Close Encounter of the Carnal Kind by Delilah Devlin

Author:Delilah Devlin [Devlin, Delilah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction
Publisher: Delilah Devlin
Published: 2016-10-02T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Four

‡

Etienne paced the length of the solar, unaware of the opulence of his surroundings, wishing the coming minutes were already over. How long did it take to escort one slim girl from the military base?

“Son, you weary me. Come sit beside me. Your little fighter will be here any moment now.”

He turned to the queen whom he still had difficulty thinking of as his mother, despite the fact they shared a strong resemblance. At their first meeting, he’d recognized the truth he’d tried to deny in his heart. The woman he’d called his mother all his life, Estelle Lambert—wasn’t. The queen’s tall, robust figure, pale complexion, and stern features were a mirror of his own. Today, dressed in a long, dark green gown with a high, embroidered collar and starched cuffs, she looked every inch a monarch.

“It shouldn’t take this long,” he grumbled. “She doesn’t want to come.”

“Then you should command her,” she said with a brisk nod.

He shot her a baleful glance. This was one of many things they’d argued about over the past weeks. “Well, I handled it my own way. Don’t interfere.”

She sniffed. “Your wishes should be acceded to without question. However odd they may be,” she said, nodding again.

“Mother, everyone has free will.”

“You are the king, whether you call yourself one or not. The people insisted on retaining this custom—and on looking to you for guidance.”

“I’m no king. Hell, I can’t command myself. What do I know about diplomacy or governing? I was a grunt in the Army—a non-com, at that.”

She shook her head. “You confuse me with your manner of speech. But you are wrong—look at what you have accomplished. A treaty with the Gracktiles! Never would I have thought it possible to sit at a table and negotiate with those creatures.”

“The trick, mom,” he said just to annoy her, “was figuring out why they wanted these worlds in the first place. They need the minerals we mine—we need their markets. If you’d ever bothered to ask—” He broke off when he saw her lips press together to suppress a smile.

“Already, you sound like a king, my dear.”

The sound of booted feet marching in the outer hall brought his gaze to the tall, wooden doors. “Well, watch this king grovel,” he muttered.

The door opened and a contingent of the castle guard entered. At their center strode Marika, her slim straight figure held rigid, her eyes blazing. She was in a magnificent rage. Good! Let her stew in her juices for a minute or two more after the merry chase she’d led him. His gaze drank her in, thirsty for the sight. It had been too long since he’d last seen her aboard her small spaceship.

“You!” she cried out, halting five paces away from him when a guard lowered his laser-lance to halt her progress.

Etienne waved the man back and folded his arms over his chest, staring at her, absorbing the fact that at last she was here.

Marika cast a scathing glance at the guard, and then turned to Etienne.

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