Page 37 of Radakk's Mate
“Just because I’ve saved lives doesn’t mean I’m owed a mate.” He straightens, and I nearly reel back at the pain and self-loathing that flickers in his eyes. “The purpose of the Darrvason-human alliance is to procure females for breeding purposes. If the next generation isn’t born soon, the survival of our people remains at risk. It would not be logical for me to claim a female. As I’ve already said, a female would be wasted on me.”
“A female would not be wasted on you. Please promise you’ll consider it. If a female would make you happy, if you desire to claim one, I would be honored to arrange that for you.” I give him an emphatic look as I await his response.
He releases a dramatic sigh. “May the Star Gods save me from officious emperors.” He clears his throat. “Very well. I will consider it.”
“Thank you.”
“No, no, thankyou.” He displays a smug grin. “I love it when my superiors meddle in my life.”
“You do realize if anyone else talked to me like that, I would have their head, don’t you?”
Doctor Zahhn snorts. “But then who would solve all your problems, my dear emperor?”
I growl. “Speaking of problems, my uncle is getting worse, and so are many others who are suffering fromforlonggsa.Last time we spoke, you mentioned a possible treatment that you were almost ready to test. Any update on that?”
“Tests will begin in a few days, and I will be living on theRorrsawhile the tests are conducted.” He starts to give me a compassionate look, but quickly changes to a neutral expression. He knows I don’t want anyone’s pity. “I will keep you apprised of the progress, Emperor Radakk, but even if this test fails, we still have many more years.”
“Eight years,” I remind him. “Only eight years.” Darkness swirls in my consciousness as I recall the sheer madness of my father. His anger and his paranoia. The violence he inflicted on others before I realized what was happening. Sometimes I think it’s a blessing my mother never lived to see the emergence of his illness. How she would’ve suffered watching his decline.
“Your father first showed signs offorlonggsafar earlier than most males do. He was a special case—not only did he show symptoms earlier than usual, his decline was also more rapid than usual. Even if you are stricken with the disease, you likely won’t show signs for fifteen years or more. Also, I would like to remind you that it’s not a certainty that you’ll fall ill. I’ve sequenced your genes, Emperor, and while you have a genetic predisposition forforlonggsa, it’s not an inevitable diagnosis. There is still a twenty-eight percent chance you’ll live a long, healthy life without any medical intervention.”
I know Doctor Zahhn means well, but it’s difficult to take solace in his explanation when I watched my father die, and I’m now watching the slower decline of my uncle.
“Thank you,” I say, my throat going tight, “for devising a method to remove the genetic markers for the disease in-vitro. Knowing my sons won’t be afflicted is a great comfort.” I rise to my feet. “I must return to my mate now, but I hope you’ll give some thought to accepting a female of your own. Whether you can sire offspring matters not. You are a living legend among our people, Zahhn, and no one would begrudge you for choosing to mate.”
“Before you leave,” the doctor says, lifting a finger, “can you tell me if you’ve learned anything about Sheila’s attack on Officer Paddax? Why she did it? Who helped her and whether the human worldship’s command team might be involved? The reason I ask is because I’ve been tasked with developing strict protocols for us to follow when the next wave of females arrive, to ensure another virus doesn’t find its way onto any of our ships. Or another sort of weapon.”
I shake my head. “We haven’t learned anything yet. Sheila remains in the brig, and she’s refusing to talk. But the admiral and I believe it was likely a rogue attack orchestrated by a group of rebels aboard theJansonna. Captain Warren is a moron who’s clearly unfit for leadership, but I don’t believe he’s stupid enough to provoke us to war. Admiral Tornn is directing the investigation, and I will let you know if I learn anything that might be helpful to you.”
“Thank you, Emperor.”
After we exchange farewells and I wish him luck on theRorrsa, I depart the medical bay and head for my quarters. Once I reach the royal corridors, my wrist comm buzzes. It’s a transmission from the admiral that contains images of a habitable planet. Pictures of lush forests, snow-capped mountains, sparkling lakes, and grassy lands. Along with the images there’s a note:It’s called 58-Zallnanis. We are altering course.
The familiar shudder that always accompanies a fall out of hyperdrive echoes throughout theHaxxal. The lights in the corridor dim, but only briefly, and I soon feel the deep hum of theHaxxalentering hyperspace again.
Relief rushes through me. I’d given Admiral Tornn the authority to alter our fleet’s course the moment a habitable planet was discovered by the probes we’d recently deployed.
We’d believed it would take several moon cycles at the very least to find a suitable planet for the humans, but it would seem the Star Gods have blessed us once again.
I transmit a message of my own.
Admiral Tornn, please join me in my quarters.
Chapter22
THALIA
As I walkaround Emperor Radakk’s quarters, I decide it’s more luxurious than the Founder’s living space. It’s twice as large, too. The bedrooms contain giant beds piled with soft covers and fluffy pillows, massive viewscreens, elegant artwork, and plenty of chairs and sofas.
There’s the kitchen, formal and casual dining rooms, a meeting room, nine bedrooms in varying sizes, and a spacious sitting room that currently overlooks the entire fleet. Each bedroom has two closets and a bathroom. There’s even a bathroom near the dining and meeting rooms, and another one beside the sitting area. Beautiful paintings and metallic sculptures also decorate the walls.
All this space.
I wonder if Emperor Radakk entertains frequently. Why else would he need so many rooms? Perhaps he sometimes hosts important visitors from other ships in the Darrvason fleet.
I can’t believe I live here now. On theJansonna, I slept on the floor of a cramped room that was meant to be a storage closet. It was better than sleeping near my father, uncles, and cousins in the small bedroom they shared. Especially my cousins. They were awful.
When my father and uncles weren’t around, they would always say things like, “Show us your tits, Thalia. Let’s see how well this year’s batch of hormone suppression shots are working.”
