Thread: The Space Between The Stars (A Corsair/Mim Adventure)

Yusra you could at least pretend to be excited. The Queen Mother fussed over the princess's doek, despite having been shooed away multiple times. Yusra fumed and batted at her hands again. Oh yes, I am so excited to be sold into slavery by my own brother, she snapped irritably, scowling. He is doing what is right for our people. Her own mother, the Queen Consort, smoothed down a few wrinkles in her dress and adjusted her jewelry. You should jump at the opportunity to be an instrument of peace. He is doing what is right for him, she argued, with no regard for my happiness whatsoever. Now that's not fair, Yuyu. King Adjatay Zambarau Njiwa poked his head in to ensure everyone was decent before coming in and putting his hands on her shoulders. I want what's best for my little sister. Half sister she thought bitterly, but was wise enough not to say aloud. Why is everyone touching me? she demanded, waving them all away. Stop touching me! Mamakutomba! Her screeching was loud enough to wake her companion. Even if it hadn't been, the bottle of perfume flying through the projection and shattering against the wall would have been. Yusra shrugged off the hands on her shoulders and reached for a vase, only to have those same strong hands grip her wrists. They won't stop showing it! she shrieked, tears of anger leaving shining rivers along her cheeks before falling from her chin onto the blanket. Well it's supposed to be good news. Bomani carefully pried the vase from her grip and set it back on the nightstand and gathered her up into his arms. It could work out to your advantage, you know. I don't see how. Yusra allowed herself to relax against his chest. ...That my sister, Princess Yusra Rusayla Quosi, shall be wed to Pri-- With a flick of Bomani's hand the projection was gone, cutting off the image of their king standing with the king of the Hyades Commonwealth, before he tightened his grip around her to prevent her from lashing out again. I'll tear his lungs out, she growled between her teeth, her nails pressing painfully into his ribs. I'll tear his skin off and have it tanned into leather to upholster my throne! I'll-- Perhaps, he interrupted cautiously, marriage to the Hyadean prince could be fortuitous. Once again you offer optimism without telling me exactly how , she complained, pushing away from him and out of his grip but not reaching for anything else to throw. She sat back on her feet and crossed her arms. Well? Well... he offered, leaning toward her with a smile. Yusra couldn't help but smile back as he crawled up her body, forcing her to lean farther and father back until she was laying beneath him on the bed. If you marry him, he settled himself between her legs and kissed her decolletage, and he happens to die in some accident with your brothers, he kissed her neck, that leaves you not only queen of the Milky Way... a kiss landed on her shoulder, and the Pleides... another on her throat, and Betelgeuse... he pressed a long, slow, warm kiss to her lips. It leaves you, the tragic widow and grieving sister, as also queen of the mzungu and all of their holdings. Yusra inclined her head to the side, both to allow him better access to her neck and to concede that he had a point. He has siblings who would kill me the first chance they got, she pointed out. And it would be suspicious if they, too, just so happened to be involved in the same accident. Study their inheritance laws, he suggested, his tip rubbing against her slit teasingly. I'll bet you all of the stars in the sky if you already had an heir there would be nothing for it. Your heir, I'm sure. She arched an eyebrow and he smiled bashfully but didn't deny it. Breeding stock, is that all I am to you? You are my queen, he murmured, taking one dark nipple into his mouth. And I-- He jumped when the door flew open, but didn't move. Aren't you taking the title of body guard a bit too literally? Chief Gatimu looked thoroughly unimpressed. Where better to guard her body? Bomani smiled charmingly before bending to kiss her neck. You can guard her just as well out in the hallway. Gatimu waited as the guard looked at the princess, who sighed and gestured toward the door with her chin, then got up to dress and leave. He's in love with you, he said once the door was closed. That isn't news. Yusra sat up and folded her arms across her breasts. This had better be good. This had better be fucking worth it, she snarled, walking down a hallway flanked by her brothers. Yusra's nipples pressed against her dress in the freezing hallway. Most of the Stellar Union, not to mention all of the Heyadeans, were mzungu and seemed incapable of handling even the slightest amount of heat. It was as though they were all trying to recreate their original habitat on Old Earth, with no consideration for others. Not helping matters was the fact that everything was marble, steel, and chrome without a tapestry or rug in sight, so even the walls and floors felt so cold you might stick to them. The lives of our people are worth it, Okot assured her, squeezing her shoulder. Give him a chance, Yuyu. You may even come to love him some day. Says the man who chose his own wives, she snapped back. Her brothers cared for her and she knew that...but they didn't know what it was like, being the youngest, the secondary heir...the girl. Is it true they only have one? One what? Adjatay sounded alarmed and raised his eyebrows. One wife, idiot. Oh that. Yes, that's true. It was Yusra's turn for alarm. So if I don't like him I can't take another husband? she demanded. Neither brother said anything, but continued to walk. This isn't fair! What right do they have--! It would complicate their inheritance laws, Okot explained calmly. And they-- Rassclaat, she hissed, clenching her fists. Yes, sister, he replied wearily, leaning down to kiss her temple. Very attractive. You're one to talk about attractive, she spat, marrying me off to a mzungu leper. Are you just going to wait until he figures out that mzungu isn't exactly complimentary, or are you going to start getting out of the habit now? Okot was the long-suffering middle sibling, used to playing referee. He had no doubt that role would continue between his sister and her future husband. Or do you even care? Nope! What do you mean, no? Yusra's hand itched to hurl the vase again but she refrained, clenching it instead into a fist. I mean no, Chief Gatimu reiterated. The other tribes won't serve a mzungu king. Well he won't be king, will he? she snapped. They listen to you, Gatimu. Where the Nuhutu go the rest follow. I'm trying the best I can, he sighed, shrugging and putting his hands out to his sides, but there is only so much I can do. It is difficult to convince anyone to follow you when they don't know who will be king, if the Heyadean won't be. Most especially my own men. His hand began to drift to his belt, but Yusra was too quick. She produced a knife from Gods only knew where and it was at his throat before his hand could complete its journey to his belt where his own weapon was sheathed. His cock twitched as the cold steel kissed his throat and her bare body pressed against him. Then I think you had better try harder, she snarled. If we can't count on your men, we can't count on anybody, can we? As I said, he replied calmly, setting his hands on her hips and walking her back toward the bed slowly, it's difficult when they don't know who will be king. What does someone like, say, a body guard know about leading a people? You want to be my primary husband? Yusra laughed, grabbing his middle and turning them so that it was he who landed on his back on the bed. Gatimu didn't seem to mind too much, even as she kept the knife to his throat while straddling him. What makes you think I like you enough for that? Her slit left his pants damp as she ground against his dick. Because you like me enough for this, he shrugged, gripping her hips and enjoying the undulating motion as she moved on him, the thrill of danger as the knife left a paper-fine nick in his skin. And because without the Nuhutu army your support will collapse. I hate you, Gatimu. He smiled. And I hate you, my queen. He made a noise against her lips as she crushed them against his and her free hand began tugging at the waist of his pants. You hate me, Yusra whispered, peering out the curtain at the crowd, half of which was sickly pale. I love you, Adjatay countered. And we both love our people. Just remember it's for our people. As she walked down the aisle, one brother on each arm, Yusra caught sight of the only man who didn't look like a leper in the entire opposing party. Her heart rose just a little and she smiled at him, hopeful that maybe her brother did care enough for her to not wed her to a mzungu prince. But it fell again as they reached the end and Okot kissed her temple and Adjatay gave her hands to a pale man who might have possibly been handsome if he hadn't been so sickly looking. Even a tinge of melanin would have been preferable to this. Truly he was wedding her to a leper. She took a deep breath and gave him the biggest smile she could muster, which was barely one at all. Even as the neutral party official began to speak she kept glancing over her intended's shoulder, to the Pleidan who had accompanied him. To accompany a prince he must be at least a noble of some sort--or whatever their primitive society had instead of nobles--so he could perhaps be of use for informational purposes if nothing else. We're gathered here, the Stellar Union official announced, his voice amplified in the large, circular space, to recognize the betrothal and intent to marry of the Princess of the Pleides Kingdom and the Prince of the Hyades Commonwealth. With the treaty already signed, and their union, there shall be peace between these two planetary kingdoms. A cheer rose from the crowd before he could continue. Last edited Aug 20, 2018