Plus, she only let it out with immediate family, and those she trusted. Normally she was the soul of courtesy and a proper princess down to her toes, in public anyway.

  He just sighed and waved, “You have my leave to go.”

  “Thank you, father,” and she let the spells for privacy go, and then left with alacrity. She just hoped her face wasn’t still a bright red, it hadn’t been easy telling her father any of that. If she hasn’t been so steaming mad she’d have never managed it, which is why she’d nursed her ire and fanned the flames of it on the way there.

  He was right though, she should’ve told him in private earlier, if only for Dacen’s sake. Just because he’d taken the blame in public for her sake, didn’t mean he had to take her father’s blame and censure too.

  She’d have to find a way to make it up to him. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn’t be by giving him her ass again, to her disappointment. Not that she’d become an ass slut or anything, but their several month-long tryst had gotten her used to experiencing the pleasures of the bedchamber several times a week for relief and fun, and unlike all the other positions and holes they’d only done that one once. Pleasures that she could no longer experience until her father had married her off. For one, she didn’t trust anyone else in the peerage to care about her reputation and keep the secrets, and in truth Dacen was the only man she really wanted to feel those pleasures of the flesh with in the first place.

  So, she was understandably on edge lately, and totally wearing out her toys recently…

  Daisy was happy in the moment, despite the seriousness of the situation. Dacen had snapped at her several times over the last few days, and she couldn’t help but think of it as progress, toward him healing. He was letting his frustration and anger show, at least at times, which was something he’d never done before. That made her believe his statements that he was working through his resentment and pain were true, and not just another attempt to blow her off.

  She’d hoped his steps forward in healing, and in forgiving her, would’ve been ones of cooperation and a new understanding together. But she also loved him enough to be happy to see any progress at all, even if it was through them being at loggerheads to get there. Maybe it had to be that way, and he wouldn’t be able to forgive her until he’d gotten through it all and was healthy of heart and mind.

  She was also happy because the king had just cancelled his orders. She had to say she was curious about that, and really wanted to know what the princess could’ve said to change her father’s mind that quickly. Dacen had only sent the message twenty minutes ago. Whatever it was, she was confident Dacen’s loyalty was secure, which mean they had plenty of time to figure the rest out.

  Aria took a deep breath and composed herself. It’d taken almost a half an hour to secure the space port and get her into one of the communications rooms.

  “To the fleets and all other military personnel. Shortly I will be transmitting in the clear, my negotiations with Celestial Knight Dacen Black in their entirety, including our entrance to the rooms. I am ordering you to play this message in its entirety throughout your ships and space stations, and I imagine the public will also be watching as the news channels will no doubt pick it up.

  “In the clear, because heretics have sabotaged the temple, in an attempt to keep you all confused and guessing, and to prevent me from transmitting this very proof which will reveal what you’ve been told as the vile heretical lies they are. The four archbishops in those fleets are guilty of conspiracy, insurrection, and they are also heretics. They would have you believe it is a false peace.

  “Yet this peace will spread our church onto the twenty-two worlds of the Moiroi Kingdom without a single man or woman of faith giving their lives. We are all willing to die for the glory of our goddess, but those deaths and launching invasions wouldn’t be for the goddess. The goddess is pleased with the spread of the Grand Communion church.

  “She cares little for our human governments, that are for us only, to keep order and to protect our people. She certainly doesn’t want you to die for the vile heretics who only wish to expand the government by spending your lives and claiming other worlds falsely in her name.

  “So I urge you to follow this order, and the truth shall set you free, and erase your current doubts that my mind and will aren’t my own. Those vile rumors will not live when the truth comes and destroys them.

  “I caution you, they will most likely make up excuses, other vile lies. Suggest that I was taken over after the treaty negotiations, at one of my private breakfasts, which is an insult to our neighbor’s honor. My word to you on that is it doesn’t matter. What matters is my mind was my own, when on the goddess’s behalf I committed the Grand Communion to peace and sending missionaries to the Kingdom.

  “That is my will, and the law, as well as the word of the one goddess. To deny it is to declare yourselves heretics. There will be time enough to dispel other vicious lies once the crisis has passed, and we’ve rooted out the heretic moles in the core of our Grand Temple. Those that have betrayed their oaths to the goddess, and who follow the heretic archbishops out of greed and dark ambition to conquer, instead of just spreading the word and glory of our goddess, which is our rightful and just cause.

  “It seems unlikely the archbishops will allow their crews to see the truth of them, so it lays with the home fleet and defensive space stations to stand fast and demand their surrender, should their crews remain ignorant and therefore continue to follow them.

  “Here is the transmission, and I’ll be available on this channel for questions from my admiralty only. Thank you and may the goddess light your way.”

  She nodded toward the technician, who hit the transmit button which sent out the recorded meeting.

  She smiled wanly at Dacen, and really wanted to feel his arms around her, but she’d never show weakness in front of her people like that. She was really going to miss him, he was a rare man. Of course, the banquet would have to be pushed back, so she just might have him for another morning or two. Which was the only positive thing in this whole mess.

  She’d trade it back in a second to avoid this whole mess, but she’d also take advantage of the opportunity since it was unavoidable.

  She hadn’t been exaggerating, the traitorous saboteurs on the ground, and those four archbishops, will wish they’d never been born by the time she was done with them. If they’re lucky, they’ll go down with their ships if it comes to a shooting battle.

  Assuming they won the upcoming battle, that is.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Over the next hour, the reports came in that the ships were taking up defensive positions to challenge the incoming fleets. That part of their plan seemed to have worked, and he was glad to see it. Their doubts had been answered, and the home fleet seemed to once again have faith in their prelate.

  Unfortunately, Leanne’s speculation had also been born out, and the incoming fleet hadn’t responded. Most likely no one on those ships had even seen that transmission, and the Archbishops had most likely ordered radio silence. It seemed all but inevitable they’d have a major space battle going for the future of the Grand Communion and the Moiroi Star-Kingdom, in just thirty minutes or so.

  There wasn’t much he could do against home fleets, and it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to stick his nose in a civil war battle anyway. But he could protect himself and his ladies, and if he just so happened to safeguard Aria’s life in case they launched a ground attack too, well then there was nothing wrong with that.

  Hopefully the enemy wouldn’t get that far, but he suspected they likely would. The battle would be skewed slightly in the enemy’s favor, and they could launch troop landers from the battleships and frigates during the battle.

  Daisy said, “The King retracted his orders,” over a private channel only he could hear.

  He nodded in satisfaction, that would ensure the princess’s honor and reputation stayed unsullied. It was also unfortunate, but they’d had no choice but to bring the king in on the truth. He’d have rather her father not known about her antics either. He’d been more than willing to take all the blame, but in the end, it was far better than the public finding out in a recorded and forced interrogation.

  After all, he already had the reputation of being a bit of a rake, even if a generous one in bed. His reputation wasn’t truly harmed any further by the suggestion he’d seduced a drunk and naively young princess just over the cusp of womanhood. Besides, his reputation didn’t matter nearly as much, since he wasn’t in line for the throne and the heir to ruling the twenty-two worlds of the Moiroi Star-Kingdom.

  In the end it was his responsibility anyway. It was him that was weak, and he could never say no to a beautiful woman. Never mind the most beautiful woman he’d ever met until Leanne, and his best friend in the worlds. He’d been completely overwhelmed by her beauty, and her supplely sexy and perfect body, rich golden brown silky skin, and even her soft inexperienced touch on his cock had compromised his ability to think, much less resist.

  In hindsight, now that he’d started healing, he realized a part of him had also been desperate to connect to her even deeper. He wasn’t worthy of her, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want her.

  He shook his head, and he brought his head back to the present.

  Leanne leaned into his side, “Would you like something to eat, sir. The soldiers just brought in some food.”

  He nodded, “Thank you, Leanne.”

  She winked, and then walked over toward the food table.

  “How much trouble are we in?”

  He waggled his hand, “Depends if they get troops on the ground, or if they try to take us out from orbit. We can help counter the first, but the second we’ll likely just die if I don’t teleport us out of here fast enough.”

  Riesa replied, “Understood.”

  “Why don’t you grab a bite too,” he suggested.

  Riesa glanced at Aria’s approach, then nodded and followed Leanne.

  Aria said, “I’m sorry to drag you into this.”

  He smiled, “It’s been a good mission so far, overall. I also have a crazy idea, if you trust me. People will die, but a lot less, and maybe only on their side. I know it’s still a tragedy, those soldiers are being led by heretic liars who have authority over them.”

  Aria tilted her head, “You know I trust you.”

  He nodded, “Combining magic is an exercise of intimate trust for us in the kingdom, but I’ve heard that using the goddess as a focal point of faith, a prelate can be the center of every magic user present and wield their joint power. I’ve also heard the temple has magical amplifiers that exceed the ones found on a dreadnought. The joint… purpose and faith, is enough for the connection, isn’t it?”

  Aria frowned, “Yes, it’s like a prayer, a joint communion with the goddess and the prelate as the focus. I haven’t done it yet, I’ve only been a prelate for a few weeks, remember? Also, it would make us all vulnerable, and there are at least a handful of moles among those clerics and bishops.”

  He nodded, “That’s where the trust comes in. While over four hundred clerics and bishops feed you their magic, and you take out the enemy ships in orbit with your combined and greatly amplified magic, I’ll be guarding all of your lives. Hell, with that much power you could just crush their shields and then take them offline, save some of their lives too. Anyway, the traitors will act, or even just fail to join you like the others will, and I will take them down. Alive, if I can without sacrificing you or some of your faithful. They should all be at the temple, and the grand banquet room is already prepared to seat them all. We still have a little over twenty-five minutes to make it happen.”

  She asked, “What if they are all powerful wizards and overpower you? They could kill a lot of us, with all of our focus out in space.”

  He shrugged, “Doubtful, if they were that strong then they’d have just killed you and me by now, instead of going through all the trouble they’ve been stirring up through sabotage and assassins. There’ll also be the guards with weapons watching over you all, not to mention my body servant who is a very powerful wizard in her own right on our side.”

  Aria bit her lip, “Calvin is going to hate this plan.”

  He chuckled, and she winked.

  Leanne returned then, and she handed him a plate with a sandwich and grapes on it.

  “Thanks.”

  Aria said, “Eat fast, I’ll go talk to him, when we move it will have to be fast.”

  Leanne asked, “What’s that about?” as she watched her beloved prelate walk away with a strong purpose in her step.

  He grinned, “We might be going to the banquet tonight after all…”

  Leanne said, “Good, I was a little disappointed I wouldn’t be giving you the oath tonight.”

  He chuckled, “You’re a wonder. Never change, gorgeous.”

  Leanne blushed, “I’ll do my best, sir.”

  Riesa looked almost shy when she returned, “I’d trust you with all my magic, sir. It would almost double yours, and even five traitors average in power as wizards wouldn’t be enough to overpower you then.”

  He gaped, “You heard that?”

  Riesa giggled, and pointed at her cat ear, “it’s not just a decoration sir, and I’m very tuned in to your voice. Cheelah hearing is much better than a human’s.”

  “You trust me that much?”

  She’d be completely open to him, her mind, body, and even her thoughts. That’s why sharing power was so intimate but doing so as a religious experience would counter that partially. As everyone’s thoughts would be focused on worship and faith. It wasn’t actually hard to do, not technically, a wizard could control raw magic so it was easy enough for them to send the magic streaming into another. It was the intimate mental connection and vulnerability it caused that was the difficult part.

  Riesa said, “With my mind, body, heart, and life, sir. I’ll do my best not to distract you, my thoughts about you can be quite… wild and intense, most of the time, sir.”

  Oh, holy shit, he was going to have to reward both of them with blissful oblivion later. They were both strong and intelligent women, sharp as hell and formidable, but with him they were just breathlessly faithful and seemed to long to be his. It was… humbling.

  He’d also strive to be worthy of it, though he knew that he never really could be.

  “Alright, if you’re sure, we’ll do it that way. You both honor me.”

  It was definitely a night for surprises, both good and bad. He got another one then, when they both kissed either cheek, at the same time. It was a rather chaste kiss of affection, but it was also in public.

  He started to scarf down his sandwich, it wouldn’t be long now, and he was starving.

  The grand banquet room was a very large space filled with fifty ten-person round tables, giving it a seating capacity of five hundred guests, so there’d even be a little over eighty seats empty. There was also a long rectangular table on a dais, where the prelate, her foreign guests, and her department heads would sit, all on a single side facing the room. Such as Calvin for security, and so on.

  At the moment, the room was pure chaos, as the time of battle was closing in quickly, and all the visiting clerics and bishops from around the world of New Blessing were coming in from their guest quarters. They were gathering them all by sneaker net, with the comms still down the soldiers were issuing the orders and briefing them in person.

  Which was apparent by the many nervous and distrustful glances they gave him. Which wasn’t proof that they were the moles, and it was just natural. They all knew the foreign celestial knight was going to protect their lives, while their focus took care of the space battle and heretical designers and true enemies of the prelate.

  So he didn’t blame any of them for being a little nervous about it, it was human nature.

  Aria said loudly, “Settle down and find a seat. Our home fleet is about to come under fire of a superior force led by heretics, as you all saw in my earlier speech and the transmission of proof I offered. We don’t have time for half measures, if the home fleet loses, or one of their ships get through, I have no doubt they will target and take out the temple from orbit.

  “This is a fight for our church’s future, for our brave soldiers in orbit, but also a fight for our very lives. Find a seat and start holding hands with your neighbors and lifting your hearts in prayer. The two hundred guards will keep us safe, as will our guest.”

  They all started to organize a little faster, and he felt Riesa sidle up closer as their fingers entwined. He gave her hand a squeeze, then felt her power run into him. It was strong, but also warm to his body as it mixed with his and almost doubled his power.

  He could also sense a breathless devotion and potent lust in her for him that stole his breath, but he did his best to ignore that distraction as he studied the crowd. He didn’t think they’d be in the room yet, that would’ve been risking either him or Aria detecting their traitorous intentions before they were ready. Chances were that they’d rush into the room once the plan was in motion and the prelate had her mind focus out in space.

  But despite that almost certainty, he stayed vigilant as he waited, and the room eventually settled down.

  He also sensed an almost Zen mental state pouring off of Riesa along with that devotion, which helped counter it to a certain extent. His guess was that she was trying to suppress all of her thoughts, so she didn’t distract him with those wild and intense thoughts of him that she’d mentioned.

  He was more than a little curious, but he’d never violate her privacy by looking for those thoughts, even if she was completely open to him that way. She had to be, but he’d never betray that trust out of mere curiosity.

  If she’d wanted him to know, she’d tell him. Her wildness in bed was certainly uninhibited, perhaps she just thought about that more than he suspected she did. Cheelah did have the reputation of being freer that way than humans, after all. Despite all that, her control just verified the idea in his head that Riesa was a very intelligent and focused woman.