Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Zhur just makes another content sound, his tongue sliding over the ticklish spot where my thigh connects to my body. "I could stay in bed with you all day."
"We can do that," I manage to say, and I mean it. "I can check the monitors for the meat-stock and make sure the bots have watered the crops. That will take all of five minutes and then we can just lay here and enjoy each other."
Am I turning into a hedonist? It's starting to feel that way.
I wait for him to tell me that it's a terrible idea, that only lazy people spend all day in bed, but he sighs with pleasure and licks my pussy again. "I'm far too used to having appointments constantly. The thought of spending all day in bed seems like a luxury. We should do it, though."
Because he was a politician back home? Which reminds me... "Oh, I should tell you, do you know of any praxiian princes where you are? The tailor said that someone's getting married and the guy that runs this planet is going."
Zhur's casual caresses stop instantly. He lifts his head and looks up at me, his expression frozen. "What?"
CHAPTER
SEVENTY-ONE
ZHUR
I didn't hear that correctly. I know I didn't hear that correctly. "Did...did you say someone is getting married?"
She nods, propping up on her elbows to look at me. "I wanted to ask if it's related to the reason why you're here. I know you're in politics, right? Some prince is getting married. And I know it's silly to think that all praxiians are related, because that's awful of me, but since you're in politics maybe you would want to know? Just in case?"
I sit up and mentally rattle through all the praxiian “princes” I can think of. Praxii Major doesn't have princes—they have a parliament and noble houses, but no actual princes. Praxii Minor is the first colony established by our people, and my family has long had a stranglehold on the government. While we've been easing off on some aspects to keep current with the times, there's still a lot of power in being the Heir. There's a few far-flung colonies on distant moons that have a couple of princes, but I know them all. They're either already married or in the cradle and being ruled by a regent. No regent in their right mind would arrange a marriage because it would reduce their power.
That means that either it's not a prince...or my brother is marrying to stabilize his hold upon the throne.
Kef. Kef twice.
"Did you get a name?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm.
"No. I can go back tomorrow and fish around for more information? Should I?"
I shake my head, all pleasure in the day gone. Here I was looking forward to a lovely afternoon of sexual frolic with Maeve and reality comes crashing into my plans once more. It has to be Remrrrtel. My brother doesn't miss a beat. He knows that the best way to make the people forget about an ousted Heir is to provide them with something else to gossip about. A royal wedding will do that.
But who is he going to marry? It has to be for political gain, someone that both the people of Praxii Minor would like and someone that would distract. A celebrity, perhaps? A noble from a house on Major? Even a mesakkah noble from Homeworld would distract and titillate. I rack my brain, trying to determine just who he would be marrying.
I need to see feeds. I jump to my feet and head for the vid comm before I realize what I'm doing.
"Hey?" Maeve calls after me. "Zhur? Are you okay?"
Am I? That is an excellent question and one I should think about answering. The truth is that I do not know if I am “okay.” I do not know what to think.
Remrrrtel has always been cold and calculating. When we were young, he would watch how I reacted around others and copy me. I remember my parents being dismissive of him because he was born with basic striping, like any commoner. My parents had no love for him, only for me and my next oldest brother, Wesskth. I remember how Remrrrtel would glare at us with hate during ceremonies, as if he wanted to be anywhere but with us.
How did I not see it before? The fact that he was sent away would not have eased his anger towards his place in life. It would have only increased his hatred.
I am a fool for being so blind. For some reason, I had assumed that Rem would disappear and abandon all ties to our family. Instead, he has murdered Wess and deposed me...and my head will be next upon the chopping block if I do not remain hidden.
Yet if I do...I will lose my claim. The longer Rem has power, the more likely he is to sway the people to his side. Marry someone beloved and popular and he will be impossible for me to remove from power. My exile will be permanent.