and pushed for more information. “What do you know of the planet? You didn’t know Thelia was already inhabited when you set off from your home planet. Can you tell if Lazevis is inhabited?”
“Earth was 100 years in hyperspace away.” Billie spoke up and looked over at Vrujac’s chest. “Even with our best deep-space telescopes, we couldn’t tell if Thelia had sentient life forms present, until we arrived. AU 418, however, is the sister planet to this one, so yes.” Billie nodded. “We have been able to see structures on the planet’s surface that are not naturally occurring. Agriculture and architecture are indicative of a sentience race.” I smile with pride at my mate. She is so intelligent.
“Which means there is a high chance that there is a native sentient species present, or there was, at least.” Rerasha added and adored Alaric with his eyes. Ah, now I remember. Those two are lovers.
“Which is why I’m here.” Alaric took a deep breath and cleared his throat. I see him looking at Billie and I tighten my coil. “Billie?” He addresses her and she lifts her head to show she’s listening. “Your work isveryimportant to us. We have just set up a state of the art communications centre in the Delta 4 compound.” My pupils sharpen as I realise what he’s about to say and shoot my eldest brother a warning stare. “You will have the main office to yourself, and plenty of space between you and everyone else. 20 agents will work directly under you and we can coordinate further colonisation on Thelia, as well as AU 418.”
“Alaric tells me that’s where you were going to be stationed when you arrived? As per your specifications?” Rerasha helps his lover.
“You said you came here to discuss business?” Vrujac narrows his eyes on Alaric.
“And I am, but this was the only way to see Billie in person, so I had to come to the palace, since she’sdeclinedevery invitation I’ve sent her to come to one of our colonies.”
“Of course she has.” I hiss and I don’t give a damn if my brother glares at me in warning. Billie is mine, and I’ll bite this shucker before I let him take her. “She works efficiently from her office in our nest.”
“She would have access to better technology in the Delta 4 compound.”
“Oh, the same compound that was recently raided?” Uczaz wades in and I owe my brother a drink later. “That’s hardly a safe place for someone so important to your people’s survival, is it?”
“Nowhere on Thelia is safer than in my palace.” Vrujac adds.
“You wish to talk about safety?” Alaric sits more upright. “One, on the last Gcorket this very palace was invaded by Naltik and Eryan forces.” The ambassador tenses behind his human lover, but Alaric is fierce with his stare at my brother. Not a smart move, bringing up the event that took our father from us. “Billie was right in the middle of all that violence.”
“AndIprotected her.” I hiss deeply and Billie shrinks down beside me. “I kept her safe and secure in my nest.”
“Listen here Alaric.” Vrujac slides off his cushion and looks ready to hiss down at Alaric, but Jajana waded in with the icy smoothness of a Queen.
“Alaric, we had no human casualties. Billie is safe here, with Izule, and every Royal in this room would put themselves between her and danger. She is a member of this family.”
“Too shucking right she is.” Halas just earned himself a drink as well.
“And?” Jajana speaks as if to tell our brother to back off and let her deal with it. She raises a hand to wag a golden scaly finger at Alaric. “Delta 4 compound was recently raided by the Rapali, leaving many wounded humans in the wake of another being stolen. From the heart of your security wing. If you can’t even protect a botanist, how do you expect us to believe you can protect my brother’s mate?”
“And of course?” I finally weigh in, lifting up from the beanbag and surrounding Billie in the tight coil of my tail so she is hidden from view. “Billie is my mate. Your compound is not built for Ucfeni to live amongst you, and I will not be parted from my mate.”
“Please see reason?” Alaric tried to reason with me. Ha.
“I see no reason for you to think you can take my mate from me.” If he tries I’ll bite him. I’m seconds away from baring my fangs at him, but Billie’s hands on the top ring of my coil distracts me. “Billie?”
“Excuse me?” She speaks softly and pushes her glasses up her nose. “Alaric?”
“Yes Billie.” His hand is over his com-gem, and I wonder if he plans on summoning Allico security officers, but he’s not that foolish, is he?
“My work is important for our people, yes?”
“Vital, yes.” He speaks with relief, like Billie has seen reason. No, I don’t buy it.
“Okay.” Billie nods. “Let me keep working like I am, here, in Izule’s nest, or I’ll quit.” She turns to look up at me and I grin at her. “I’m not going. He can’t make me.”
“No, you’re not, my love.” I lean down and intend to scent her lips with my tongue, but she pushes up to press a kiss to my mouth. It’s the first time she’s kissed me in public, so I gasp and smile into the kiss. When she releases me she’s blushing and pushes her glasses back up her nose.
