Michaela (9 page)

“I suppose. I’ll ask.”

Michaela wasn’t sure how she felt about being chaperoned. How could she and the clan explore intimacy with Jessica around? Did Michaela even want intimacy since it would give the three men ample opportunity to discover they didn’t want her after all?

Maybe they didn’t want to have sex with her again. That might be why they were suggesting a babysitter. Having Jessica with them all the time would ensure nothing else sexual would happen. Yet the way all three men looked at her – especially Raxstad – seemed to indicate they did want her.

Michaela had no clue how the situation would turn out. The encounter in the garden had muddied the waters when it came to figuring out how Clan Korkla felt about her. This morning’s confusing mix of hope and dread were back in full force.

Chapter 5

By the time evening and her chaperoned date rolled around, Michaela’s nerves had settled somewhat. As she walked between Govi and Korkla, she felt extraordinarily good. She’d come up with an amazing dance for the Coming of Age Festival, rehearsal for it had gone well, and she wore her dark purple dress. The deep aubergine of the fabric made her cappuccino skin glow. The cut minimized her wide shoulders and turned her figure into an hourglass. She’d put on her wig, which gave her long corkscrew curls to the waist. Her own hair would have the same spirals once it grew out. Michaela felt both pretty and happy, especially after Raxstad’s strangled groan when he saw her dressed for their date.

Jessica had agreed to come along. Normally, Michaela would have felt self-conscious with her elfin-featured friend. Jessica was the epitome of what a petite female could look like in the intersex’s opinion. The former nurse was as lovely as ever, but she had come along dressed in a long skirt, flat-heeled shoes, and a nondescript blouse. Michaela thought Jessica had taken great pains to not upstage her tonight. She felt beyond grateful to her friend.

It didn’t hurt that Korkla’s clan, while polite and pleasant to Jessica, reserved most of their attention for Michaela. They complimented both women, but their most lavish praise went to their official date. Michaela basked in it after reassuring herself Jessica didn’t seem to mind being the odd woman out. For her part, Jessica was cheerful. She even refocused the conversation on Michaela when one of the men spoke to her. She seemed determined that the limelight would remain on the younger woman.

Michaela was even more delighted to discover the eatery Korkla’s clan took them to was one of the best in the unnamed capital city. The Saucin’s home had a staff that made exquisite dishes, but they reflected Israla’s preference for simple cuisine with few seasonings. Michaela looked forward to something a bit more elaborate to treat her palate to.

The night was cool, but the Kalquorians steered the two women towards the outdoor dining area of the restaurant. Michaela didn’t mind, not with the beautiful scenery of Plasius’ second sun setting, turning the sky a stunning lavender-streaked purple. A massive firepit in the center of the dining area was in full flame, sending warmth out in all directions and making the stone-walled area cozy. As usual, Govi had to take a picture of it. The man was a fiend for snapshots.

Michaela’s nose twitched at the scent of food wafting her way. Her dance rehearsal with Jessica had been strenuous, and she was ready to pig out. She hoped Clan Korkla had plenty of credit for the amount of eating she wanted to do.

A stone arch marked the entrance to the outdoor dining area. Govi tugged Michaela towards it. “The service here is good. You don’t have to wait long for your food.”

That made Michaela’s yawning pit of a stomach happy. The faster she could shovel calories in, the happier she was going to be.

Behind her, Raxstad snickered. “A smart business practice, considering how the Plasians are.”

Lighting globes were tethered over each table, but there were plenty of shadowed spaces dotting the courtyard-like area. The occasional moan could be heard from the darkest corners. Some of the amorous race were enjoying more carnal treats, Michaela thought.

Govi laughed quietly. He said, “If they have to wait too long, baser appetites take hold.” The next moment, he stopped short. “That’s not a good sign.”

Everyone looked in the direction of his gaze. In the flickering firelight and muted glow of the sky and globes, Michaela saw a lone Kalquorian sitting near the firepit. On his table sat a glass and the biggest bottle of booze she’d ever seen. The solitary Kalquorian had already made quite a dent in its rust-colored contents. More than half had been consumed.

Jessica said, “Is that Prince Egilka?”

The royal had an expression that could have been either anger or misery. “He doesn’t look very happy,” Michaela said, feeling like an idiot for stating the obvious. Yet she’d seen that expression in the mirror before. Someone needed to check on the upset Imdiko prince.

She saw the worry in Korkla and Govi’s exchanged looks. “Do you want to make sure he’s okay?” she prodded them.

Korkla seemed relieved that she understood. “If you don’t mind. Thank you.”

The Dramok released her hand to lead them to the prince’s table. Sharp-featured Egilka noted their approach and drained his glass, as if he needed the strength for the coming conversation. His eyes were hectic as he noticed his fellow Kalquorians first.

“Hello Korkla, Govi, Raxstad,” he said in a bereft yet familiar tone. Then he noticed Michaela and Jessica. His voice went harsh. “Both of them?”

Raxstad had moved to Michaela’s side, and she felt the massive Nobek stiffen. His hand lightly touched her back, as if to apologize for the disdainful curl of Prince Egilka’s lips as he looked the women over.

Korkla reddened a little, as if touched by anger. His tone remained respectful, however. “Jessica is our chaperone this evening, my prince.”

Michaela was shaken by the apparent dislike on the Imdiko’s face. She’d have thought it might be because of her freakish body, except Egilka looked at Jessica the same way.

She leaned to whisper in her friend’s ear. “What do you think is wrong with him? Besides the drinking.”

In an equally low tone, Jessica murmured, “Bevau said he and Clajak had an argument.”

Egilka’s glare froze Michaela before she could ask what the princes’ disagreement had been about. Even though the Imdiko’s anger seemed to be directed at Jessica, Michaela hardly dared to breathe.

Egilka’s tone was equally icy. “Apparently, you’re not aware of the excellence of Kalquorian hearing. What were you doing with Bevau,
Earther
?”

Jessica didn’t seem impressed with his withering tone. “The better question is, what didn’t I do with him? For your information, he was quite happy with my company. Whatever your issues, don’t take them out on me,
Kalquorian
.”

Govi put his hand on Jessica’s shoulder to quiet her. In a diplomatic tone, he asked, “Is there anything we can do to help you, my prince?”

Egilka stopped staring at Jessica. He poured himself another drink with an unsteady hand. Angst peeked out once more through his ire. “They took my funding away. All my work is dead. Now I’m supposed to happily hand over the future of our people to
her
and those like her.” His aggrieved look went to Jessica once more.

Michaela couldn’t imagine why the prince’s animosity was directed at Jessica. She looked at her friend to see her reaction.

Jessica’s elfin face was wreathed in the sweetest smile imaginable. Michaela knew that look for what it was: trouble. Big trouble. Jessica’s formidable temper had come to full boil, and she was about to get nasty. Michaela knew nothing stopped that woman once she got rolling.

She groaned, “Oh shit,” and braced herself.

In a voice that would have charmed the Holy Leader out of his white robes, Jessica said, “Prince Egilka? Are all your kind assholes, with a few like Bevau the exception to the rule?”

Egilka stared at Jessica with his mouth hanging wide open. Michaela’s heart sank as her friend turned to her, blue eyes sparking with fury. “Sorry, Michaela. I’m not sticking around to be insulted by this
gurluck
. Have a nice dinner.”

Jessica swung around and stormed out of the courtyard. Michaela noted that now all four men stared after Jessica with their mouths gaping in shock. It would have been funny except Egilka’s face had gone almost as purple as his eyes. Michaela saw that the Imdiko prince was furious.

His fangs unhinged, peeking out from behind his regular teeth. “Did that little – did she just call me—?”

Korkla’s cry of, “My prince, wait,” went ignored. Egilka was out of his chair and racing from the courtyard in an instant, his long ponytail streaming behind him like a war banner.

Michaela stared after him. Was he chasing Jessica? Worried for her friend and the prince’s state of mind, she asked, “Should we go after them?”

Korkla’s clan looked uncertainly at each other. Raxstad came to a quick decision. “I’ll make sure it’s all right.”

He hurried off. Meanwhile, two Plasian males had already begun cleaning the table Egilka had been sitting at. They smilingly indicated Korkla’s party should use it.

The Dramok shrugged at Govi and Michaela. “I guess we may as well sit down. It’s a good spot near the firepit. You are warm enough, aren’t you?” He drew out a chair for Michaela, which Govi guided her into.

“I’m fine, thanks.” She shook her head over the recent drama. “Jessica and that temper. She’s the best friend anyone could have, but make her mad and you’d better look out. What’s a gurluck anyway? Is it bad?”

Govi coughed as he sat down on one side of her. Korkla sat on the other side. He started laughing hard. After a moment, Govi joined him.

After a couple of seconds, Korkla recovered from the hilarity. “It is very bad, little one. It refers to a man who forces himself on his mother. You can’t get uglier than that.”

As Michaela digested that, Raxstad returned. He smiled at her, but it was a tight expression. “No sign of either of them. I’m sure it will be all right.”

Govi snickered, still amused. “Even drunk, Prince Egilka would never harm a woman. Nothing could be farther from his nature. Even one that called him what Jessica just did couldn’t convince him to seek retribution.”

Raxstad snorted at the humor of the situation. “I doubt Egilka has ever been called that. Did you see the look on his face?”

The men were overcome with another round of chuckles. Their expressions moved between disbelieving horror and amusement.

Korkla chortled, “Not even Clajak has ever shocked him so badly.”

Michaela remained worried for Jessica. “You don’t think he’ll do anything bad to Jessica, do you? He looked pretty mad.”

Korkla patted her hand. “At the worst, he might spank her. Nothing any more extreme than that.”

Michaela’s jaw dropped. “A spanking? She’s not a child.”

Raxstad crooked an eyebrow. “She misbehaves like one. If I was Egilka, that’s how I would handle her. A good bare-handed spanking until her bottom turns red would cool some of that fire.”

He said it like it was the most reasonable solution in the world. Looking at the burly Nobek, Michaela visualized herself laid over his meaty thighs, his huge hand coming down on her naked ass. Her cock twitched as her pussy tickled to life.

What the hell?

Trying to distract herself from the image in her head, Michaela said, “So, here we are with no chaperone after all.”

Korkla nodded. “So it would seem.” He looked to the clan’s Imdiko. “Shall we have dinner anyway?”

“I suppose it’s all right.” Govi gave Raxstad a mock-severe glare. “Are you in control of your lusts, my Nobek?”

“Put food in front of me, and I suppose I’ll be sufficiently distracted for a few minutes.” Raxstad grinned at Michaela.

She returned the leer, but she felt shaky. She couldn’t get the thought of Raxstad spanking her out of her head. The intersex had no doubt her skirt was tented beneath the concealment of the table they sat at. Why was the idea of corporeal punishment turning her on?

Fortunately, a Plasian came to collect their food order. Michaela concentrated on that, making note as well of what the men ordered. She was hungry anyway, and anticipating her meal helped quell her ridiculous libido. By the time the waiter moved away, she felt in control once more.

Govi turned his attention to her. “Michaela, I’m curious. How did you escape discovery on Earth? How did it happen you were delivered by a doctor who didn’t expose your existence?”

Michaela took a sip of the shel the waiter had brought to their table before answering. “My parents were relief workers, and they were stationed on the island of Haiti after two hurricanes blew through within a couple of weeks of each other. The devastation was so bad, they lived there for several years.”

“From what I’ve been able to learn, hermaphroditism can be caused by genetic factors. It’s rare everywhere, but it happened in this one village often enough that intersex people there were called ‘the third gender’. Many villagers accepted it without prejudice. They considered it their duty to hide such people from the government as a way to reject the Church’s edict to euthanize them. Haiti was no friend of the government. I was lucky to be born there.”