Courting Kel by Dee Brice Read Free Book Online Page B

wife.”
    The girl poured. As she rounded the table to serve Storr,
she whispered to Kel, “I’ll not risk my life by poisoning the likes of you.”
    Kel bared her teeth, satisfied when Kira blanched and backed
away.
    When she’d gone, Storr raised his glass as if to toast them.
“I have reached a decision concerning your alleged marriage.”
    “Father.”
    “Hold your tongue, Aren, or I’ll have Kel cut it out.”
    Grinning at Aren, she said, “Tak, Storr, but that isn’t the
part of his anatomy I want—”
    “Aren will court you.”
    “Father!”
    “For how long?” Kel demanded.
    Storr seem to consider the question but said quickly, “One
year.”
    “One month.”
    “You may already carry his child. Ten months.”
    “Nine and not a day longer.”
    “Done!” He grinned at her and Kel’s heart lightened. She
could bear staying as long as she knew she’d be released. Then he added, “Let
the courting begin. Take her home, Aren. Take her home.”
    Her heart sank.
    * * * * *
    After they left, Storr retired to his bedchamber. Locking
the door, he said, “Vid.” A screen blinked on, filling an entire wall.
“Basalia.”
    Kel’s mother’s face appeared. Although she looked eager for
news, she merely nodded, the briefest of her normally curt greetings. They
might be allies now but they would never be friends.
    “Your daughter is as stubborn as you are.”
    “She has refused Aren?”
    “Not exactly. They have mated. She insists on going home.”
    “You promised you would keep her, Storr. You prom—”
    “This may be our only chance for peace on both our worlds.
Or at least to bring a modicum of happiness to our people. My men grow tired of
competing with each other for the women who agree to immigrate.”
    “Yet they refuse to search for wives more frequently than
every five years.” Basalia’s sneer faded. “They seem content to continue
raiding Amazonia every few years.”
    “Traditions die slowly. Your women seem equally content to
breed with my men and give up their sons.”
    Basalia sighed. “They, too, grow restive, as if they yearn
for something better. More…lasting. I fear that given the opportunity, they
would gladly immigrate to Ondrican.”
    “And my men would gladly immigrate to your world. Which
would solve both our problems.” He raked his hair.
    “We could simply order our children to accept their
marriage. Tell them it’s critical to the survival of all our people.”
    “I wish we’d thought of that sooner.”
    “So do I but…” Her features softened, as if some tender
emotion had overwhelmed her.
    “But?” he prompted gently, reluctant to return to bickering.
    “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they fell in love?” She shook
her head then met his eyes, hers now clear of sentimentality. “We have set this
plan in motion. It’s too late to turn back now.”
    Deciding to leave further doubts unvoiced, he said, “Nine
months. Since our children have mated and she might carry my grandson—”
    “My granddaughter.”
    “She’s agreed to stay nine months.”
    “Good. But there is more, isn’t there?”
    “Yes. I ordered Aren to court her.”
    Basalia grimaced. “She won’t like your Ondrican way of
courting.”
    Storr smiled. “If she’s half the woman you are, she’ll come
to love our ways.”
    Sighing, Basalia murmured, “At least your matings are done
in private.”
    “Except for the orgies, yes. I wish… You’d enjoy the
orgies.”
    Laughing, Amazonia’s queen bade him goodnight.
    * * * * *
    The Princesses’ Palace
     
    “I suppose I should call you Prince Aren or Highness,” Kel
said, taking off her cloak and looking around for some place to hang it.
    “Aren will do. Put it on the bench. Drew will put the cloak
away.”
    “Your home has no closets?” From under her eyelashes she
watched him strip and then don his robe. His cock stirred but quickly subsided.
    “We haven’t many clothes.” Taking her hand, he led her to
the