Extraterrestrial Lives

10

I could kiss Maha right here and now for what she did to Sheena. It was beautiful. The only reason I had been with Sheena before was because I was bored and she was easy. Oh, that reminds me, I better get a new mattress.

Maha pulls my mind away from being pervy by taking my hand. "I didn't know you could be so mean Rafe."

I guess that was a bit mean, but so was Sheena. Maha is my choice and to insult the future queen like she did went beyond acceptable behavior. Especially since it's obvious both my parents approve of Maha.

"I make it a rule to be polite to people, but when they insult my queen I won't hold back." My words seem to please Maha. Good, I'm tired of doing everything wrong with her.

"Maha," I lean in close and whisper in her ear, it isn't very polite but I want to ask this as soon as possible and don't want the snoops to hear what I say. "Will you marry me tomorrow? We'll have to have a big ceremony later on, but I don't want to take any chances about our child being born before we're married."

Most women won't want to be heavily pregnant when they are getting married. Which means the child would have to be born first. The circus of a royal wedding takes months to plan and execute.

Maha goes pale and then blushes a delightful pink before nodding. Good, I'll have father perform the marriage. If my heir is already on the way all the better for the throne stability so he shouldn't have a problem. And this way mom can be there too. She'll be leaving in two days to finish out the tour.

Rafe wants to marry me tomorrow. I wonder if he wants to go ring shopping first or not. But my thoughts are interrupted by the king this time.

"You decided to stay with him. Thank you. I think if you left it would kill him."

I look at the king, "Does it matter that much to you? I know you've seen what kind of father I had, but from what I've seen and experienced as well as what I've heard-"

"I haven't been a good father to my son, no. That is my loss, Maha. I have made many mistakes, some that he and you together will have to fix. Some won't be fixable. As you are well aware, the past can't be undone, all you can do is make the best of the present and work for a better future.

"I think my son has made a wise choice in choosing you." The king's words shock me, there is no denying that.

He smiles amused, "Shocking I know. One of my biggest mistakes I made was not giving my queen the love she deserved. Perhaps if I loved her the way my son loves you things would be different.

"My second biggest mistake was denying Rafe the same love as I gave the two older children. Has he told you how I treated him?"

"Yes, he said he was an irritant to you. That no matter how hard he tried, no matter what he did he could never win your approval or love."

The king turns his attention from me to Rafe, "That may have been what it seemed like, and in many ways he was right. I was a right bastard to him. I never understood him and so I couldn't get close to him, I didn't know how to show my love for him. And he suffered for it.

"He thinks that I hate all things I don't understand, but that's not true. He was so sure I'd hate you because if I can't understand him I would never be able to understand you. He's both right and wrong. I don't understand you, but I don't hate you. I see you as the means of saving my son. There is no doubt that he loves you. I see how happy he is right now because he is going to be able to marry you.
"Thank you for that. We, all of us have treated you so poorly. Yet, you continue willing to help us. Or at least help my son, which in turn will help us. I owe you a great debt."

"Truly?" I say and the king nods. "I slept through it, but Rafe tells me there was an assassination attempt on my life last night. Is that true?" The king in anger presses his lips together and nods.

"My oldest son, Gearan, has been taken into custody. I questioned him earlier and he denies nothing. He thinks that due to his past favored status that nothing will happen to him."

"He is your favored son, majesty, just what will his punishment be?" I expect little and so his answer almost makes my jaw drop.

"He will be executed after his trial. Not even a prince of the royal line can be above the law. His trial will be in the afternoon tomorrow. Commander Depak, my queen will be leaving right after the execution. She is not happy about any of this." The king notices my pale face and signals for a servant to bring me more water.

Once I have the water in hand I drink it quickly and almost choke for my troubles. Wouldn't Lady Bitch love that? I manage to keep from coughing with difficulty.

"Rafe, I think it's time for you and your bride to retire. She still isn't fully recovered and neither are you." I hear the king say.

Rafe says something but I'm not sure what exactly he says.

"Maha? Are you ready to go?" At his gentle words I look at him and smile. He helps me up and escorts me from the room. I don't think the meal was even over yet.

Once we left the room, I felt much better.

Maha had turned white while she was talking to my father. I couldn't hear what they were saying and I need to know.

"What did he say to you?" I hold back the anger but it's there ready to be unleashed.

"He told me that your brother has confessed to the assassination attempt last night." Maha takes a breath there's more. "He told me, that he will be executed after his trial tomorrow. That your mother will be leaving right afterwards."

Her words shock me to the core. I felt like lightning had hit me. It hurts all over my body. We make it back to my, I mean our room before collapsing to the floor.

I knew it had been the biggest possibility, but still to know that your brother had no qualms about killing you, well it's still a betrayal of a thousand magnitudes.

"Your father said that not even royal princes are above the law." Maha kneels on the floor by my side and pulls me to her. I can do nothing but soak in her healing touch. Little by little the pain ebbs and I'm able to sit up.

"We have pulled you into one mess after another Maha. I find it nothing short of miraculous that you will even talk to me."

Maha doesn't say anything and just waits until I look up at her. "Don't be an ass Rafe. Now will you help me undo this dress? It's pretty enough I guess but It's a bugger to get out of."

I have her turn around and start undoing the zipper. I can't help myself and I kiss her skin as it becomes visible.

"I think you promised you would show me how to work that swimming pool you call a bathtub?" Maha says stepping away from me as the dress finishes coming undone.