Page 30 of Scars & Starlight (Of Blood and Conquest #1)

TARA

“ I t looks just like in your projection,” I tell Kiko, who’s perched on my shoulder, his head next to mine. We’re looking at Avaris, all three of its moons visible from this angle. The planet is a dark green, with lots of glowing neon clusters and rivers of light.

“Everything I show is a faithful representation,” the little robot replies. It almost sounds like he’s admonishing me for daring to question the quality of his information, and I giggle into my fist.

“What are those?” I ask my boys, pointing at shiny white arrays orbiting Avaris.

“Some are the planet’s defense systems,” Kai says calmly, his eyes as always on the various readings endlessly scrolling on the Talon’s screens.

“Others are satellites for research, for global communication and long-distance communication through the QEA, then location services, media broadcast, and more.”

“So pretty much like Earth used to have,” I comment.

Kairen nods with a small smile. “Except our satellites also service extraplanetary colonies.”

“Maybe if we had a defense array, the Ghorvek wouldn’t have overpowered us so easily.” I grimace. “Then again, we’d have probably used it to kill each other long before they arrived.”

“Your military likely didn’t know until it was far too late anyway. But your predisposition to kill each other over arbitrary differences worries me.” He gives me an assessing look. “We might have to govern your people if they can’t live as one once the threat is gone.”

“I certainly wouldn’t hand us any planet-destroying weapons just yet,” I answer dryly.

The comms beep, and Kairen opens a channel to what seems to be some type of control flight tower manned by Avaren in uniforms.

“Welcome home, Your Highnesses,” a female with a soothing, husky voice greets.

I flush, but Kairen takes it in stride. “Thank you, Nireya. We’ll be heading directly to the palace. My family is expecting us.”

Nireya nods, her black hair with a cool orange gleam catching the light. “We have been informed,” she says. “An upkeep crew is ready for the Talon’s arrival.”

“Do all Avaren look like supermodels?” I ask my prince with a nervous chuckle.

His eyes flash before he replies. “Ah. Avaren have healthier lifestyles than humans, especially before the Ghorvek came to your planet. We also have nanites that repair imperfections.” His eyes shift to me for a moment before he focuses on the planet again.

“You will notice scars disappearing, too.”

“Nanites are the gift that just keeps on giving,” I say with a grin.

We break through a layer of clouds, and my prince’s home world starts to take shape. I don’t know what to focus on first: all the softly glowing forests or the brighter spots from the waters. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, except for maybe in a video game.

I gasp when I see what looks like a colorful stingray sailing through the air. “Wow, your planet is so beautiful, Kai.”

“Our planet,” he corrects me, taking my hand into his and kissing my fingertips. I feel like giggling when Kiko coos in my ear in reaction.

A clear, shiny lake begins growing larger as we approach it, the giant mushrooms and odd-looking trees around it taking shape.

Even the green-blue grass has a subtle glow, like millions of fireflies are hiding inside.

On one edge of the lake sits a massive palace.

Crystal spires stretch high into the sky, glowing under the aurora with echoing hues.

“That’s incredible,” I whisper, completely in awe of the structure.

Kiko beeps twice. “Avaris’ royal palace has stood for almost exactly three thousand cycles. That is two thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven human years.”

Kairen scoffs. “Yes, Mother is planning a big celebration in a couple of serals that I’m sure we’ll be expected at.”

“One seral is four of Earth’s weeks,” Kiko chimes in helpfully.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I say to the little robot, but I’m not looking at either of them anymore. I’m too busy freaking out and poking at the hangnail on my middle finger.

Kairen’s hand covers mine, stopping my habitual self-mutilation. “What is it?” he asks softly.

“What if your family hates me?” I blurt out.

“They already love you,” he replies dryly.

I roll my lips together before continuing. “What if your old girlfriend is there and she’s so pretty that I look like a mangy mouse?”

First, my prince’s eyes flash, then his upper lip curls. “What did I tell you about calling yourself anything other than perfect?”

Ignoring his protests, my word vomit continues. “What if you realize how ordinary I am compared to everyone around you, and you regret bringing me here?

Kiko makes a noise that could only be an eye roll in audio form.

The Talon stops its descent above the lake.

“That’s it,” Kairen says. “Kiko, go to your compartment.”

The little guy jumps down and scrambles off, letting out only a cheeky beep to break the silence. Kairen stands above me, his arms crossed over his chest.

“It sounds like you need to be taught a lesson,” he says darkly .

My throat clicks audibly, too loud, almost as loud as my heartbeat ringing in my ears. “What do you mean?” I ask meekly.

Avaris’ prince smiles viciously, making my breath catch in my throat.

The consoles behind Kairen make a few demanding noises, but he ignores them, his galaxy eyes locked on me.

As I watch, he lowers himself first to one knee, then the other, his gaze never leaving mine.

Sweat dews my skin as heat suffuses me, the innate seduction in his every movement almost too much to bear.

His hands come to the waistband of my cargo pants, his skilled fingers making quick work of the belt and buttons.

“Lift,” he commands in a whisper, and my hips obey without any input from my brain, my butt lifting off my seat, allowing him to slide the pants and my underwear over my humble curves and down my legs.

When my boots stop him, he quickly undoes the laces of one of them, then tugs it off my foot, followed by my clothing.

As soon as one leg is liberated, he throws it over his shoulder.

The consoles beep again. “I think your family is waiting for us,” I say shakily.

“Let them wait,” he growls. “I must take care of my female.”

Eyes locked on mine, Kairen extends his tongue and runs it right over the middle of my core, the tip parting me further and exposing my clit.

I shiver from the precise gentleness of the action, the control behind it, the anticipation that it’ll turn wild and passionate at any moment.

My hands unclench from the handrests and twine into his silky hair.

“Kairen, please,” I breathe, not knowing exactly what it is I’m begging him for, but willing to beg for it anyway. My fingers tighten over his locks, but if it hurts, he doesn’t show it. Instead, the corners of his lips curl into a smug smile.

“What is it you need, my love? Do you want more of my tongue? Or perhaps my fingers?” His smooth voice sends tingles down my nape, and I squirm in my seat as much as his grip allows it. Breathless, all I can do is nod.

Kairen clicks his tongue. “You’re very forgetful today, Princess.

” He bites my thigh, and I hiss, pressing back against my seat.

When he moves away, I see two tiny beads of blood where his sharper canines broke the skin.

“I told you to use your words,” he says nonchalantly, like he didn’t just mark me with his teeth.

“My other thigh feels neglected,” I say, surprised as the words leave my lips.

Kairen seems taken aback too, his eyes widening slightly, but a satisfied smile spreads across his face right after.

He lowers his mouth to my other thigh, holding my gaze as he takes the flesh between his teeth, pressing down slowly until a slight sting makes me arch my back.

I know some people like a bit of pain with their pleasure, but I at least thought I wasn’t among them.

But I do know by now that this alien not only rewrites the rules, but changes the entire game.

Feeling the need to take back some of the control I feel I’ve lost, I pull his head to my center, a silent command from a female to a male to take care of her needs. But he wants words, doesn’t he?

“Make me come,” I order him, thrilled to see the spark ignite in his eyes, proof that my words fan the flames.

Kairen descends onto me, eating me out like I’m his last meal and he wants to take full advantage of the course.

While his tongue focuses on my clit, he uses his fingers to fill me up, mirroring the assault on both sides of the erogenous zone.

It doesn’t take him long at all to have me writhing against the seat, tugging on his hair, and panting out my moans.

The Avaren stopped hailing us, and the sound of every thrust and lick Kai makes dominates the otherwise silent space.

“I’m so close,” I inform him or maybe myself. He can’t exactly dirty talk with his mouth full of my pussy. And although I have his mouth, I still miss it.

As if he’s reading my mind, Kairen pulls back enough to speak the words that push me over the edge: “Come for your Prince.”

Like my body is conditioned to follow his commands already, I drop off the precipice, my legs twitching so hard, he has to use both hands to hold them still. His tongue replaces his fingers, fucking me through my orgasm, gentling me once it tapers off.

I’m still breathing hard when he shoots me a smug smile, then starts righting my clothes.

“What about you?” I ask in an airy voice, my faculties not quite there yet.

“I got what I wanted,” he replies, his lips and half of his face shiny with my wetness. Once my pants and that one boot are back on, he kisses the top of my head and, with a smile firmly in place, sits back down in the pilot’s seat.

“Kairen?” I ask suspiciously. “How good is the Avaren sense of smell?”

My prince’s grin turns downright shark-like as he pushes down the control stick, bringing us to a landing in front of the palace, where several regally dressed aliens are already waiting.