Page 37 of MeK
“MeK, my beloved son,Iam glad that we are able to confirm how vigorous your sex drive is, butIdo not believeMelannaneeds to see any more proof.Wewill give you a few moments to make yourself presentable and await you in your quarters.”
Mymind is in a fog andIfeel torn.Pullingaway and out ofLacie,Ido not even allow myself to look at her.Iam ashamed of my actions toward her and the repercussions this will cause with my mother.Pullingup my pants,Ihurry over to grab one of my discarded shirts from a chair and quickly tuck it into my pants.Runningmy hands through my hair,Itake a deep breath, only to hear,
“MeK, is that your mother?”
Iturn my eyes toLacie’ssmall form.Shehas scratches and bite marks all over her … naked body.Ican smell my release mingling with hers, andIam disgusted by whatIhave done, taking her like an animal against the wall.Ittakes me a momentto realize she isn’t getting dressed because she has nothing to put on.Rummagingthrough a couple of drawers in my lab,IknowIhave an extra jumpsuit in here somewhere.Eventhough it will be too large on her, at least she will be fully covered.Rippingit out of the package,Ithrow it at her asIwalk down the hall toward mother.Stoppingto gather my thoughts before walking in,Isay, “Mother, this is unexpected.”
“Yes, that was very apparent.However, you would not come to me, so you forced my hand.”Hereyes drift past me, andIknow what … who she is looking at.Sheraises an eyebrow at me, andIknow she is expecting some sort of explanation or introduction.
“Thehuman was just leaving.”
“Seemslike no matter the species, there are always the immoral ones hoping to better their status in this world.”
Laciedoesn’t make a sound, but it is her intake of breath that feels like a knife slicing through me.Iknow not whatIexpected her to do, butIam relieved whenIperceive her small steps turning away.Momentslater, the ramp opens andIhear my father say her name, but then in two steps, his massive frame fills the room.
“Madra, who gave you permission to land or even come to this sector?”
“DaR, if my son is here,Ihave every right to be too.Ittook some digging to figure out where you were hiding him, but thankfullyIhad a tracker installed on theIngenuityjust for occasions such as this.”
“Howdid you get passedANDI?”
“Idid not see any other ships as we approached, soIcannot answer that.Now, if you do not mind,Ihave come here to talk to my son, and then we will be on our way.”
Fatheris so angry he is practically vibrating. “Madra, this colony is classified as are its inhabitants.Ifeither of you speaks a word about how you found this place, you will not like the outcome.Iwant all flight logs erased, and a gag order issued for your crew as well.”
“YesCommander,Iunderstand that your pets need to be protected.NeitherMelannanorIhave any further interest in this little endeavor of yours.”
Iactually place myself between father and mother after her words asIfear he will retaliate.Weall know there is no one more important to my father thanKira, and my mother’s direct insult to her species will not be received well.
“Iwant all of you off this planet,NOW!”he snarls out. “MeK, if this is the path you have chosen,Irelease you from your duties, and we will continue on without your assistance.”
Heshakes his head in disappointment whenIdo not answer him immediately, but my mind is blank.Ifeel likeIam living a nightmareInever dreamed of, and allIkeep doing is making one fatal mistake after another.Inall my years,Ihave never disobeyed my mother or done anything but fulfill her wishes.Momentsago,Iwas experiencing a connection so intense it consumed me.Now,Iam being forced to pick sides.
Myheart aches whenIthink ofLacie, soIpush that away to deal with later.Iknew the momentItook her in my arms that one taste would be allIcould allow myself, and this job wasalways going to be temporary from the beginning.However, my responsibilities to my planet and my mother are not.
“Iwill monitor the delivery of the remaining dwellings from theIngenuityas stated in my contract, and thenIwill return toMeKurem, father.”
“Isthat all you have to say to me … or anyone else?”
Icannot look him in the eyes asIknow in my heart who he is referring to. “Yes.”Sodistracted with what has occurred,Ido not even hear him walk off and it’s mother’s cold hands that bring me back.
“Mydearest son, now that you are free from this primitive world and we are alone, let me properly introduce you toMelanna, granddaughter ofElderMalikand sole heir to the planetAbbion.”
Shecurtsies, her gaze lingering on my body as ifIwere a prized cut of meat.Raisingher hand,Itake it in mine, bending over to kiss her knuckles as is expected of my kind.However, the contact of her hand within mine causes immediate and intense pain to radiate across my palm, andImust bite the inside of my jaw to keep from reacting as my lips start to sting.
“Yourmother speaks highly of youMeK, and after whatIwitnessed this rising,Iunderstand why.YouandIwill make some beautiful younglings together.Ihope we can come to an understanding quickly.”
“Thepleasure is all mine, myLady.”
Forcingmyself not to shake her hand away,Itake a moment to truly look at her.Sheis tall likeMother, so thin that she resembles a stick wearing a long, elegant gown.Thejewelsembedded in her dark skin could pay for every dwelling needed on this planet, yet she wears them frivolously as her face is outlined in their wealth.Longblack hair lays in delicate braids all the way down her back, jewels and gold threads woven throughout.Shehas been perfectly prepared to be presented to me and her skin glows vibrantly, butIcan see her devious mind looking at all she can gain from our union.
Tiredof the fight,Ilook over at mother. “Sheis agreeable, and it is time.Proceedwith the contract and once you have it complete, send it to my ship, andIwill review it.Onceall is agreed upon,Iwill return toMeKuremfor the ceremony after this order is delivered.Ifyou two would like to head back to your shuttle,Ineed to prepare for my own departure.Wedo not need to angerFatherany further.”
“Wonderful!Youhave always been the best son a mother could ever ask for.MelannaandIboth understood that you had responsibilities here before we arrived, so we will wait for you onMeKurem.Iexpect your arrival in the next few risings.”
Chapter Nineteen
LACIE
