Daisy whispered worriedly, “What will you do?”

  He snorted angrily, “My duty. I won’t betray my oaths or my knighthood just because the king is a total dick on occasion just like every other human in existence. You can tell him I said that. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the current crisis and prevent the Kingdom being embroiled in war. Which seems a whole lot more important than hiding what is private between Princess Daniella and I, for anyone sane that is.”

  His magic surged, and he disappeared in a flash. Interstellar distances were beyond him, but he could teleport himself and maybe a few others anywhere within a star system, just using his own magic. As long as he had the coordinates or was intimately familiar with the space. He only needed the large amplifier when jumping the ship.

  The living room of his suite appeared around him.

  “So, any new developments?”

  Riesa said, “You moved the ship?”

  He nodded, “It’s out of play. The enemy is depending on chaos and misdirection, and that simply won’t hold for as long as it would take for them to reach the ship’s current location.”

  Assuming of course, none of their wizards could teleport a ship, and there were no blessed with those four fleets. Still, it was six light minutes away and hidden behind a moon, it was likely the ships wouldn’t be able to detect where Daisy was in the system even with active scans, which made the other points moot.

  Leanne said, “I haven’t been able to get in touch with Calvin either. We’re not sure what’s going on.”

  Right, and he’d just moved their only information source out of the area, so Daisy would have no idea how the shuttles or home fleets were reacting, no more than the fleets could see her.

  He said as much.

  Daisy said, “That’s not entirely true, I may have released a probe, passive sensors only. The fleet hasn’t moved, and the armored shuttles are returning to the military space station they launched from.”

  Well, that was something at least, and good thinking.

  “Good work.”

  There was a firm triple knock on the door, and the three of them looked that way warily. The time of the banquet was approaching, but they still had almost thirty minutes before it was supposed to officially start.

  Riesa pulled her force spell device and moved to answer the door, and his mind had his magic at the ready, just in case. But he doubted one of their enemies or an assassin would knock on the door.

  There were two security guards outside, and they held their rifles casually and pointed in a safe direction.

  One said, “I’m corporal Linval, and this is private Banks. We’re to escort you to the prelate and Cleric Calvin. The comms are all fouled up, and they may be compromised as well.”

  Truth, and he sensed no deception, not even a shade of it.

  “Lead on, Corporal.”

  He turned and started down the hallway, while the private waited for them all to pass and took up the rear. They were taken to the security corridor, and into a room he’d never seen before. It looked like the Temple’s command center.

  Aria waved them over.

  “Thanks for moving your ship, that was clever, and I don’t think they expected it.”

  “Do we know what’s going on?”

  Calvin frowned, but the prelate answered.

  “Partially, they used my own cleverness against me. I kept the negotiations private between us, instead of letting aides in. Partially to avoid long sessions of political posturing, and partially to keep my opponents in the government ignorant of the specifics of my plans. But that, in addition to our private breakfasts, is biting me in the ass.

  “The fleets coming in say the peace is false, and that because of my foolishness and naivety I gave you the opportunity to gain control over me with magic. The four fleets are being led by Archbishops James, Jezebel, Santos, and Luke. They are the most rabid of the expansionists, and they lust for power not the glory of the goddess, so I’m not surprised. They each brought one fleet from their worlds, and they’re saying they’re here to stop this travesty, kill you, and rescue me. So at least we know who’s been sabotaging us and trying to kill you the last ten days, but it doesn’t help us right now.

  “I can only assume they planned to seize your ship and do something destructive with it, to back up the idea that you’re truly our enemy.

  “No doubt they plan for that rescue to go wrong, and they’ll blame you for killing me. The worst part of it all is their story is at least plausible and quite devious. It’s causing doubts even among my supporters, and although I’ve given orders to the three home fleets to stop them, I fear some of them may disobey the orders, thinking I’m under your thrall and trying to start a civil war. They won’t want to fire on our sister ships, and I have to agree with that sentiment.

  “Anyway, their mentally demoralizing lies are creating confusion and doubt, and their local moles have made communications difficult and are likely compromised as well. The only way I can prove it’s a lie, is to show them the records of our meetings. That magic wasn’t used and there was no struggle where I was overcome. But I can’t transmit any video right now, and by the time we get it fixed this will be all over.”

  Right, so they were fucked, is what she was saying. They were lying big and outrageously, and using misdirection and fear, and a whole lot of chaos on the ground. It was an extremely effective strategy, and he couldn’t help but feel a little admiration for the bold plan they’d hatched.

  “Can we transmit it in the clear, from another facility? I’d have to think, once their lies are revealed their own ships and people will mutiny and take them into custody. Then you can question them, root out the moles, and put the whole damned group to death for insurrection and heresy.”

  Calvin scowled, “Only the temple has the military encryption. Everyone would see it, including the civilians.”

  He shrugged, “Is that a bad thing? That sounds better than fighting a civil war with half her side abandoning her in doubt in confusion that she’s really in command. Especially when her side is outnumbered four to three already. The soldiers on those ships are innocent too, and they shouldn’t be sacrificed just to keep a secret and likely would let the opposition get away with the first coup in the Grand Communion’s long history.”

  Aria said, “He’s right, it would turn it around, and their side would start to defect to mine in droves, as well as stiffening the spine of our home fleets. We have two and a half hours to make it happen.”

  Leanne said, “They may fight anyway, with what forces they can hold onto. They’ll know as soon as you question them, their true plans will be revealed.”

  Right, they couldn’t just turn around and say, “Oops, sorry. We were wrong,” and then go back home. It’d be consistent with their lies, and throw doubt on the whole thing, but only until they came before Aria.

  He tilted his head, as he considered an alternate possibility that would cover Calvin’s objection, “What about the military space stations, they should have the military encryption, right? Just send someone up with the video records and transmit from there instead.”

  Calvin shook his head, “No, the prelate will have to give orders and demand the four archbishops be taken into custody and the four invading fleets stand down after the video plays. She’ll need to do it live, to answer questions if there are any, and taking her up to a space station that may be compromised is not a good idea. She’ll likely want to preface the video as well, to explain its purpose.”

  He grunted, then waved, “I didn’t think of that, so that leaves open transmission from a civilian facility as the only answer to prevent civil war and… losing. The spaceport, maybe?”

  Aria nodded, “Well do that. Get that footage on a portable drive.”

  Calvin replied, “Yes, prelate,” and nodded at one of the people on the consoles.

  Leanne said in a worried voice, “What if the archbishops have ordered radio silence, or just ignore the transmissions. If their crews don’t hear it, then they won’t know they’re following evil orders and lies.”

  He blew out a breath, “Then at the very least the home fleets will be reassured she is in control of herself and of her own will, and we’ll have a chance at fighting back. Especially if the military space stations hear it too, which should partially make up for the extra fleet the enemy has.”

  If it came down to a fight, it’d be close, he thought. Even if the four fleets did gain the orbitals, that was no guarantee they had enough ground troops to secure the temple. There were a lot of security guards in the city and in the temple itself.

  Aria nodded sadly, “Hopefully that won’t happen. When I find the moles, and get my hands on those archbishops, they will rue the day their mothers opened their legs. I won’t be sentencing them to death, their punishments will be far worse than that, and they will endure it for as long as I can keep them alive,” she finished angrily.

  Calvin coughed to cover a startled laugh.

  As for him, he was rather used to her occasional earthy statements, and had heard far worse from her lips. In a good way. She was also kind of hot when angry and exercising her authority, but he didn’t dare think it too hard, much less say it out loud.

  The technician got up and handed a small data drive to Calvin. The meeting and agreement they’d reached had actually been rather short if he remembered correctly, twenty minutes at most.

  It would also be a little embarrassing, since the king would no doubt see how casually he’d taken it, and how he had worked with Aria in a rather open and straightforward way. He’d even, if he remembered right, said he’d been partially compromised by Aria’s gift to seek a treaty and get her what she wanted.

  Shit, his homecoming was going to suck, if this worked and they didn’t all die horribly, that is. Of course, he hadn’t betrayed his oaths, and he’d sought equality in the treaty. But King Andros would be pissed that he hadn’t fought for advantage in the treaty, and that he hadn’t taken advantage of her weaker position and need to make it happen for her own future rule and past promises.

  All on top of the fact the king was already furious with him for defiling his daughter.

  He shook his head, it was what it was, and he was proud of how he’d handled it.

  Carlos said, “Give me ten minutes to organize a few companies to secure the spaceport, and we’ll move out.”

  Aria nodded her agreement.

  Chapter Fifteen – Interlude

  The servants blanched and moved to the side of the hallway or scurried away like frightened bugs, as Princess Daniella, heir to the throne, stalked down the hallways of the palace. She was pissed.

  She remembered rolling her eyes when Dacen had worked out that code system with her, before he’d left the planet months ago. So he could let her know if his attempt at a coverup was about to fail. Her father was being an unreasonable jackass, and she needed to deal with it.

  Because a compelled testimony entered into the public record would be a disaster.

  She entered her father’s conference room with a scowl, and her angry voice was barely a whisper.

  “Clear the room, now.”

  All her father’s advisors looked at her worriedly, then to the king. When Andros didn’t object, they all fled the room.

  She let the magic flow through her, as she threw up a spell that would ensure their privacy. No sound would pass through the walls, and no listening device including the comm equipment in the room would operate.

  Andros asked, “What is this about, that has you so on edge?”

  She sighed in frustration, “Father, I know of your plans. Leave Dacen alone, I’ve told you that. He is more loyal than we deserve, and the only knight I trust completely as a friend, companion, and guard.”

  The king shook his head, “It’s not that simple. I know you don’t wish me to learn the truth, but he is hiding something. He as much admitted it, when Daisy tried to get to the bottom of it.”

  She snorted, “Under your orders. Drop it father, you really don’t want to know, and it has nothing to do with the security of our kingdom, or his loyalty.”

  Andros shook his head, “You’re naïve, Dani. You may just be assuming what he’s hiding, there may be more to it than even you know.”

  She kind of lost it then, and yelled, “He is protecting my honor, and preserving my dignity for my future rule of this Star-Kingdom.”

  Andros stood up and had a look of angry disbelief in your eyes, “How could you say he’s protecting your honor, after what he did to you.”

  She laughed angrily, “Because I begged him to do it. Because I was the one that seduced him, months before we were caught that day. I practically raped him, father, that first time, and begged him to teach me how to be a good lover, and how to please a man. I also wanted to know what I should expect from a man who would take good care of me that way as well, who would be a generous lover, and he very much has that reputation. We’d been fucking like rabbits for months when we were caught that day by the servant.”

  Andros’s face drained of color, and he sat heavily in his chair.

  She wasn’t exaggerating either, she’d snuck into his quarters wearing nothing but robes, and had removed them and slipped into his bed naked, while he’d still been asleep. He’d been very resistant at first, but she was fairly sure her beauty and the fact she’d been stroking his cock, if poorly that first time, had convinced him. Her arguments for it had been half wheedling and begging, and half spoiled princess.

  He hadn’t stood a chance. She knew she was a rare beauty, and her petite supple body was perfect in proportion for its size, and quite sexy. Not to mention deliciously nubile, as only an eighteen year old woman’s body could be.

  She continued, “I didn’t want to have to explain this to my own father, for obvious reasons, but you leave me no choice. He is my best friend, and in some ways, I love him dearly. I almost wish he did want to marry me, but I don’t think he believes he deserves me in that way. Regardless, that’s what he’s been keeping a secret. If word got out that I’d seduced and practically raped one of my knights, I’d be disgraced. He begged me to take the blame on himself to spare me the shame and tittering of the nobility, and he just shrugged it off and said he’d seduced me because I was drunk.

  “Which wasn’t technically a lie, because I did get drunk that day, and he was… very seductive to calm and excite me. I was a little nervous about… anal sex, but I wanted to experience it at least once, and it was my idea.”

  She blushed a little harder then, and she kept the next thought to herself. Because she’d really liked it. His cock had felt amazing in her ass, and it didn’t hurt as she’d feared at all. Just a delicious burning sensation mixing with pleasurable tingling as he’d slid in and out with authority. She was one of the few rare women that could physically get real and overwhelming pleasure from the act.

  Mentally, she’d never felt sexier, dirtier, or naughtier, as she wantonly submitted to his aggressive ass pounding and claiming. She still got hot, just thinking about it, and often stroked one out while fantasizing about taking that fat cock in her ass again.

  She also loved him far more than she’d implied, it was bad enough what she had to admit, and she wasn’t about to also admit she was pining for him in the private moments. He was her knight, in her mind, and her best friend. But she knew she couldn’t have him, so in the end there was no point in revealing that vulnerability as well.

  Her father was silent.

  “Well, father? Will you question him only to disgrace me for all time, or will you drop it now? My shame will be an official part of the records for my children and children’s children to see, I can’t abide that.”

  “Months?”

  She sighed, “Yes, father. We had to be careful, and there was a lot for him to teach me. He did not stint on my education. Once wasn’t enough to make me… an accomplished lover, and there were many things and different ways...” she trailed off, then said angrily, “Gods, father, I don’t want to explain this to you, use your imagination.”

  He shook his head, “Why was that so important to you, your future husband could’ve taken care of…” he trailed off and waved his hand awkwardly.

  She sighed, “I don’t know. Lots of reasons. A part of me wanted to seduce him, as I said he’s my best friend, and I had a crush on him in my early teens. The rumors and his reputation had me curious as well. A part of me hoped I might convince him to court me for real, a part of me was just curious about sexuality, and a part of me was intimidated and afraid of going to my future husband’s bed without a clue on what was expected. Now I know how to take care of a man needs, and I’ll know if he’s selfish in the bedroom, and how to correct it if he his.

  “Dacen also makes me feel safe, and he was the right one for me to learn from and experience it all for the first time.”

  He asked, “You love him?”

  She bit her lip, “Yes, but I know I can’t have him. He’s… emotionally unavailable, and he suffers from a lack of self-esteem. But he’s honorable, the best friend anyone could have, and loyal past what’s reasonable. He also appears confident, you know?”

  He sighed, “Very well, I’ll retract my orders. You should’ve come to me sooner, and at least told me alone, but I can understand why you didn’t. We won’t speak of this again.”

  She curtseyed, “Yes, your majesty.”

  He snorted, “Now I’m your majesty?”

  She smirked teasingly. As if to say, of course he was, now that she’d gotten her way. She wasn’t really that spoiled, but she did have a mischievous sense of humor that wasn’t always strictly speaking, appropriate. One that tried her father’s patience at times and pushed the edges of proper royal deportment. Fortunately, she was just eighteen, and her father was still a relatively young forty-five, so she expected she’d be a princess heir for a great many years to come.