Of Destruction

Part 5

Lance let out a long-held breath of frustrated air. The growl that followed was guttural. The primal instinct to kill Clausopii and James and the rest of the taunting brood of sycophants nearly overpowered sense. A core of brainwashed fools followed and believed every word the President spoke, but Lance hadn't thought about them for years. Most of their dominant offspring followed their lead, but again, none had dared speak to Lance. Lance and Mal were older than most of the succeeding generation. To be talked to in such a way by such a young fool enraged him beyond belief.

He sucked in a large breath, filling his lungs in preparation for another guttural growl, but stopped in surprise as the scent of Gerdis blossoms. He had enough time to register her presence before she spoke in a timid voice.

"Lance?"

"Janie? Should not your place be in the dining hall?"

"I refuse. I was recently informed of my dominai's decision ; of who my future dominant will be. Despite any arguments I could provide, including of my love for you, he would not hear me."

Lance clasped her arms, anger rising to new levels when he saw the bruise across her cheek. The President himself joined the ranks of the hated.

Janie dropped her weight, sinking into his chest and Lance felt his lungs constrict with the intimate connection. Such touch he had yearned for but to actually feel her within the circle of his arms was nothing short of amazing.

Janie shook violently. When she pulled back, her lips were a dark shade of purple-red. His hearts wrenched again at the signs of mourning. His own lips likely matched hers.

"I will not allow it." 

She sunk closer, if possible, and Lance knew he would protect her with his life. 

"I will not allow your dominai to join you to another without even an opportunity for me. I will not allow him to take you as some bartering chip for his plans."

Her face shifted from confusion to hope. He couldn't help but smile at her instant anticipation. "Janie, will you Join me as my ishtera? Tonight? We must hold this secret for a few years, but surely he will not push for a faster engagement than that. I will make myself a hero, honored by the Empire and the council, and then I will declare my feelings. Our actions may stir some anger, but it is not without precedent. We are fully adult in this matter, it is merely the formality and expectations that have held me back."

Given his long-winded speech, it was no surprise that Janie already pulled him toward the circle of candles left on the floor. He could smell the change in her pheromones and see the color of her palms shift in anticipation for their union. Lance allowed himself to be settled into position and watched her kneel across from him. His mouth began to water at the reality of his fondest dreams.

Now that he was capitulating, she sat stiff and regal in her position; the daughter of a President. There was no evidence of her human caregivers now. Her eyes were clear and sharp, her bearing glorious and her color vibrant. Lance leaned in, taking her hands and lifted them to eye level, he matched his palm as much as possible with hers. She shivered and closed her eyes. A small protrusion on his own palm hardened and punctured the softened flesh of her hand. Lance watched as the purple blood began to ooze eagerly from the small puncture wound in her softened flesh, and from his own port. This event was as new to him as it was to her, but so natural. There was no hesitation; no second guessing. He wanted her in a way he had never imagined.

When he looked up, her eyes were open and eager, waiting patiently for his okay to continue. Their palms locked together allowing their blood to mingle, an electrifying feeling seized them both stirring and swirling his thoughts so that it was difficult to focus on anything else. The moment held only himself and his beloved. After another minute of waiting, the electric feeling piqued. Instinct lifted Lance from his knees. Her lips parted eagerly to accept his kiss and as the venom passed between them, a shock followed. It was like a sigh. Her emotions flowed gently into his mind: Contentment and intense happiness. He allowed his own feelings to cross the void as well and she smiled as she felt him.

I am yours forever.

Lance pulled her into his arms again, As I am yours. Forever will I protect you. Forever will I watch and provide for you. Forever will I respect and lift you.

She accepted the ritualistic words and met them with her own, Forever will I support you. Forever will I lift you. Forever will I bear your burdens and ease your sorrows.

Together they finished the final line, Forever will we be one in mind and heart.

Both sighed as the last words echoed internally, binding them with their truth. Lance felt like a burden had been lifted. He hadn't realized how much energy he'd wasted fighting against this moment. Now that she was his, no one could take that away. Only death could separate the two now.

She giggled in excitement. "I finally have you."

She sunk deeper into his arms.

Yes, but not for long. To make this work I must continue in my role as a general. I must support your dominai so he recognizes my value.

She flashed irritation and annoyance. He will never see reason as you and I see it. He has been on his throne for far too long. No one opposes him now, no one can.

Lance had heard similar words from his dominai on occasion, but to feel the conviction and anger from his new partner surprised him. Despite her words about stagnation, the dominant never imagined her disgust and hatred for the current governing body.

Lance, we must leave. I know your enthusiasm to run your own ship, but if we do not leave, my dominai will destroy you. There are places of safety for us if we leave now.

Where would we go? There is no place that he does not see or reach. Man's Land may be free of his influence, but I refuse to live near humans. Their corruption has done enough damage already.

That brought out the fight in her. They are not barbarians. They are not worthless. If you would just give them a chance, you might even see the commonalities.

"Enough!" Lance said it in and out of his mind. The decisiveness of the word stopped her in her tracks. This was the benefit of being a dominant; an almost veto power to any thoughts or actions of the group. "Enough talk of such things. I will serve my time. If anything happens, we will leave, but I refuse to run simply because you cannot face your dominai."

"You mistake me. I do not fear him, and I do not fear you. I fear for you. He is powerful. You understand less than half of the true goings on in the Empire, but you will, and I sorrow for you already for what you must come to understand. You will see what he's capable of and I hope, for both our sakes, that you realize I am right before it is too late."

"I said, enough." Lance kept his tone lighter but the decisiveness wasn't lessened. She fell silent and simply lay in his arms for another few moments.

The turmoil in both minds continued, but eventually calmed as their thoughts settled. In ten minutes, she showed him enough of her experience to solidify her warning. He hadn't pushed into her thoughts and memories; there were plenty of things she hadn't shared, but she had given him enough to know that she was right. If they stayed, they were likely to have problems.

In the same ten minutes she came to understand his side as well. If they ran, his dominai would feel the effects. The drying up of servants made mining difficult and Lance's dominai was now in a precarious position. If he continued to lose his fortune, he would soon drop below the required levels for one sitting on the council. In past history, when the council and the President were all on good terms, a small and short dip below the requirement was not enough to cause a fuss, but there were no good terms. Lance needed to stay.

They felt the impasse.

Janie broke the silence of their thoughts. Go. Go for a few years, then make an excuse. It will give your dominai time to rebound, and you will have a stronger name for yourself separate from him.

She slipped from the room first heading to cleanup the evidence of their forbidden union in her quarters. Lance remained for another hour or more contemplating their future.